Jewish Number 12 Fall 2008 at Rutgers The Allen and JoanStudiBildner Center for the Study of Jeewish Lifs e • Department of Jewish Studies

Jewish Leadership INSIDE Forum Addresses Community Issues he 2007–2008 New Jersey Jewish Leadership TForum (JLF) , a joint project of the Bildner The Jewish Leadership Forum Committee with Rutgers Center and New Jersey’s Jewish Federations , President Richard L. McCormick brought the state’s top Jewish lay leaders together Faculty promotions for an important conversation about the both new and long-established Jewish and awards challenges currently facing New Jersey Jewry. organizations all at the forefront of communal Page 4 Held at the Bildner Center, the forum allowed for service, Jewish education, and philanthropy. It an exchange of proven, practical approaches to tapped esteemed local resources including Rutgers Center explores keep federations and their programs relevant in faculty and federation executives. Jewish history this era of constant change. The strategic intercommunity relationships and culture The forum introduced the cadre of nurtured by the forum have evolved into a participants, representing eleven New Jersey Page 8 ® federations, to professionals and lay leaders from Se e LEADERSHIP on page 9 Revolutionary approach to Holocaust education Israeli Filmmaker Visits Hebrew Classes Page 10 ward-winning director Joseph Cedar characters portrayed in his films and the Aaddressed Jewish studies students the themes that he has developed throughout his Jewish studies morning after his film Beaufort closed the body of work. students Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival in Cedar also met with students taking Page 15 November. About sixty introductory-level “Israeli Literature and Society,” an advanced Hebrew language students joined Cedar to course that traces the development of Israel’s discuss his three major films —Time of Favor, literary corpus from the founding of the Campfire , and Academy Award nominated Jewish State to the present. An intimate group Beaufort —which conversed with him in Hebrew over lunch at they had viewed the Bildner Center, examining in depth several during the important issues. In a powerful discussion, semester and at these students explored with Cedar the major the film festival. themes that appear both in his films and in The students were the Israeli short stories they had read as part able to engage him of the course, such as S. Yizhar’s “The in conversation Prisoner” and A. B. Yehoshua’s “Flood Tide.” about the Joseph Cedar ® Se e FILMMAKER on page 5 Center Focuses on Department Emphasizes Human Rights Language Proficiency his coming year brings an exciting program of wo years ago the Department of Jewish Studies Tseminars, lectures, special events, and educational Timplemented a significant change in our major, as the initiatives sponsored by the Bildner Center. department shifted from a content-based distribution system We commemorate Kristallnacht and the voyage of (for example, Jewish history, Israel studies, and so on) to a the St. Louis seventy years after their occurrence. These discipline-based system, with new requirements calling for programs highlight the dangers of racism and the two courses in literature (one classical, one modern) and one continuing challenge of finding safe havens for refugees. course with a social science approach. Two Rutgers faculty were among the young passengers This year the department tackled the question of its on the St. Louis and will join us for that event. The foreign-language requirement. Since its establishment Bildner Center’s varied programs on human rights eight years ago, the department has required majors to contribute to Rutgers’ global initiative on this theme take two semesters of a Jewish language, either Hebrew or during the coming year. A discussion of Jewish-Christian Yiddish. We understood that this could involve only one relations introduces another new initiative for the year of language study at the introductory level, which meant that a Jewish studies major could, in theory, Center that includes interreligious student dialogue. graduate with only a rudimentary ability in either Hebrew Among other highlights are programs related to or Yiddish. Israel studies, the relationship of the military and civil A look at the data for the past five years revealed that society, the psychological effects of terrorism on Israelis, the great majority of our students took language courses at and Israel’s sustainable development and politics of the a higher level, with many of them completing Hebrew environment. A public lecture on fashion and identity in courses at the upper levels. Still, we wanted to increase the the 1950s shifts the focus to Israeli society and culture, requirement, to ensure that every Jewish studies major and the Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival will demonstrated greater language facility—and this is exactly include an array of new and evocative Israeli films. what our faculty voted to institute. The Bildner Center’s second cycle of the Master We did so in light of several factors. First, there is the Teacher Institute in Holocaust Education, offered well-recognized point that Hebrew language and literature through its Littman Families Holocaust Resource Center, have played a significant role in all Jewish communities will bring to Rutgers a group of schoolteachers for throughout history (the only exception is Ethiopian Jewry), extensive training in this challenging field. and that Yiddish played a similar role in the largest Jewish This year we welcome three visiting scholars in community in history, namely, that of Eastern Europe. Jewish studies: two from Israel and one from Germany. Second, we took note of the ever increasing recognition The addition of visiting scholars enhances the academic that serious foreign-language learning at the university program in important areas and contributes significantly level is a goal to which all students should accede. And to the scope of the Bildner Center’s educational third, we were aware of the fact that most Jewish studies offerings. majors at our peer institutions had a more rigorous Community support of Jewish studies at Rutgers language requirement than our own. has been a major factor in the growth of the Bildner Our new requirement, accordingly, is as follows: Center and the Department of Jewish Studies. Our “Jewish studies majors are required to demonstrate ability to bring visiting scholars, offer programs to proficiency in either modern Hebrew or Yiddish equivalent students and the public, produce a major film festival, to four semesters of college study—though all Jewish sponsor programs in Hebrew, and provide Holocaust studies majors are required to take at least two Jewish education for teachers derives from this productive language courses at Rutgers, regardless of their level of collaboration. knowledge upon arrival at the university.” We look forward to the beginning of the school year Thus, for example, students who begin their study of and to the prospect of enriching the academic Hebrew or Yiddish at Rutgers need to complete two years experience for undergraduate and graduate students. We of language acquisition; while students who place into 300- welcome the new year with the hope for world peace level Hebrew still need to take two upper-level courses. and with best wishes for a happy new year to our The discussion here reflects our faculty’s ongoing students and faculty, colleagues and friends. commitment to revisiting curricular issues with the goal of how best to educate our students. — Yael Zerubavel, Bildner Center director — Gary A. Rendsburg, department chair

2 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS Professor Integrates Rabbinic Literature and the Humanities rofessor of Rabbinic Literature edited by Carol Bakhos (Brill, 2006). PAzzan Yadin brings a His well-received book, Scripture multidimensional perspective to as Logos: Rabbi Ishmael and the Jewish studies by applying historical Origins of Midrash (University of and literary tools to the texts he Pennsylvania Press, 2004), casts studies. Taking a corpus that has long the Rabbi Ishmael school of been engaged only within the interpretation as one of restraint traditional realm of the beit midrash within the broader context of post- (house of study), he has helped to Second Temple literature and its solidify the study of rabbinic contemporary theology. Looking at literature as a humanities discipline. particular collections of legal The first person to earn a midrash, Yadin conceptualizes Rabbi doctorate from Berkeley’s Jewish Ishmael’s view of Scripture as a Azzan Yadin Studies Program in 1999, Yadin’s work textually self-interpretive teacher of focuses on the beginnings of rabbinic Jewish law, one that marginalizes legal midrash, that is, the rabbinic extra-scriptural tradition, what would Rabbinic Literature: Second Temple interpretation of biblical laws. He later come to be known as Oral Law. Judaism and the Emergence of joined the Department of Jewish Yadin is currently at work on a Rabbinic Judaism.” Through a careful Studies at Rutgers as an assistant book-length study of the figure of study of its historical and literary professor in 2002. Rabbi Akiva and his approach to the background, Yadin will examine the In 2005, he was promoted to development of legal midrash. establishment and eventual associate professor with tenure and Through a review of the rabbinic dominance of rabbinic Judaism, also awarded a Rutgers’ Board of interpretation of the Book of guiding students through close Trustees Research Fellowship for Leviticus, the professor examines readings of rabbinic texts, apocryphal Scholarly Excellence for his original Rabbi Akiva’s empowerment of extra- writings, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. scholarship and his ability to scriptural tradition, a counterview to He will also teach a new course integrate the study of ancient Jewish that of Rabbi Ishmael. in the Department of Classics entitled text into the study of religion, culture, While on sabbatical this past “Ancient Allegory: Jewish, Christian, and the humanities. year, Yadin was a fellow at Cardozo and Pagan,” a continuation of his Yadin’s unique perspective Law School’s Center for Jewish Law, research on the dialogue between springs from the academic training he where he wrote an essay on Rabbinic Greek philosophers and Jewish texts. brings to this field. Generally scholars uses of tradition and their Although there has long been formal of Halakhah (Jewish law) are ramifications for Ronald Dworkin’s examination of the Jewish-Christian themselves observant and approach legal theory, and particularly debate within academia, the category the texts as practitioners, while the Dworkin’s suggestion that of a Jewish-Pagan dialogue has until field of Aggadah (non-legal rabbinic institutional continuity serves as a now been largely absent. Yadin hopes narratives) draws on a wider array of guarantee for interpretive continuity. this course will ground the subject as scholarly backgrounds. Yadin’s non- The essay is being published in a a serious category within historical traditional background gives a new special volume of Dine Israel (the scholarship. and different approach - looking at Jewish Law Journal of Tel Aviv In addition, Yadin has developed law as literature for example. He can University) devoted to Ronald an online study course, “Introduction ask richly instructive, theoretical Dworkin and Jewish law. to Rabbinic Literature,” that is questions in the field of Jewish law, In the spring, Yadin taught a available through the Bildner Center’s questions usually confined to course entitled “God’s Body” at website. The online course is free and Aggadah . Princeton University, in which he re- offers community members an Driving Yadin’s research are examined the Jewish conceptual opportunity to learn about these questions about the historical value in understanding of a bodiless God. ancient texts. (See page 12.) traditional assumptions of a relatively Tracing the idea through the Bible, Professor Yadin sees his teaching homogeneous group of rabbinic sages. rabbinic sources, and the Zohar, he as an opportunity to bring the world He examines the diverse approaches highlighted an alternative, yet of rabbinic and Second Temple of the Rabbi Ishmael and Rabbi Akiva mainstream, view that God does have Judaism to life for his students. He schools in his article “Resistance to a body, though not necessarily a looks forward to opening an Midrash? Midrash and Halakhah in physical one. intellectual window for them on the the Halakhic Midrashim,” in Current This fall, he resumes his teaching many ways to view the development of Trends in the Study of Midrash , at Rutgers with “Introduction to rabbinic literature and legal midrash.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 3 FACULTY PROMOTION S AND AWARDS

