Critics widely regard Leonard Cohen to be one of the very best, if not best, of the many singer/songwriters who emerged in the 1960s following in the path of the pioneering Bob Dylan. Over a fifty-year career, Leonard Cohen created a remarkable body of work, that included poetry, novels, and songs, and made an indelible imprint on the contemporary music scene. Similar to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen’s Jewish background deeply shaped his life and work. Cohen’s poetry and lyrics reflect a deep connection with Jewish tradition and biblical sources.

These lectures will examine the mixture of Jewish influences in the work of Leonard Cohen and will seek to demonstrate the value of viewing Leonard Cohen’s work through a Jewish lens. This course will be taught using audio, video, text analysis, and group discussion.

Week 1: From Poetry to Song: Leonard Cohen, the Early Years

Week 2: Leonard Cohen: Between the Mountain and the World

Clifford Wilcox, Ph.D., is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history and Jewish Studies. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas, politics, and religion in American history. He is Director of Education and Operations at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA and has taught in the CLU FAB program since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.