FALL College 2013COLLEGE of Charleston, Fall 2004of Page 1 1 CHARLESTON Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program

rwdl rwdm from generation to generation FALL 2013 2 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program The Synergy of Jewish Studies

Jewish Studies has come a very long way in its relatively short history, and the rest of this newsletter highlights the everyday activities that make the program so vibrant. In this letter, I will focus on the structure of the program, its faculty and staff, that make it all happen.

As I have emphasized repeatedly, Jewish Studies has a unique administrative structure since academics, student life, and community outreach are all under the same umbrella, though with different funding sources. Essentially, the academic side is funded by College of Charleston dollars, while the student and community outreach components are funded by endowment monies (housed at the College of Charleston Foundation), foundation grants, and our increasingly important annual fund.

The academic side has four full-time designated faculty positions in Jewish Studies and Hebrew (Josh Shanes, David Slucki temporarily replacing Adam Mendelsohn, Oren Segal succeeding Tsipi Wagner, and me), Ted Rosengarten, the Zucker/Goldberg Professor of Holocaust Studies, and the Arnold Distinguished Visiting Professor of Jewish Studies (Gary Zola this spring). Larry Krasnoff, a professor of philosophy, is the Associate Director of Jewish Studies and Jewish Studies has faculty from other departments who teach regularly in the program. The College offers a Jewish Studies major and minor, a dozen courses each semester, and travel courses, all as part of its academic mission. By the way, the large majority of students enrolled in Jewish Studies courses are not Jewish. On this level, Jewish Studies is like other academic departments, though it has two endowed chairs as part of its regular teaching faculty as well as occasional positions funded by outside sources, like the Schusterman Professor of Israel Studies this past year (Naomi Gale).

Jewish student life (JSU/Hillel) addresses the extra-curricular needs of the roughly 800 Jewish students and other students interested in Jewish life at the College of Charleston. These needs might be social (Meet-to-Eats every Wednesday or regular beach outings), religious (Shabbat services and dinners every Friday or Passover seders), cultural (Israel night, Birthright, or the Three-Rabbi Panel), outreach (Carolina Youth Development Center or Ronald McDonald House), or special counseling. Our current Jewish student life staff includes a Jewish student life advisor (Marsha Alterman), a student program coordinator (Dara Rosenblatt), and a student engagement coordinator (Jodie Singer). This staff also supports all Jewish student life activities at .

Community outreach has been the hallmark of Jewish Studies since the Program’s inception. The impetus for the Jewish Studies program came from the community and the community has always been here for Jewish Studies. Jewish Studies has a community liaison (Mark Swick) to make sure that our significant community programming (Sunday brunches, Brown bag lunch series, Reading Hebrew classes, Chanukah in the Square, A World of Jewish Culture at Piccolo Spoleto, and more) happens without a hitch. The community liaison is also charged with energizing the Advisory Board and managing the Jewish Studies annual campaign, both of which are structural features of Jewish Studies that are atypical for other departments on campus.

As director, I oversee all these activities, with the help of a trusted and able administrator (Enid Idelsohn). I am also in charge of fundraising (with Jenny Fowler from Development), directing the Jewish Historical Society of , overseeing the Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik Jewish Studies Center, and helping with the planning of the new addition to the Center.

The efficiency of our unique structure is its synergy. Typically, all the Program’s activities point in the same direction, whether it is Israel as a study abroad destination or as a Birthright initiative, Chanukah in the Square or the Three-Rabbi Panel as a student or community initiative, or a Holocaust exhibition as an academic or community outreach offering.