Jeffrey Bildner Center and its Holocaust the Bolshevik Revolution. (Visit Shandler has Resource Center. His next book jewishstudies.rutgers.edu to read been promoted Jews, God, and Videotape: an interview with her.) to full Religion and Media in America is professor in forthcoming in 2009. David the Greenberg , an Department of Jewish Studies. An Ziva Galili has associate integral member of the faculty received the professor of since 2001, Shandler has written 2008 Daniel history, and lectured widely on American Gorenstein journalism, and and East European Jewish culture, Memorial media studies, and an affiliated modern Yiddish culture, Holocaust Award for faculty member in Jewish studies, remembrance, and the role that outstanding scholarly achievement specializes in American political broadcasting, photography, film, and exceptional service to the and cultural history. Greenberg and other media play in modern university. Galili, a former acting has won the Hiett Prize in the Jewish life, among other topics. executive dean of the School of Humanities for 2008. This national His breadth of knowledge and Arts and Sciences (2006-2008), is award is presented to a single interests have been instrumental a professor of history and an scholar each year whose work in in the development of Jewish affiliated faculty member in the humanities shows studies at Rutgers, both in terms Jewish studies. She has spent the extraordinary promise and has a of the department’s curriculum past several years researching the significant public component and with the community outreach history of Jews and Zionism in related to contemporary culture. programs and initiatives of the Soviet Russia directly following

ARESTY VISITING SCHOLARS

Roni Stauber , the Bildner Center’s Aresty Visiting Scholar addition, he continued his work on a manuscript about the for 2007–2008, is the director of Tel Aviv University’s role of Israel’s Foreign Office in establishing a new Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Racism and relationship between Germans and Jews during the period Antisemitism. During the fall semester, Stauber taught the of 1953–65. undergraduate course “The Holocaust and Israel.” In the spring, he co-taught a multimedia course for public school Irit Koren is the Aresty Visiting Scholar for 2008-2009. She teachers entitled “The History of the Holocaust” (see page received her Ph.D. from Bar-Ilan University in 2007, writing 10). Stauber also presented public lectures and a faculty the doctoral thesis A Voice Is Heard in Ramah: Religious seminar sponsored by the Bildner Center (see page 5), and Women Challenge the Orthodox Wedding Ritual. Koren’s has lectured at other universities, including New York main research interests focus on the intersection of University and Yale. modernity and tradition, in particular the situation of Stauber published three articles, including “The women at this juncture. She is the author of Closet within a Approach of Philip Friedman to Holocaust Research,” in Closet: Stories of Religious Homosexuals (Yediot Ahronot Gal-Ed 21 (2007), in Hebrew, and “Nationalism and Statism Publications, 2003), in Hebrew. She is currently working on in Ben-Gurion’s Weltanschauung” in Studia Judaica 15 her second book, You Are Hereby Renewed unto Me: (2007). He also prepared the following articles for Orthodox Women Challenge the Wedding Ritual (under publication: “The Israeli Foreign Office and the Debate contract with Hebrew University Magnes Press), in Hebrew. over Establishing a Political Relationship with West At Rutgers, Koren will teach two courses, “Jewish Women Germany (1953–1956)” and “The Academic and Public and Spirituality” and “Jewish Rites: Issues of Sexuality and Debate over the Meaning of the ‘New Antisemitism.’” In Power.”

4 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS FACULTY SEMINARS

he Henry Schwartzman Endowed Advanced Holocaust Seminars JEWISH STUDIES TFaculty Seminar featured FACULTY Michael Brenner , a professor of Omer Bartov , Brown University: Jewish history and culture at the “Testimonies as Historical University of Munich. Brenner was a Documents: A View of the Holocaust visiting scholar at the U.S. Holocaust from Below” Core Faculty Memorial Museum in Washington, Gary A. Rendsburg, D.C., in 2007–2008. The first of his two Nancy Sinkoff , Rutgers University: department chair “Positivist Memory: Lucy S. talks, presented to a diverse group of Jeffrey Shandler Rutgers faculty and Schwartzman Dawidowicz and the Writing of From That Place and Time ” Nancy Sinkoff, vice chair of family and friends, was “Postmortem: undergraduate studies The Reconstruction of Jewish Life in Jackie Feldman , Ben-Gurion Paola Tartakoff Postwar Germany.” Brenner also gave University: “Above the Death-Pits, the talk “The Construction and Azzan Yadin beneath the Flag: The Performance of Deconstruction of a Jewish Hero: Yael Zerubavel, Israeli Identity in Holocaust Poland” Moses Mendelssohn’s Afterlife in Bildner Center director Early-Twentieth-Century Germany.” Roni Stauber , Aresty Visiting Scholar, David Biale , University of California Bildner Center: “Raul Hilberg, Philip Associated Faculty at Davis: “The Blood of the Covenant, Friedman, and Yad Vashem: The Maurice Elias the Blood of Circumcision and the Beginning of Holocaust Studies” Leslie Fishbein Blood of Menstruation in Medieval Ziva Galili Atina Grossman , Cooper Union: Jewish-Christian Polemics” Judith Gerson “Jews, Germans, and Allies: Close Meir Buzaglo , Schusterman Visiting Encounters in Occupied Germany” David Greenberg Scholar in Israel Studies, Bildner Paul Hanebrink Center: “God and the World: When Krista Hegburg , Columbia University: Martha Helfer Analytic Philosophy Meets Rabbinic “The Veracious Voice: The Romani Michael Levine Interpretation” Holocaust and the Politics of Phyllis Mack Commensuration in the Czech Barbara Reed Azzan Yadin , Rutgers University: Republic” “Rethinking Midrash” Visiting Scholars Irit Koren ewish Cultures of the World , a new book series issued by Rutgers Roni Stauber JUniversity Press, announces the forthcoming publication of its first Cornelia Wilhelm title: One People, One Blood: Ethiopian-Israelis and the Return to Judaism , by anthropologist Don Seeman , an assistant professor in the Language Instructors Department of Religion and the Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory Orly Moshenberg, (Summer 2009). Seeman’s book is an ethnographic study of the Feres Hebrew language Mura, a group of Ethiopian Jews whose families became Christian at coordinator some point and who have since reconverted to Judaism. The series is coedited by Jeffrey Shandler (Rutgers University) and Matti Bunzl Edna Bryn-Noiman (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Lily Levy For information on the series, please contact Beth Kressel , Edward Portnoy associate editor, Rutgers University Press, at [email protected].

FILMMAKER from page 1 The unique experience reflects the Jewish studies Most notably, the group spoke about the ethical department’s longstanding commitment to expose its dilemma that arises when an individual’s personal beliefs students to guest scholars and prominent literary and come into direct conflict with those generally held in cultural figures visiting the Rutgers campus. For students Israeli society. Participants appreciated this opportunity to in Hebrew language and literature classes in particular, the translate the knowledge gained in their Jewish studies opportunity to meet Israeli writers and filmmakers enables courses into a deeper understanding of what is happening them to make an experiential connection between their in Israel today. academic coursework and modern Israeli culture.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 5 ISRAEL AT SIXTY Visiting Scholars Reflect on Israeli History and Culture during Rutgers’ Reunion Weekend

