Displaying religious Jews in Jewish Studies classrooms

This paper reports on an evidence-based study of student learning in Religions and Theology at the University of Manchester. The research collected alumni perceptions of long-term learning outcomes of the study of contemporary religion on the 2nd year undergraduate course Religion, Culture and Gender. ‘Exoticisation’ of contemporary religious Jews, their practices and thought emerges as a key concept that captures some student responses to the curriculum. Post-colonial analysis of the data problematizes the pedagogical value of memorable teaching moments, and their desirable and undesirable outcomes.