The faculty and staff of Jewish Studies are terrific. They execute the day-to-day classes and events with energy, skill, and commitment. I do far less than I once did because so much happens at Jewish Studies without me. I am deeply thankful for that. I still make my share of coffee, but I have lots of help and lots more coffee drinkers.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year,

Martin Perlmutter, Director On the cover: College of Charleston Taglit-Birthright Israel trip attendees, Summer 2013 FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 3 3 Three Rabbi Panel THE EVOLVING ROLE OF THE SYNAGOGUE Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 7:30pm Stern Center Ballroom (4th Floor) Corner of Glebe & George Streets

Beginning with the arrival of Jews to Charleston in the late 17th century, the Holy City once functioned at the forefront in determining the direction of the American Jewish community, in particular the role of the synagogue. Between 1800 and 1830, Charleston was home to the largest Jewish community in North America, with our temple playing a central role as a gathering place and house of worship for Charleston’s Jews. For generations to follow, in Charleston and across the country, the synagogue was one of the most significant institutions in Jewish life. The 21st century brings a number of challenges: from the increase in secular and unaffiliated Jews, to a financial model that relies heavily on membership dues for operating expenses, to becoming an institution providing a breadth of services once reserved to Jewish community centers. There is a compelling need for a wide-ranging discussion of the diverse issues facing American Judaism, and, in particular, those facing Charleston’s synagogues.

What are we going to be? What issues affect some congregations and denominations, but not others? What will congregational Judaism in Charleston look like in ten, fifty or one hundred years? Our panelists will discuss the ever changing role of the synagogue as an institution, as well as their understanding of the direction their individual congregations are heading.

Rabbi Adam J. Rosenbaum Rabbi Stephanie Alexander Rabbi Moshe Davis Synagogue Emanu-El Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Brith Sholom Beth Israel (Conservative) (Reform) (Orthodox) Chanukah in the Square Sunday, December 1, 2013 4:00 pm — 6:00 pm Marion Square Park

Join us for the ninth annual Chanukah in the Square extravaganza. Once again the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program will team up with the City of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Chabad of the Lowcountry, and many other community organizations to create our most festive celebration yet. Chanukah in the Square is the largest annual Jewish event in the state of South Carolina, and is a wonderful, kid-friendly way to end the Thanksgiving weekend.

Our local Holocaust survivors will continue the tradition of lighting the candles. Mayor Riley will once again make welcoming remarks. Please plan on being there with your neighbors, friends, and family. Bring an appetite and your dancing shoes. We will supply the hot food, the live music, and the festive atmosphere!

For many years Piggly Wiggly Carolina has supported Chanukah in the Square, continuing the warm relationship that Piggly Wiggly and the Jewish community have had for many years. We are deeply appreciative of the support and the relationship, and think the Pig looks very sharp in his custom made yarmulke. Many thanks too to Berlin’s Restaurant Supply, Eli and Ann-Therese Hyman, and the T-Bonz Foundation for their continued generous sponsorship. 4 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program Sunday Mornings in Arnold Hall Sunday brunches have become a regular feature of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program. Bagels, coffee, and orange juice will be served in Arnold Hall beginning at 9:00 am. All talks, except for the Citadel panel on September 29th and Consul General Opher Aviran on October 13th, begin at 10:00am on the first floor of the Jewish Studies Center. Our brunches are free and open to the public. Immediately after the presentations, Sig Schildcrout will host an informal discussion with the speaker in the Rabbi Hirsch Levin Library. Free parking is available for Sunday morning events (only) in the Wentworth Street Garage on the corner of Wentworth and St. Philip. Bring your parking ticket to the talk for validation. Thanks to Lora and David Kratzok, Jean and Zev Wolf, and Thelma Becker, our indefatigable and long-time volunteers, for their ongoing commitment, hard work, and good humor while preparing for and serving our many brunchgoers. JEWISH AT THE CITADEL: A PANEL DISCUSSION Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 10:00am LOCATION: Physicians Auditorium (Enter from promenade at the intersection of Glebe and George Streets)

Though Jewish cadets have attended the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina since its earliest years in the mid-nineteenth century, little has been recorded, aside from oral histories, about the shared and individual experiences of those cadets. Alumni recall that historically the Citadel fluctuated between accepting expressions of Jewish life based on the college president, all of them generals and admirals, some of them more open than others.