decision, as opposed to the ideology of A synopsis of Meir Buzaglo’s talk: the early years of the state, expressed eir Buzaglo spoke about a the desire to strengthen the contemporary musical movement in connection between Israeli youth and M Israel, which centers on the revival of Jewish history and tradition, and piyyut , or liturgical poetry. Jews have particularly to increase the composed and sung piyyutim since relationship to Jews living in the about the sixth century C.E., as poems Diaspora. intended to adorn the obligatory In 1959 support was garnered for a communal prayers. Over the course of Gary Rendsburg, Roni law that would officially establish centuries, the piyyut widened its scope Stauber, and Meir Buzaglo Holocaust Remembrance Day as a and reached out beyond the range of national memorial day. That was one of prayers. Poets began to compose the manifestations of the gradual piyyutim that follow the yearly cycle, An excerpt from Roni Stauber’s talk: weakening of Statism. There were especially songs for Shabbat and the oday, when we are marking 60 years of various implications for this decline, individual holidays; songs of sup- Tthe State of Israel, I want to convey the and important here is the correlation plication for times of need; and songs important connection between Israel and between the weakening of Statism, for specific life-cycle events, such as the memory of the Holocaust, and its referred to in the literature as “the civil Brit Milah, the birth of a daughter, Bar impact on the current relationship religion” of Israel, and the gradual and Bat Mitzvah, and marriage. strengthening of the awareness of the between Israel and the Diaspora. The piyyutim are usually sung in Holocaust in Israeli society. In the first formative years of the a communal framework. Thus, for The increased interest in State of Israel, the attitudes of the example, the well-known piyyut commemorating the Holocaust was Israelis both to the Diaspora and to the “Lekha Dodi” is chanted during the influenced by the growing criticism memory of the Holocaust were Kabbalat Shabbat service, and “Yah heard throughout the 1950s regarding influenced by Statism, Ben-Gurion’s Ribbon Olam” is traditionally sung at the alienation of Israeli-born youth the Shabbat table. ideology that guided Israel’s from Jewish history and Jewish In the last five years, a deep governments. It had specific social and existence in the Diaspora. Many public interest in piyyutim , both old and new, political aims that gave sense and figures and intellectuals became more has sprung up in Israel. Crossing purpose both to those who were born and more concerned that many Sabras generational, religious, and ethnic in Israel and, especially, to new had no personal Jewish identity, and as boundaries, groups from many areas of immigrants gathered from around the a result they were exposed to extreme Israeli society are studying piyyutim ; world so that they might collectively anti-Zionist ideas such as Canaanism, there is now a piyyut website that gets strive to build and defend the new the theory that the people who lived in about 100,000 hits per month; and the country. It was the main tool in the the area even before the creation of the first piyyut festival was recently held nation-building process. It cultivated Jewish People were the real roots of in Jerusalem. an attitude of sanctity by describing the Israelis, thus undermining the Buzaglo speculates that studying the State of Israel as the realization of Zionist stance regarding the national- the meaning and ramifications of these a people’s historical dream. Statism historical connection between the phenomena will lead to further negated the life of the Jews in the Jewish people (in the Diaspora) and exploration of Jewish tradition and Diaspora and sought to build a bridge the Land of Israel. Israeli identity. He sees the piyyut between the State of Israel and ancient Towards the end of the decade, movement as a force to bring disparate Jewish life in the Land of Israel. As a the perception (which with the passage communities of Jews together, result, it strengthened the alienation of time became a cornerstone in both especially in a country such as Israel, felt by the Israeli youth towards the Israeli national consciousness and the which still is characterized by divides Jews living in the Diaspora and it educational system) began to emerge within the society (secular versus marginalized the memory of the within public discourse that the religious, Ashkenazi versus Sephardi, Holocaust. memory of the Holocaust should be one and so on). These study/ singing groups In 1957 the Israeli Ministry of of the central components that have helped create new opportunities Education formulated an educational connects those born in Israel with the for people from varied backgrounds program for increased Jewish history of Diaspora Judaism and the and communities to come together, and awareness among students. This Jewish communities worldwide. have started to have an influence on popular music.

6 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS SCHUSTERMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SINISRAEL STUDIES

eir Buzaglo , of the Department of Philosophy at the For example, he presented a faculty seminar to the MHebrew University of Jerusalem, was the Department of Philosophy entitled “Paradoxes and Schusterman Visiting Scholar in Israel Studies at the Concept Expansions,” and he delivered an informal talk to Bildner Center for 2007-2008. At Rutgers, Buzaglo the students living in the Mideast Coexistence House on participated in both academic and community activities the Douglass Campus. through the Bildner Center and the Department of Jewish During his time at Rutgers, Buzaglo finalized the draft Studies. Buzaglo taught the following four courses: “History for his forthcoming book on Maimonides. His recent of Zionism,” “Religion and Ethnicity in Israel,” “Classical publications include Until the Day Prevails (Reuven Mass, Jewish Philosophy,” and “Maimonides.” He also led a 2007; in Hebrew), a series of thoughts on philosophy and faculty seminar entitled “God and the World: When prayer; and A Language to the Loyal (Keter-Mandel, Analytic Philosophy Meets Rabbinic Interpretation,” which forthcoming; in Hebrew), a series of papers that study the prompted scholarly exchange and discussion. possibility and the merits of going beyond the religious- In the fall semester, his public talk “Nationalism, secular dichotomy that exists in modern Israel. Tradition, and Jewish Revival in Israeli Society” examined the range of spiritual and ideological leanings of oni Stauber will continue his affiliation with Rutgers Jews in Israel. Together with Roni Stauber, Buzaglo Ras the Bildner Center’s Schusterman Visiting Scholar participated in a special panel entitled “Israel at Sixty,” as in Israel Studies for 2008-2009. Stauber will teach the part of the Rutgers Reunion Weekend program in May. undergraduate courses “History of Zionism,” “Anti- (See page 6.) Semitism in Modern Times,” and “The Holocaust and Buzaglo also was active at other campus venues. Israel.”

In Memoriam: Leon Feldman and Moshe Moskowitz e mourn the loss of two retired ben Isaac Tamakh (d. 1393), Joseph as a stepladder for academic Wfaculty members from the former ben David of Saragossa (d. 1420), advancement. He was passionate about Department of Hebraic Studies: Nissim ben Reuben of Gerona (d. 1380), books—from all cultures—and about Professor Leon Aryeh Feldman and Solomon ibn Aderet (d. 1310) are rigorous academic standards in the (served 1962-1991) and Professor still acclaimed to this day. In addition, department where he taught for more Moshe Moskowitz (served 1973-2001). he wrote a history of the Jews of New than twenty years. It grieved him when Leon Feldman , zikhrono li’vrakha Rochelle and an outline of the history he saw those standards compromised. of the American Jewish community. But his innate good humor, sparkling Leon Feldman was the founding chair Former students recall Prof. wit, and love of his students never of the Department of Hebraic Studies, Feldman as someone who showed a deserted him. Moshe taught with a the precursor of the current sincere interest in his students’ smile and his students, who loved him Department of Jewish Studies. He was progress, was readily available to lend too, returned that smile to him. born in Berlin in 1921 and left an ear and give advice, and possessed Moshe Moskowitz was the only Germany prior to World War II. He a lively sense of humor. Hebrew/Yiddish scholar I know who in arrived in the U.S. in 1942. Dr. I too have very fond memories of just one article could with ease quote Feldman received rabbinic ordination him, as a good friend, colleague, and Leonard Bernstein’s lectures on music, from Yeshiva University and held two “fellow-traveler” – we frequently make reference to the Zohar, a Bach doctorates: one in Hebrew literature commuted to and from New York cantata, Bartok, Yehuda Halevi, from Yeshiva University and one in together during my early years at Mendele Mokher Sforim, Kafka, Agnon, Jewish history from Columbia Rutgers. He will be missed by many. the Book of Job, and come up with a University. couple of neologisms too. Prof. Feldman established the — Chaim I. Waxman, Prof. Emeritus, Sociology & Jewish Studies, Rutgers Moshe was a renewable spring of Department of Hebraic Studies before knowledge and laughter. In an era such departments were the norm. He Moshe Moskowitz , zikhrono li’vrakha when complaints abound about was a specialist in early medieval Dr. Moshe Moskowitz was unique as a professors who are self-important and rabbinic literature, and he brought to professor and as an intellectual. First, smug, he had another rare gift: he was Rutgers scholars who shared his vision he had mastered two disciplines, a mentch. of the essentials of Jewish literature. Hebrew and Yiddish, so rare in today’s Prof. Feldman’s writings on such —Curt Leviant taught Hebrew and academic specialization. Second, he Yiddish literature at the Hebraic medieval Jewish scholars as Abraham loved learning for its own sake and not Studies Department for many years.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 7 both demographically and geographically, presents a unique Message from the situation. The Center played a key role developing this Associate Director project, which serves as a model of cooperation between the university and the Jewish community in New Jersey. his past year marked ten years of my work at the Center Designed to encourage new teachers to take on this Tand it is an appropriate time to reflect on what we have difficult subject, a new eight-session course “History of the built here. The Holocaust Resource Center and the Rutgers Holocaust” was developed that focused on strengthening Jewish Film Festival are two examples of major programs that teachers’ knowledge and skills. This past summer I had the generate much interest. I look forward to moving in new privilege to represent Rutgers at the international directions such as strengthening relationships between educators’ seminar “Teaching the Holocaust to Combat disparate groups on campus and in the community. The Fall Racism and Prejudice” at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The program on Jewish-Christian relations is a new initiative in conference not only reinforced the importance of our work this direction. but provided an insight into the global interest in Holocaust The variety of special events and programs over the past education: representatives from over fifty countries year reflect the diversity of activities organized by the Bildner participated in this conference. These international Center. Leaders of New Jersey’s Jewish federations met with educators share our commitment to increase tolerance and both established and cutting-edge Jewish organizations to make a difference in the lives of their students and problem solve in the Jewish Leadership Forum. Keeping communities. federation’s message relevant for a younger generation I trust we can count on your support as move forward emerged as one of the key challenges for these thoughtful to strengthen the community at Rutgers and in New Jersey. leaders. The diversity of New Jersey’s Jewish communities, — Karen Small

Center Explores Jewish History and Culture Israel’s Constitution: Does it Exist? The Ruth and Alvin Rockoff Annual Lecture Amnon Rubinstein , Radzyner School of Law, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya

