👩🏫 Teaching Jews in Amercian Film: A Reflection
📅 November 28, 2023
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This semester, I had the pleasure of teaching Jews in American Film--which was basically my dream course, marrying my interests in Jewish American literature/humor and film studies--to the group of students pictured above. When I was creating the course, I had a picture of the class in my mind: we would talk every week about the film we watched, then move on to talking about some critical reading or article to help us prep for the following week while still ruminating on the current film. They'd turn in reflections every week, write multiple papers. It would be smooth.
And honestly, it was; but things changed and evolved. I slowed on the readings, I began leaving off slides, holding my questions in case we never go to the topics organically. They were a group that was ready and willing every day to carry the discussion; and while I did lead, and steer, they were so capable of directing that sometimes I was unsure of my place in the classroom. Because of how talented they were, how eager and passionate, we ended up having a lot of incredible discussions, spanning controversial subjects but also lighter ones; we talked about what it means to be Jewish in Hollywood and how filmmakers have worked through, and with, their Jewishness over the past few decades. But most of all, we just had a lot of fun.
In the last month or so, however, there was a change in tone; not in content, mind you, but in the air. When tensions not only grew but exploded between Israel and Palestine, many of my students struggled with this, though they tended to do so independently. While they hesitated to bring up how they were feeling in class, I had some approach me either via email or after class about how they were feeling nervous or afraid and that our class provided a safe space for them to be themselves.
And I followed their lead. My students who identified as Jewish wanted to talk about this, but not in class. I toiled over how I would say anything in class, or if I should, but realized that they were so elegantly giving me the direction I needed: we'll talk, but when they want to. They wanted to feel safe in their own way. While I've always prided myself on my ability to make my classroom "safe," it wasn't really until this semester that I was actually challenged on that by something so harrowing happening to my students and to the world at large, and being there for them in the only way I knew how was an eye-opening experience, and one I will look back on for the rest of my career.
And to help them unwind in their last week with me, as sad as it was (for me, anyway--I'm sure they were ready as ever to get out of there!) I bought them pizza and soda and my fiancée and I baked them cookies, a real Kosher meal if you don't count the pepperoni pizza.
We played Jeopardy, laughed a lot, and took this wonderful group photo to help me remember every detail: everything, and everyone.
If any of them end up stumbling on this post--and I know some of you will!--know that I meant everything I said. I will miss this class dearly.
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