Join a panel of Jewish Citadel alumni and current cadets for a discussion of their experiences as Jews on campus, as well as the different movements that altered the Citadel into the college that it is today. Moderated by Dr. Joelle Neulander, Associate Professor of History at the Citadel, our panelists include Bernard Warshaw ’42, Bernard Solomon ’47, Bill Endictor ‘59, Les Bergen ’69, Steve Josias ’70, Alan Reyner ’72, and Jonathan Rosen ’14.

THE JEWISH DELI IN AMERICA TED MERWIN, DICKINSON COLLEGE Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 10:00am In , Baltimore, and other American cities, the delicatessen was a lifeblood and the linchpin of the Jewish community. The “soul food” and atmosphere it dished up became a quintessential part of American culture for Jews and non-Jews alike. But as Jews moved into the suburban middle class, the deli lost its bite, giving way to other ethnic restaurants and cuisines. Can the deli be resurrected?

Ted Merwin, an assistant professor of religion and Judaic Studies at Dickinson College, will show how the deli, which originated in Germany and Eastern Europe, developed in this country into a neighborhood institution on par with the synagogue. He will also discuss how the deli became an icon of both television shows and films about the Jewish experience, ranging from When Harry Met Sally to “The Larry David Sandwich” episode of Curb Your EnthusiasmEnthusiasm. FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 5 5 ISRAEL’S CHALLENGES IN AN UNSTABLE MIDDLE EAST CONSUL GENERAL OPHER AVIRAN Stern Center Ballroom (4th Floor) Corner of Glebe & George Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 10:00am Israel’s position in the Middle East has been tested regularly since its formation in 1948, and particularly in recent years given the populist uprisings that have dominated the region. Consul General Aviran will address developments in Egypt and Syria, Iran’s nuclear campaign and Israel’s options in response, the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how each of these affect Israel’s relationship with the United States and its Jewish community.

Consul General Opher Aviran was appointed in August, 2010 to serve as the Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States. Consul General Aviran joined Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983. He has since served as the Second Secretary, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Rangoon, Burma; Cultural & Scientific Affairs Attaché at the Embassy of Israel in The Hague, The Netherlands, and Counselor, Deputy Chief of Mission, at the Israeli Embassy in Canberra, Australia. JEWS ON SCREEN: TREASURES FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR JEWISH FILM SHARON PUCKER RIVO, BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 10:00am Since the birth of film over 100 years ago, Jewish characters and Jewish life have been depicted on screen. Dispersed around the world, Jews have been variously represented in a diverse body of film material. For 36 years, The National Center for Jewish Film has been collecting, restoring, and disseminating various forms of film that document the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish life around the globe. Sharon Pucker Rivo will provide a peek into the archive vaults and view clips of rare films from the Center’s collections.

Sharon Pucker Rivo, co-founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Jewish Film, is on the faculty at Brandeis University where she teaches courses on “Jewish Film” and “Film and the Holocaust.” Sharon is recipient of awards from The National Foundation for Jewish Culture, State University, The Vilna Shul, Boston and Rochester JCCs, and most recently the Boston Society of Film Critics. Sharon has been invited to lecture at venues worldwide – including the Austrian Film Archive in Vienna and the 92nd Street Y in New York City. THE JEWISH INNOVATOR’S DILEMMA DANIEL LIBENSON, INSTITUTE FOR THE NEXT JEWISH FUTURE Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 10:00am The next Jewish future is likely to come about through the process that Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen calls “disruptive innovation.” Game-changing innovations will come from outside of existing Jewish institutions and initially involve mostly Jews who are not currently participating in Jewish life. Daniel Libenson will describe disruptive innovation, how it works in the business world and beyond, and how it explains previous revolutions in Jewish history (including the creation of Rabbinic Judaism itself, as well as movements like Secular Zionism and Hasidism). Libenson further suggests that Jewish organizations can remake themselves through the power of disruptive innovation, learning from corporations such as Apple and Disney as successful business examples.