Amnon Rubinstein (left) with Yael Zerubavel and Alvin Rockoff Rabbi Lawrence Troster and Judith Helfand The Dead Sea Scrolls The Importance of the Scrolls for the Film as a Catalyst Understanding of the Bible, Early Judaism, for Social Change and the Birth of Christianity Focus on the Environment Shalom Paul , The Abram Matlofsky The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Memorial Program Funded by the Karma Foundation Judith Helfand , Filmmaker, The People of the Book activist, and educator and Oral Memory Rabbi Lawrence Troster , The Toby and Herbert Stolzer Scholar-in-residence, Greenfaith Endowed Lecture Moderator: Faye Ginsburg , Eli Yassif Eli Yassif , Tel Aviv University New York University

8 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS LEADERSHIP from page 1 statewide alliance that has strengthened local Jewish life. “While it is a challenge to mix large and small federations, it’s always interesting to hear the viewpoints of my peers,” observed Kenneth Heyman (United Jewish Communities of Metrowest). “I have learned some perspectives on the Jewish community that will serve me well in the future.” At the opening program, Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick linked the university and New Participants of the Jewish Leadership Forum Jersey’s organized Jewish community in his formal welcome. Keynote organizations, they challenged consider what their communities speaker Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter participants to create programs that might provide to make these (Yeshiva University) challenged are meaningful for young Jews, meaningful experiences possible. participants with his powerful beginning the process by asking In “The Future of Jewish address, “Strategic Issues Facing the themselves: What do they want and Philanthropy,” Jeffrey Solomon (The Jewish Community.” what can we offer them? Andrea and Charles Bronfman Jonathan Woocher (Jewish John Ruskay (UJA-Federation Philanthropies) offered a refreshing Education Service of North America) of New York) shared his innovative look at Jewish giving. He encouraged facilitated discussion and connected approach to funding in “Creating a federation leaders to take a macro the issues over the course of seven Caring Jewish Community: The approach when reaching out to interactive sessions. He noted that Domestic Agenda.” Given the donors in order to cultivate their the “program wasn’t always restraints of limited resources, he sense of ownership and a deep comfortable for the participants proposed that federations first understanding of the value of their because we raised challenging reaffirm their basic missions, then go contributions. questions about federations, what about creatively allocating monies to A final session gave participants they do, how they engage—and fail to fulfill that core agenda, while setting the opportunity to take stock of the engage—the community today. But aside a small budget to explore new forum experience, working toward the experience reinforced their programming directions. “force-field analyses” of the goals they strong sense that federations Looking at New Jersey vis-à-vis had identified over the course of the continue to embody central Jewish the larger Jewish world, the forum year and strategies for overcoming values and do vital life-saving and life- examined the effect of global trends inevitable obstacles. Regardless of shaping work.” on Jewish communities here. Eric federation size, they agreed that they The first session, “Changing Levine (United Jewish Communities) all must hone a traditional message of Demographic Trends in New Jersey,” joined Alan Hoffman (Jewish Agency communal responsibility while placed the forum’s agenda within the for Israel) to discuss how to use cultivating a new image, new context of New Jersey’s changing Israel’s centrality as a draw to relationships, and new initiatives. Jewish population. Joseph J. Seneca community life in “Building “Balancing the need to embrace (Rutgers University) and Ira Sheskin Jewish Peoplehood Using Israel change with fidelity to those core (University of Miami) assessed where as an Anchor.” values was the thread that ran the state’s community is today and Elisa Spungen Bildner through the entire program, and I where it is headed. (Foundation for Jewish Camp) shared believe that these wonderful, devoted “Engaging the Next Generation” study findings on the transformative leaders will go back to their brought to the table panelists Rabbi effects of immersive Jewish communities armed with a mix of Elie Kaunfer (Mechon Hadar) and experiences—such as overnight renewed commitment and fresh ideas Cheryl Cook (Hazon), who were summer camps—on Jewish identity in for how federations can fulfill their joined by Maurice Elias (Rutgers “Jewish Education: In and Beyond the community-building mission,” University). As leaders of cutting-edge Classroom.” She urged participants to concluded Dr. Woocher.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 9 The Herbert and Leonard Littman Families Holocaust Resource Center

philosophical impact of the Holocaust than in its context, its history, or its scope of destruction. “In order to teach about the Holocaust, an educator needs a solid academic perspective on the history,” remarked Aresty Visiting Scholar Roni Stauber of Tel Aviv University. “With an understanding of what really happened, a teacher can very effectively reach students.” Roni Stauber and Karen Small with Paul So the Bildner Center decided Winkler, executive director, New Jersey to take a revolutionary approach. Commission on Holocaust Education With sessions incorporating both a lecture by Stauber and the Participants read an extensive introduction of practical methods bibliography of important research Course participants at the United for classroom implementation by and literature for the course, and States Holocaust Memorial Museum Rebecca Aupperle , a “master level” they received materials developed in Washington, D.C. teacher, the course gave teachers by the New Jersey Commission on historical and contextual Holocaust Education and a copy of perspectives on the Holocaust as Echoes for use in their classrooms. A Revolutionary well as the means to share them Since the Holocaust is often with their students. The program the starting point for a dialogue Approach to included a visit to the U.S. about tolerance and diversity, the Holocaust Holocaust Memorial Museum in mix of teachers—general and Washington, D.C. special education, new and Education “‘The History of the Holocaust’ experienced, middle and high his past spring, the Bildner teaches about the Holocaust not as school—contributed to the valuable TCenter—through its Littman an isolated event, but as the group and one-on-one discussions Families Holocaust Resource culmination of a longtime hatred that enhanced the course. Center (HRC) —offered “The against the Jews, and extreme Participants took away powerful History of the Holocaust,” an racial concepts that became tools for teaching acceptance and innovative course for twenty-five dominant in Western civilization demonstrating the damage wrought New Jersey educators currently since the end of the nineteenth by deep-seated intolerance. teaching or planning to teach the century. That paved the way to the To have the greatest impact on Holocaust in districts statewide. The genocide of Jews and other groups,” students, the teachers were selected eight-session course provided them said Stauber. based on their demonstrated with the academic knowledge and Paralleling Echoes and commitment to Holocaust education. pedagogical skills needed to guide Reflections , a multimedia The result is a cadre of educators their students through a meaningful curriculum developed by Yad well prepared for the task: “not only exploration of this difficult subject. Vashem, the Shoah Foundation, and to reach the students in my district,” Although Holocaust education the Anti-Defamation League, the observed one participant, “but also is a required component of the state course examined the ideological my fellow teachers.” curriculum, there is no formal roots of Nazi racial policy, the “The course was informative program of study for the teachers historical developments of the and powerful,” said another. “It gave themselves. Further, educators are Holocaust, and the fate of survivors me what I was looking for to teach generally grounded more in the in the wake of World War II. the Holocaust most effectively.”

10 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS Vanishing Traces of Jewish Galicia in Present-Day Ukraine as L’viv, Kosiv, Buchach, and Berezhny, the ghosts of the past were seen in the crumbling synagogues used as garbage dumps and the abandoned Jewish cemeteries turned into marketplaces. Bartov provided many examples Right to left: Joan Bildner, Ziva Galili, of misrepresentation and Allen Bildner, and Yael Zerubavel suppression of Jewish history and memory in the region, under both Soviet and post-Soviet rule, perhaps n October 2007, Omer Bartov , the romanticism, and Ukrainian most notably the omission of the IJohn P. Birkelund Distinguished nationalism. Jews as victims of the Nazi genocide Professor of European History at Eastern Galicia came under the on memorials in the region. He Brown University, spoke at Rutgers rule of numerous powers throughout explained that as the Ukrainians about his new book, Erased: its history, including, in the seek to reassert their own history Vanishing Traces of Jewish Galicia twentieth century, the Nazis and the and identity, only Ukrainian in Present-Day Ukraine (Princeton Soviet Union. According to Bartov, a nationalists may be seen as either University Press, 2007). This timely fierce Ukrainian nationalism led to the major victims or heroes of events subject, handled by one of the complicity with the Nazis during in the region’s history. world’s leading authorities on World War II in the systematic Jewish cultural relics in genocide, attracted a large audience, eradication of the Jews from Eastern Western Ukraine are rapidly including many of the Bildner Galicia, as well as the ethnic disappearing. Bartov asserted, “This Center’s leadership and donors. cleansing of the region’s Polish is a region suspended in time, but The Raoul Wallenberg Annual population. for just a little while longer, before it Program is supported by a gift from Since the fall of Communism, is swept away with the tide of Leon and Toby Cooperman . Eastern Galicia has belonged to the commemoration, modernization, and “The main reason for writing western provinces of an apology.” this book,” Bartov said, “is to independent Ukraine. The urban awaken some kind of consciousness culture in Western Ukraine today in the United States, Europe, and blends an assertive nationalism, V

Statue at the site of the Great Synagogue, O Israel about the erasure of whatever vanishing traces of a rich T R A is left of Jewish culture and multiethnic past, and growing signs Kolomyia, 2004. B R civilization in Western Ukraine.” He of globalization. According to Bartov, E M O explained that the task was not only the Ukrainians are attempting to : O T scholarly, but also intended to spark create a single national historical O H international interest in how these narrative, an undertaking of massive P cultural remnants, which are simplification and erasure. Few of currently being destroyed, can be the citizens know about the region’s saved. complex, rich, and torturous past. Bartov spoke about the rich, The region’s history and its complex, multiethnic history of denial are more visible than in many Eastern Galicia, now located in other parts of Europe, as Bartov Western Ukraine, where for revealed through a slide show of centuries vibrant Jewish, Polish, and Western Ukraine, presenting the Ukrainian communities coexisted— general condition of dilapidation albeit with frequent animosity and and abandon of Jewish sites, which occasional acts of aggression. The have often remained unchanged area was the breeding ground for since the war, and the oblivion or Jewish mysticism, Polish ignorance of the past. In towns such

