Jews have always been concerned with their families and their past. The fast-developing sciences of genetics and DNA genealogy provide new ways for examining Jewish history and our links with the past. In this stimulating course, we will master some useful terminology and basic concepts of both genetics and DNA-genealogy; shed new light on the issue of Jewish identity through new discoveries in those sciences; examine the validity of direct ancestry claims for far-flung Jewish communities in such places as South Africa, Ethiopia and India; learn about genetic disorders particularly common among Jews (such as Tay-Sachs disease); and (time permitting) critically discuss recent speculations on the higher IQ measures among Jews and other centuries-old stereotypes. The ultimate goal of this course is to stimulate thought and discussion of the centuries-old question “What does it mean to be Jewish?”