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 11 Jewish Studies Online ALUMNI PURSUE DIVERSE CAREERS Reaches Students Beth Feinberg (’05) began her career at North Brunswick Township around the World High School (NBTHS), after earning a joint bachelor of arts degree, master’s Adapted from Rutgers Focus (3/27/08) “From Irvington degree, and teacher certification to Idaho to Indonesia, Jewish studies branches out” through the Rutgers Graduate School eople in South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, of Education’s special five-year PRomania, England, Sweden, Nigeria, Malaysia, and program. She currently teaches world South Africa are taking classes in Rutgers’ Department of history and an elective, “Dimensions of Prejudice, Jewish Studies. Genocide, and the Holocaust.” Beth has continued her They are learning about the history of the Bible and involvement with Jewish studies at Rutgers by the Israeli political system. They are studying with participating in the Bildner Center’s “History of the department chair and world-renowned biblical scholar Holocaust” course. She has received teaching grants Gary Rendsburg , Rutgers faculty from across disciplines, from the Julius and Dorothy Koppelman Holocaust / and professors visiting from other universities. Genocide Resource Center at Rider University, and she And they are doing it from the comfort of their own ran a program at NBTHS called Adopt-A-Survivor, which homes, without having to register for class, pay tuition, or pairs students with Holocaust survivors to learn their even provide their names. stories and to tell them to future generations. Beth is “It was not my purpose to make it really complicated engaged to be married in November. and deep,” said Gene Hoffman , a benefactor from Essex County whose generosity helped launch Jewish Studies Dina Mann (’05) is pursuing an M.S. Online . “I wanted to make it user-friendly with no fee.” degree at the Columbia University The two courses at Jewish Studies Online—more are in development—have been taken by people across Graduate School of Journalism. She the globe, in 13 countries and 37 states across America. has had bylines in the New York Post, Rendsburg transported the idea of online mini- Philadelphia Inquirer, Denver Post, courses from Cornell University, where he spent 18 years and Arizona Republic , and she has on the faculty. His experience there, and Hoffman’s also served as an intern for The search for simple online education and easy access, gelled Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC. In to create the online study program, launched in 2006. addition to graduate work, Dina is a member of the The courses are designed for lifelong learning Park Avenue Synagogue faculty, teaching Jewish history, enthusiasts like Hoffman, current Jewish studies culture, and Hebrew to congregants of all ages. students at Rutgers and other universities, prospective Rutgers students who want a taste of what the faculty Amy Weiss (’05) earned a master’s has to offer, and anyone with an interest in Jewish, degree from the Jewish Theological religious, historical, or cultural studies. Seminary (JTS). She is currently a “What makes these unique and interesting is that Ph.D. candidate at New York they are not for credit, and they are a great vehicle for University (NYU), studying American reaching out to the larger community and giving them a Jewish history in the joint degree taste of what we do here at Jewish studies,” said Bildner program offered by the Departments Center Associate Director Karen Small . of History and of Hebrew and Judaic Associate Professor Azzan Yadin , who recently Studies. She holds a MacCracken Fellowship from NYU’s prepared an online course on rabbinic literature, became Graduate School of Arts and Science. In addition to her interested in online study after witnessing Rendsburg’s studies, Amy works as a tour guide at the Museum of experience. “Rabbinics is a very small and often marginal Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, part of the broader culture. That makes it all the more where she served as a Lipper Intern during her enticing. It might reach people who won’t really have other avenues to come in contact with these texts,” graduate work at JTS. Yadin said. — Ashanti M. Alvarez ALUMNI: Please keep us informed of See the center’s website at your activities at [email protected] http://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu

12 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS Filmmakers and Premieres Headline Jewish Film Festival

Jersey premieres. A landmark cultural event in the area, the Rutgers festival is the only Jewish film festival in New Jersey that showcases films of Jewish interest with an academic approach on a university platform. The critically acclaimed and prizewinning films touched on the David and Sylvia Steiner with many layers of the modern Jewish Sharon Karmazin experience: from intermarriage and crises of faith to the dynamics of the troops in the final weeks before Jewish family, the exploration of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in family roots, and the search for a 2000. Director Joseph Cedar Jewish husband. Several films attended the screening, and he led a showcased moments in history, such post-film discussion about the as the Jewish immigrant role in the meaning of war in Israeli society. He emergence of American professional later met with Rutgers’ Hebrew- he Rutgers New Jersey Jewish basketball. David and Sylvia Steiner language students for a continued TFilm Festival , sponsored by the sponsored the screening of The Rape exploration of themes in his films and Bildner Center and made possible by of Europa , which weaves together Israeli culture. (See story on page 1.) the generous support of the Karma historical and modern footage to The festival not only reaches out Foundation , continues to bring follow the Nazis’ systematic looting of to the Jewish community, but also sophisticated, international Jewish art during the Holocaust. exposes the general student body at cinema right to central New Jersey’s Four directors and nine noted Rutgers to Jewish subjects. When doorstep. With its diverse slate of experts attended screenings during César Braga-Pinto , Rutgers professor films, the festival draws a wide the festival, engaging the audience in of Spanish and Portuguese, addressed audience that grows each year, meaningful dialogue about the the audience viewing the award- reaching the region’s Jewish thought-provoking themes raised in winning film The Year My Parents population as well as the Rutgers the films. On opening night, director Went on Vacation , his own students University community and the general Dina Zvi-Riklis shared her poignant were there at his invitation. He film-going public. experience in making Three Mothers , encouraged them to join, too, in the The eighth annual festival an Israeli film about triplets who fled dialogue after the film, which looks at screened thirteen documentary and from Egypt to Israel in 1958. political upheaval in 1970 Brazil feature films from Brazil, Germany, Israeli films were, in fact, among through the eyes of a Jewish boy Israel, Russia, Switzerland, and the the festival’s most popular. Beaufort , whose parents must flee the country. United States for more than 5,000 the closing-night feature, is the story Additional sponsors of the attendees. Nine of the films were New of an Israeli army commander and his Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival include the Regal Entertainment Group , the Center Scene from Beaufort for Cultural Judaism / the Posen Foundation , and a growing list of festival patrons.

SAVE THE DATES November 9-19, 2008 Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival For information and tickets: jewishstudies.rutgers.edu

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 13 Posen Grant Enriches Jewish Studies arly into its second decade, the Department of Jewish EStudies at Rutgers is enjoying an exciting period of growth as it explores new academic avenues and expands the scope of its curricular offerings. Much of this change has been made possible by a three-year grant from the Posen David Biale, Yael Zerubavel, and Gary Rendsburg Foundation —administered through the Center for Cultural Judaism —to develop courses that focus on the notably David Biale from the University of California, relatively recent emergence of secular Jewish life. Taught Davis, who spoke about secularism in traditional Jewish by department or affiliated faculty, these new classes span culture. The funding also helped launch the 2007 academic the varieties of Jewish culture, from literature and art to conference, “Beyond Eastern Europe: Jewish Cultures in philosophy and history. Israel and the United States,” that anchored the Bildner During the first grant year, Nancy Sinkoff offered Center’s tenth-anniversary celebration. “Community and Crisis,” a look at the transformation of Now in its third year, the grant will enrich 2008–2009 Jewish communal structure from early modern to academic offerings with the development of several new contemporary times, and Azzan Yadin taught “The Jewish courses, among them Yael Zerubavel’s “Space in Modern Encounter with Secularism,” an intellectual history of key Jewish Culture” and Michael Levine’s look at Franz Kafka’s figures whose lives reflected the challenges of non- role as a secular Jewish writer. Azzan Yadin will teach Halakhic Jewish identity. Funding was also provided for a “Dialogue and Dissent: Jewish Cultural History,” surveying field trip to the Lower East Side as part of visiting scholar a number of key rifts in Jewish history. Cornelia Wilhelm’s “New York Jewry: History, Culture and Beyond curricula, the Posen Foundation supported Identity.” appearances by several guest directors at the 2007 Rutgers In 2007–2008, three new Posen courses were New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, making possible the rare developed, including Jeffrey Shandler’s innovative presence of two Israeli filmmakers: Dina Zvi-Riklis , who “Modern Jewish Culture: New Practices in a Secular Age,” spoke at the opening-night screening of her work Three which highlighted cultural practices—such as athletics Mothers , and Joseph Cedar , who attended the closing- and theater—that have emerged alongside traditional, night screening of his film, Beaufort . The grant will allow religious ones. In “The Bible Through Literary Eyes,” Gary several guest artists to engage film audiences during the Rendsburg examined literary motifs for an aesthetic 2008 festival this November. understanding of Scripture, while Michael Levine (German “The Posen grant has allowed us to offer a wide range studies) developed a course on Jewish intellectuals in of courses that we otherwise might not have taught,” Weimar Germany. observed Gary Rendsburg, chair, Department of Jewish In addition, Posen support has enabled Jewish studies Studies. “Both students and faculty have been the to bring several guest scholars to lecture at Rutgers, most beneficiaries of the Posen Foundation’s generous support.”

Donor Support Appreciated e are grateful to our donors for their support of the Center over the past year. Dr. Norman Reitman increased Whis generous giving to his visiting scholar fund. The Karma Foundation has provided a significant annual grant for the Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, our most visible community program. The Center was the beneficiary of a major gift from the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation in celebration of their 25th anniversary. Funding from Harriet and Joseph Tabak made possible a new interfaith program focusing on Jewish-Christian relations. Special thanks to the family of Deborah S. and Herbert B. Wasserman for establishing a new fund for student research. The Atlantic Philanthropies has given a gift to enhance Yiddish studies at Rutgers. Our thanks to Robert Steinberg and to Andrew Melnick for their support of our programs fund. For the third year, a grant from the American Israeli Cooperative Enterprise has provided funding to the Bildner Center for a Schusterman Visiting Scholar in Israel Studies , enabling Jewish Studies to expand its curricular offerings and strengthen Israel studies at Rutgers. Both the Jewish studies department and the Bildner Center’s community programs have been enriched by a grant from the Posen Foundation .

14 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS STUDENT PROFILES

amantha Ehrlich , recipient of the vi Smolen , recipient of the Maurice SHerbert and Jacqueline Klein Award AMeyer III and Irma Meyer Award , for Study in Israel , arrived at Douglass “followed his passions” to a major in College intending to double major in political science and a minor in psychology history and political science. To her when he came to Rutgers. But an interest in surprise, however, she completely changed continuing his Jewish education motivated direction when, looking to fulfill a core him to register for several Jewish studies requirement, she enrolled in “Jewish courses, including “Modern Hebrew.” Society and Culture” with Professor Gary Rendsburg . He then took “Jewish Society and Culture” with Professor “The class and the professor had such enormous impact Azzan Yadin , an academically and personally transformational experience that gave Avi insight into how to balance his on me,” Samantha said. “It was so unexpected.” commitment to Judaism and his place in the broader world. He She soon declared a new double major in Jewish studies said he was “blown away by the professor’s depth of knowledge and Middle Eastern studies, with plans to graduate in three and understanding of Jewish history.” years. She went on to take five more courses with Rendsburg, As he continued to enroll in Jewish studies courses, Avi fortifying her interest in the Bible and ancient Jewish history. found his Jewish worldview opened to new possibilities. “Samantha brought an unsurpassed enthusiasm to the Especially intriguing for him was “Ethnography in classroom, both for the field of Jewish studies in general and Contemporary Jewish Life” with Professor Jeffrey Shandler , for the world of ancient Israel in particular,” said the professor. which gave him his first opportunity to take the Jewish That enthusiasm inspired Samantha to continue her experience he lives each day and study it from an academic studies during university breaks, when she took biblical and perspective. modern Hebrew courses. She regularly attended Bible Though at first unexpected, Avi’s decision to add a minor conferences, too, and spent time in Israel visiting important in Jewish studies to his academic portfolio emerged out of the biblical sites. An avid reader, she learned a great deal from “simple desire to learn.” He has since had the privilege to study James Kugel’s How to Read the Bible and Mark Smith’s Yaweh “Israeli Politics” with Schusterman Visiting Scholar in Israel and Other Deities. Studies Yaacov Yadgar of Bar-Ilan University, and he has Samantha’s strong interest in the field led her to a learned immensely from his course work with Professor Nancy position as research assistant to Rendsburg, whom she sees as Sinkoff . “My interest in the discipline has only grown as I have a role model for her own career. “For two years, she cheerfully taken more courses in it,” Avi observed. and responsibly assisted me on a regular basis in all areas of Beyond his studies, Avi’s personal commitment to the value my research,” he noted. “It allowed her a glimpse at how a of tikkun olam —repairing the world—guides his activism, both scholar goes about his or her work, from tracking down a on and off campus. In recognition of his commitment to the footnote in an obscure journal in the library to the writing of university community, the Rutgers Department of Student Life awarded him its prestigious Outstanding Student Leader of the the scholarly article to the reading of the proofs in anticipation Year Award as well as its Human Dignity Award for 2007–2008. of publication.” He currently serves as president of Rutgers Hillel. Particularly meaningful for both student and professor His semester breaks, too, have been anything but idle. He was the opportunity to work together on two independent has spent time rebuilding and revitalizing communities in studies, in which they read from the Bible, Ugaritic texts, and Nicaragua with American Jewish World Service, in Israel with other ancient sources. “These experiences permit the kind of Hillel International, and, stateside, in New Orleans with Hillel. close mentoring that brings teacher and student to the same This past summer, he traveled to the Balkans with a group of page, both literally and figuratively, in line with a tradition that Jewish and Palestinian students as part of a one-year fellowship reaches back to antiquity,” observed Rendsburg. from Abraham’s Vision, which uses conflict comparison to On track to an academic career in Bible studies, examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Samantha recently began a master’s program in the Bible and A member of the Rutgers Honors Program, Avi will ancient Jewish languages at the Jewish Theological Seminary. complete an interdisciplinary senior thesis, researching the She plans to continue on to a doctoral program, and she impact of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. After intends to focus her research on Canaanite influences in the graduation, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in northern kingdom of Israel. international development and an MBA in marketing, with an Samantha found the support of the Department of Jewish eye toward a career in international development that will focus Studies and the vast knowledge of its faculty invaluable as she on human rights. honed her academic goals. “There is a unique level of Avi hails the Jewish studies department’s integrated excitement and enthusiasm in the department that is approach, which offers “a uniquely well-rounded experience.” contagious,” she remarked. “The professors love what they Without it, Avi feels assured, “I would never have had the teach, and it inspires you to want to learn.” opportunity to look at Judaism this way.”

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 15 Students Honored at Awards Ceremony An excerpt from Sara Lewis’s speech: he Rutgers University Department Tof Jewish Studies has provided me with an education of which Confucius would be proud. Throughout the past four years, I have been involved in a number of incredible educational opportunities. . . . I created my own internship and independent study. I spent my entire junior year doing research about how children relate to religion and the concepts of prayer and G-d. Using this information, I produced a curriculum for Camp Ramah for children ages four to nine to teach them morning prayers in a camp setting. Thanks to Karen Small and my involvement in the Bildner Center, I have had the opportunity to be a part of important dialogue concerning the New Jersey Jewish community and strategies to combat the problems that face it [through] the New Jersey Jewish Leadership Forum, a partnership between the Bildner Center and all of the Jewish Federations of New Jersey. When Karen asked me Students with Yael Zerubavel, Nancy Sinkoff, and Gary Rendsburg to be the [student representative] to the initiative, I was so honored. This seven- part series has been a marvelous leven Jewish studies majors and minors were recognized educational opportunity for me, especially because of my in May for their academic achievement in Jewish studies. E desire to work in the field of Jewish communal service. To The luncheon and ceremony were attended by recipients and meet with the executives and lay leaders of the New Jersey their families, donors, friends of the Center, and faculty. Jewish Federations has provided me with the chance for a deeper understanding of the inner workings of New An excerpt from opening remarks by Maurice Elias , Jersey’s Jewish community.* professor of psychology and Jewish studies, and academic director of Rutgers Civic Engagement and Service ertificates were presented to Jillian Schlanger and Education Partnerships Program: CJoshua Reback in recognition of their completing four his is indeed an occasion for years of Hebrew language at Rutgers. The two studied Tgreat kvelling—and I think that Hebrew from the introductory through the most advanced- kvelling is a very important word, level courses, and they are pictured below with Hebrew because every language has a word Language Coordinator Orly Moshenberg (left) and Hebrew that tries to capture this emotion. It Instructor Edna Bryn-Noiman. means more than celebration. It means more than joy. It denotes a very deep emotional connection and yet it’s a very thoughtful term; so, when I think of the Jewish Studies Department at Rutgers, I think very much of this combination of the intellectual and the emotional, contemplative but also action oriented. . . . I have to say that the seriousness with which this faculty takes mentoring is, in my travels in the university for twenty-nine years, exemplary. They are concerned with the legacy that our students are going to leave behind. It’s not something that ends when our students * For full transcripts of speeches, please see walk out the door. It’s deep and lasting. I say this as an http://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu. Click on “Bildner outsider but also as an associated faculty member.* Center”, then “Student Programs.”

16 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS Award Jewish Studies Recipients Graduates Elana Akman, ’08 The Baruch S. and Pearl W. Fall 2007 and Seidman Award Spring 2008 Meira Bayar, ’08 The Alexander and Ruth Majors Seaman Award Samantha Ehrlich Laronda Glasco Rachel Dushkin, ’09 Mitch Frumkin speaks to Yael Simone Goller The Gertrude and Jacob Zerubavel’s class “The Jewish Alyson Gottdenker Henoch Memorial Award Immigrant Experience” about his recent trip to Ethiopia and Israel Jonathon Kaplan Samantha Ehrlich, ’08 with the Jewish Federation of Sara Katz The Herbert and Jacqueline Klein Middlesex County Sara Lewis Award for Study in Israel Ulrich Groetsch, Graduate Student Minors The Baruch S. and Pearl W. Dara Abramowitz Seidman Award Elana Akman Center Danielle Asher Ariella Gutin, ’08 Cosponsors Nicole Asher The Betty and Julius Gillman Meira Bayar Memorial Award Programs with Todd Berstein Yael Kahn, ’08 Marissa Bullock The Ruth Feller Rosenberg Award Rutgers Hillel Jodi Eisner Sara Lewis, ’08 Talia Fishel The Harold and Betty Perl Award Is Middle East Peace Possible? Matthew Gazda A discussion with Mitchell Bard , author Josh Gombo Bethany Murphy, ’08 and executive director of the American- The Rudolph and Mary Solomon Michael Greene Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Klein Award Ariella Gutin From Swastika to Jim Crow: Yael Kahn Avi Smolen, ’09 Black-Jewish Dialogue David Lerner The Maurice Meyer III and A screening of the documentary film Shira Lichtbroun Irma Meyer Award From Swastika to Jim Crow, followed by Leah Maas Leah Weis, ’09 a dialogue on black-Jewish relations and Eytan Morgenstern The Louis Fishman Memorial Award culture in America. Bethany Murphy “Thou Shalt Not Make Graven Images”: Samantha Packard Cartoons in the Yiddish Press Amanda Ross An illustrated talk by Rutgers Yiddish Jillian Schlanger Instructor Edward Portnoy Nina Sherman Abortion in Jewish Law: Nitza Sherman Alternative Views on a Crucial Issue Yarden Sibony A panel discussion by experts in Elise Swartz Jewish law and Jewish medical ethics. Eric Wimpfheimer Samantha Ehrlich, recipient of the Everything’s Cool: A Toxic Comedy Amy Wisel Herbert and Jacqueline Klein Award for about Global Warming Larisa Zycband Study in Israel, with Jacqueline Klein A screening of the documentary film by and Marion Shapiro Filan Daniel Gold and Judith Helfand.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 17 2007) and delivered several public MLN Comparative Literature 122, and C. T. McCullough (American Faculty lectures on Jewish topics for the no. 3 German issue (2007): Schools of Oriental Research, Horizon Speakers Bureau of the 573–601; “‘A Place So Insanely 2007), pp. 95– 107; “Israel Without Updates New Jersey Council for the Enchanting’: Kafka and the Poetics the Bible,” in The Hebrew Bible: Humanities. of Suspension,” MLN Comparative New Insights and Scholarship , ed. Literature (forthcoming); and “A F. E. Greenspahn (New York Maurice Elias published an article Judy Gerson presented a paper Coming Freedom: Kafka’s University Press, 2007), pp. 3–23; with Leora Trub (RC ’00, Jewish and chaired a session entitled Investigations of a Dog,” Journal of and “Mesha Stele line 12,” Maarav studies), “The Counselor Within: A “Gendering Jewish Studies” and the Kafka Society of America 14 (2007): 9–25. He presented lec - Study of Rabbinical Counseling gave a talk, “Legacies of the (forthcoming). He gave the follow - tures at the following venues: Training and Practice in the Holocaust in Refugee Memoirs,” at ing talks: “Beyond Victim and American Jewish University, Tel Conservative Movement,” Journal the annual meeting of the Perpetrator: New Subject Positions Aviv University, Pennsylvania State of Jewish Education 73, no. 3 Association for Jewish Studies in in Danny Verete’s Metallic Blues University, and Louisiana State (2007): 163–90, and, with I. E. Sigel Toronto (2007). She also delivered and Eytan Fox’s Walk on Water ,” as University. He also gave talks at and J. S. Kress, “Beyond a lecture, “Immigrant Lives, a participant in a panel, “Crossing three conferences: “Jews and the Questioning: Inquiry Strategies and Holocaust Narratives: German Borders, Articulating Tensions: The Environment” at Creighton Cognitive and Affective Elements of Jewish Refugees Remember Their Poetics of Social and Political University (October 2007), “The Jewish Education,” Journal of Pasts,” in a panel entitled “Jewish Friction in Israeli Literature and Dead Sea Scrolls at 60: The Jewish Education 73, no. 1 (2007): Diaspora” at the European Social Film,” at the annual meeting of the Scholarly Contributions of NYU 51–66. He co-edited Dreams: Science History Conference in Association for Jewish Studies in Faculty and Alumni” at New York Stories of Hope, Resilience, and Lisbon (2008). Character (University Press of Toronto (2007); “Just an Ordinary University (March 2008), and “Sixty America, 2008) and Educating David Greenberg published “Nixon Jew” at the Rutgers New Jersey Years After: Revisiting The People to Be Emotionally the Statesman,” in Nixon in the Jewish Film Festival (2007); Intellectual Adventure Of Ancient Intelligent (Praeger, 2007; interna - World: American Foreign Policy, “Naturgebet der Seele: Benjamins Man ” at Brown University (March tional edition, Heinemann, 1969–1977 , ed. Fredrik Logevall Kafka—Interpretation” at the 2008). In addition, Rendsburg was Johannesburg, South Africa). Elias and Andrew Preston (Oxford University of Giessen (2007); named an associate editor of the was the editor of “The Preparation University Press, 2008 ); “Richard “Serious Comics in the Age of Encyclopaedia of the Hebrew of Rabbis for the Modern Hofstadter Reconsidered,” Raritan Testimony” at an international con - Language and Linguistics , to be Rabbinate,” special issue, Journal (Fall 2007); “Reading the ference, “Histories: Unsettling and published by Brill. Candidates,” Dissent (Fall 2007); Unsettled,” at the University of of Jewish Education 73, no. 3: Jeffrey Shandler published “What “The Entwined Lives and Psyches Erfurt (2007); “Kafka for 163–259. Elias was appointed aca - Is American Jewish Culture?” in of Richard Nixon and Alger Hiss,” Beginners” at the Rutgers demic director of Rutgers’ new The Columbia History of Jews and Clio’s Psyche (September 2007); University German Department Civic Engagement and Service Judaism in America , ed. Marc Lee and “Nixon in American Memory,” Professional Development Day Education Partnerships program. Raphael (Columbia University in Institutions of Public Memory: (2008); “Translation and Trauma” He was also elected president of Press, 2008); with Aviva Weintraub, The Legacies of German and at the conference “TRANSLATION the Society for Community “’Santa, Shmanta’: Greeting Cards American Politicians , ed. Astrid 3 (Culture • Institution • Theory),” Research and Action / American for the December Dilemma” in M. Eckert (German Historical sponsored by the Rutgers Psychological Association, Division “American Jewish Religious Life,” Institute, 2007). Greenberg University Department of of Community Psychology. co-edited with Barbara received the Hiett Prize in the Comparative Literature conference Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, special Leslie Fishbein was chair and Humanities from the Dallas (2008); and “‘A Place So Insanely issue, Material Religion 3, no. 3 commentator of a session entitled Institute for Humanities and Enchanting’: Kafka and the Poetics (2007); “The Shtetl Subjunctive: “Television and Consuming Culture. He was also awarded the of Suspension” at Johns Hopkins Yaffa Eliach’s Living History Gender” at the annual American Rutgers University Board of University (2008). Levine also pre - Museum,” in Culture Front: Studies Association Convention, Trustees Research Fellowship for sented “The Graphic Novel” on the Representing Jews in Eastern Philadelphia (October 2007). She Scholarly Excellence. Greenberg MLA radio show, “What’s the Europe , ed. Benjamin Nathans and was invited by the Jewish Feminist received a promotion to associate Word?” (2007). Gabriella Safran (University of Research Group to serve as com - professor with tenure. mentator, along with Rabbi Charles Gary Rendsburg published “The Pennsylvania Press, 2007); and Simon, on Keren McGinity’s paper Martha Helfer received the Biblical Flood Story in the Light of “Mediating Community: American “Matriarchs on the Margin: Graduate School Teaching Award the Gilgameš Flood Account,” Jewry and the New Media of the Intermarried Jewish Women’s for 2007–2008. She presented a Ancient Near Eastern Studies , Twentieth Century,” in Imagining Modus Vivendi,” which was pre - paper on Friedrich von Schiller’s Supplement 21 (2007): 115–27; the American Jewish Community , sented at the Jewish Theological “Moses’ Mission” at the annual “Ancient Hebrew Morphology,” in ed. Jack Wertheimer (University Seminary, New York City (October meeting of the German Studies Morphologies of Asia and Africa , Press of New England, 2007). 2007). She is a member of the K–16 Association. Helfer will be working ed. A. S. Kaye (Eisenbrauns, 2007), Shandler is a co-editor, with Matti Collaborations Committee of the on writing her book, which ana - pp. 85–105; “No Stelae, No Queens: Bunzl, of Jewish Cultures of the American Studies Association. lyzes latent anti-Semitism in nine - Two Issues Concerning the Kings of World , a series of monographs in Fishbein also presented a daylong teenth-century German literature, Israel and Judah,” in The Jewish anthropology, ethnography, seminar on immigration and eth - during her 2008–2009 sabbatical. Archaeology of Difference: Gender, and cultural studies (Rutgers University Press). He delivered the nicity for the Rutgers Center for Michael Levine published Ethnicity, Class and the “Other” in following talks: “American Jewish Historical Analysis Institute for “Pendant: Büchner, Celan and the Antiquity; Studies in Honor of , ed. D. R. Edwards Popular Culture” at Miami High School Teachers (November Terrible Voice of the Meridian,” Eric M. Meyers

18 • JEWISH STUDIES AT RUTGERS University of Ohio (2007); “Youth Making of Lucy S. Dawidowicz,” to Historical Perspective,” at York make up the biennial Enoch Writing and the Holocaust” at the the reissue of Dawidowicz’s mem - University, Toronto (May 2008). Seminar, sponsored by the Italian Center for Holocaust and Genocide oir, From that Place and Time: A She also was a respondent to the government, which he attended in Studies at Ramapo College (2007); Memoir, 1938–47 (Rutgers paper “Rachel Morpurgo: Re- Italy (Summer 2007). Yadin contin - “Where Is Home?” as curator and University Press, 2008). She pub - Envisioning the Biography of a ues to serve as the head of the moderator of a screening and dis - lished a review essay, “(What Was Jewish-Italian Poet,” presented as Rabbinics Division of the Assoc- cussion series at the Center for Once) The Largest Jewish part of the Jewish Feminist iation for Jewish Studies and as co- Jewish History, New York (2007); Community in the World,” Jewish Research Group at the Jewish editor of the Texts and Studies in “Heschel at the Crossroads: The Quarterly Review 97, no. 4 (Fall Theological Seminary of America Ancient Judaism book series. Earth Is the Lord’s ,” as part of “A 2007): 647–59; a review of Men of (January 2008), and to “Cooper- Yael Zerubavel has published two Legacy for the Future: Celebrating Silk: The Hasidic Conquest of ation across Ideological Lines” as articles: “Memory, the Rebirth of the Life and Teachings of Abraham Polish Jewish Society in Slavic part of an international workshop, the Native, and the Hebrew Joshua Heschel” at the Center for Review 66, no. 4 (Winter 2007): “Jewish Relief Organizations in Bedouin Identity,” Social Research Jewish History, New York (2007); 733–34; and “Mendel Lefin” and pre–World War II Europe: A 75, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 315-52, and “Engaging Contemporary Art in “Ber of Bolechów,” in the YIVO Comparative Perspective,” spon - “The Desert and the Settlement as Jewish Studies: A Scholars’ Encyclopedia of East European sored by New York University and Symbolic Landscapes in Modern Roundtable with Three Jewish History , vol. 1 (Yale the Hebrew University of Israeli Culture,” in Jewish Contemporary Toronto Artists” University Press, 2008), pp. Jerusalem (April 2008). Topographies Visions of Space, (convener and chair) and “Video 168–69, 1006–7. Sinkoff was a Paola Tartakoff is working on her Traditions of Place, ed. Julia Rites: The Protocols of Recording leader of the workshop “Opatów book, Conversion and Inquisition Brauch, Anna Lipphardt, and American Jewish Life-Cycle (Apt), Poland, in the European in the Medieval Crown of Aragon, Alexandra Nocke. Heritage, Culture Rituals” at the annual meeting of Village Project,” for the “Teach 1243–1391 , as well as on an article and Identity Series. (Ashgate the Association for Jewish Studies Europe Conference,” sponsored by on royal attitudes toward Jewish Press, 2008): 201-22. She gave the in Toronto (2007); “Taking the the Rutgers University Center for conversion in medieval Spain. In following talks: “The Last Frontier? Lead: Fighting for Democracy on European Studies (October 2007), addition, she is embarking on Settlement, Ecology and Tourism in American Radio, 1939–1955” at the and a member of the panel “The research on the religious instruc - the Israeli Desert,” the Edward A. Jewish Theological Seminary Shtetl : Jews at the Center of Town tion of Jewish converts to Block Lecture in Jewish Studies at (2008); “Imagining Holocaust in Poland,” as part of “From Apt Christianity following the mas - Indiana University (October 2007); Childhoods,” as part of “The Child to Opatów: Past Shtetl, Present sacres and forced conversions of “Desert, Settlement, Ecology, and in the Holocaust: A Symposium,” at Poland,” co-sponsored with the 1391, a project based on an unpub - Tourism: Visions of the Land in the University of California Bildner Center. Sinkoff delivered lished Catalan preaching manual Israeli Culture” at Arizona State Berkeley (2008); and numerous talks: “Positivist from the turn of the fifteenth cen - University (November 2007); “War “Sanctification of the Brand Name: Memory: Lucy S. Dawidowicz and tury. In the spring she wrote an and Memory in Israeli Culture,” the The Marketing of Cantor Yossele the Writing of From That Place article on medieval Jewish apostasy Samuel and Dorothy Frankel Rosenblatt,” at a conference, “Jews and Time ,” at the Bildner Center for the Encyclopedia of the Bible Memorial Lecture at Wesleyan and American Capitalism,” at (November 2007); The Workmen’s and Its Reception . University (April 2008); and Columbia University and New York Circle / Dr. Emanuel Patt Lecture, “Historical Analogies and Space University (2008). Shandler also “Lucy S. Dawidowicz: An Azzan Yadin (see page 3 for pro - Metaphors in the Construction of was a co-convener of a colloquium, American in Vilna, 1938,” at the file) gave the following talks: Israeli Memory,” at an internation - “Objects of Affection: The Wedding YIVO Institute (February 2008); “Dworkin and the Problem of al conference, “History and in Jewish Life,” at the Center for “Lucy S. Dawidowicz, Gertrude Heresy,” as part of Cardozo Law Memory,” at Tel Aviv University Religion and Media, New York Himmelfarb, and the School’s “Jewish Law and Legal (May 2008). She participated in a University / Center for Jewish Neoconservative Embrace of Theory” program; “The Status of symposium, “Historical Memory of History, New York (2008). In addi - Capitalism,” as part of the “Jews Scripture in Early Rabbinic Violence and Catastrophe,” at tion, Shandler was appointed to the and Capitalism Conference,” Literature” at Princeton University; Princeton University and served on Editorial Board of Contemporary co-sponsored by Columbia and “Rabbi Akiva’s Biography” at a panel, “The Future of Zionism Jewry . He continues to serve as vis - University and New York Yale University. He presented “On and of Israeli-Diaspora Relations,” iting scholar and co-convener (with University (March 2008); “The the Jewish-Pagan Dialogue” at the with Chancellor Arnold Eisen at Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett) of Pursuit of Secular Heresy: annual meeting of the Association the Jewish Theological Seminary in the Working Group on Jews, Media, Emergent Neoconservatism’s for Jewish Studies in Toronto and New York (May 2008). Zerubavel and Religion, Center for Religion Campaign Against Jewish “Oral Tradition and Esotericism” at serves on the boards of the and Media, New York University. Communism,” at Smith College the annual meeting of the Society Association for Jewish Studies and Shandler convened a yearlong (March 2008); “Jewish Politics in for Biblical Literature. He was also the Association for Israel Studies series of Holocaust Studies Faculty Post-War America: Lucy S. invited to serve as a respondent at and continues to serve on several Seminars sponsored by the Dawidowicz and the Rise of the the University of Pennsylvania’s editorial boards of academic jour - Bildner Center. Neoconservatives” at Columbia Center for Advanced Jewish nals, including Israel Studies , University (April 2008); and, Studies annual conference and at Nancy Sinkoff was the Workmen’s Journal of Israeli History , Israel “Contesting Secularism: Nathan Cardozo’s conference “The Bible Circle / Dr. Emanuel Patt Visiting Studies Forum , and Postscripts: Birnbaum and Lucy S. and Modern Intellectual Professor for 2007-2008 at the The Journal of Sacred Texts and Dawidowicz,” as part of Discourse.” In addition, Yadin was YIVO Institute for Jewish Contemporary Worlds , as well as “Czernowitz at 100: The First invited to join the U.S., Israeli, and Research. Sinkoff completed the the Rutgers University Press series Yiddish Language Conference in European group of scholars that introduction, “ Yidishkayt and the Jewish Cultures of the World .

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 19 Does the War End When Ballots, Babies, and Refugees and Safe Havens: PUBLIC PROGRAMS the Shooting Stops? Banners of Peace: Seventy Years after 2008–2009 The Psychological Effects of American Jewish Women’s the St. Louis Israeli Politics: Terrorism on Israelis Pre–World War II Activism The Raoul Wallenberg The Military and Civil Society (in Hebrew) The Toby and Herbert Stolzer Annual Program The Ruth and Alvin Rockoff Speaker: Zahava Solomon Endowed Lecture Supported by the Annual Lecture October 26 Speaker: Melissa Klapper Leon and Toby Cooperman Fund Speaker: Yoram Peri February 25 Speaker: Scott Miller September 14 Rutgers New Jersey April 26 Jewish Film Festival Fashion and Identity Jewish-Christian November 9–19 in Israel in the 1950s Relations Today: Supported by the Professional Development A Historic Transformation They were my Neighbors: Sagner Family Foundation for Teachers Made possible by Harriet Jewish Survivors and their Speaker: Anat Helman Rescuers in the Holocaust March 5 Master Teacher Institute and Joseph Tabak in Holocaust Education Speakers: Eugene Korn In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht The New Philo-Semitism: January 2009-June 2010 John T. Pawlikowski Monthly sessions September 21 Speaker: Douglas Greenberg Israel, Islamophobia, and November 20 the Right Wing in Europe Why Is It Important to Teach Politics of the Environment Made possible by the Henry Fieldnotes on Becoming Schwartzman Endowment about Genocide, Bias, in Israel and the Region Prejudice, and Bigotry? The Ruth Ellen Steinman a Jewish Novelist Speaker: Matti Bunzl The Abram Matlofsky March 23 Cosponsored by the Daniel Pearl Bloustein and Edward J. Education Center Bloustein Memorial Lecture Memorial Program Speaker: Dara Horn Temple B’nai Shalom Speaker: Arie Nesher October 16 October 6 December 8

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