Daniel Libenson is an award-winning Jewish innovator, entrepreneur, and educator with over a decade of professional leadership experience in innovation-focused Jewish organizations. Dan’s writing on innovation and the next Jewish future has been published by many newspapers and journals, including Ha’aretz, Zeek: A Journal of Jewish Thought and Culture, PresenTense Magazine, The New York Jewish Week, eJewishPhilanthropy. com, and HaYidion (the journal of nondenominational Jewish Day Schools). 6 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program GENERATIONS OF LEADERSHIP Mark Swick, Jewish Community Liaison

The Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program has been blessed since our beginning, with a powerful legacy of leadership within the community, and, in particular, with the members of our Advisory Board. This legacy originated with the program’s namesakes, Henry and Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik ob” m, whose vision and inspiration created the Program in 1984. The Yaschiks’ contributions and interest in a Jewish Studies Program at the College was generously supported soon afterwards by Norman and Gerry Sue ArnoldArnold, of Columbia. Following in the footsteps of their parents, both the Yaschiks and Arnolds have made philanthropy and community involvement a cornerstone of their lives. They have made “giving back” their mantra. Henry went on to become the first Chair of the Jewish Studies Advisory Board and was succeeded by Norman. Together they were the catalyst to a series of lay-leaders who have brought Jewish Studies from strength to strength.

Jerry Zucker ob”m headed the Advisory Board next. Jerry’s enthusiasm and reluctance to say “no” enabled Jewish Studies to reach higher and accomplish more ambitious things than were ever expected of a program our size. Jerry was a pivotal supporter of the Program from the very beginning, both as a founding member of the Advisory Board and a huge financial anchor. The Advisory Board has most recently been headed by outgoing chair Kevin Archercher, a Charleston businessman and father of two CofC students, under whose leadership Jewish Studies has passed the $7 million mark towards our ambitious $10 million A Time to Build capital campaign. Kevin’s quiet grace and willingness to take on new challenges as Chair have made him a pleasure for Marty and me to work with.

With Kevin’s term as chair coming to a close, Anita Zucker will be taking on the leadership role as chair. Words fail me in describing Anita’s contributions to the community; she exemplifies the value of tikkun olam, almost as a single-handed mission. All of our past leaders have been overwhelmingly generous with their time, resources and energy, and Anita is certainly that, and more. Joining Anita on the Executive Committee in an amplified leadership role is Vice Chair Alan Nussbaum who will serve a two year term before assuming the chairmanship. We also welcome back to the board former board member Edward KronsbergKronsberg.

To the selfless and dedicated leaders of this Program and our community, I offer todah rabbah and yashar koachem. They have created a legacy and it is our mission to build on and to sustain that legacy of meaningful Jewish community for ourselves and for those who will follow us. Monday Night All films start at 7:00pm. Join us for a series of six films showcasing different elements of Israel’s rich and nuanced modern culture with a discussion after each screening led by Professor Oren Segal.

September 16 –My Father My Lord (Hofshat Kaits) (2008, 72min) A respected rabbi, Avraham, and his wife have one son, Menachem, whose birth they regard as miraculous. Menachem’s curiosity about the world is repeatedly stymied by his father, who is forced to come to terms with the demands of his faith and the welfare of his own family. September 30 –Dear Mr. Waldman (Michtavim Le America) (2006, 86min) In the early sixties, Hilik, a ten year-old boy who lives in Tel Aviv, is torn between his fear that his father, a Holocaust survivor, would abandon him, and the wish to make him happy. Hilik chooses to test his father’s love for him, while accepting the risk of losing him. October 7 –Precious Life (Chayim Yekarim ) (2010, 90min) With the help of a prominent Israeli journalist, Precious Life chronicles the struggle of an Israeli pediatrician and a Palestinian mother to get treatment for her baby, who suffers from an incurable genetic disease. Each must face their most profound biases as they inch towards a possible friendship in an impossible reality. FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 7 7 A TIME TO BUILD….THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP GIVING Jenny Fowler, Senior Development Officer

Since we launched the A Time to Build campaign two years ago, we have shared remarkable stories about our generous and longtime donors stepping up and demonstrating their continued faith in and commitment to the Jewish Studies Program through their leadership giving. Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold took the first step in the campaign by endowing a visiting professorship position in Jewish Studies. We have bolstered the Jewish student life program and the Holocaust Studies initiative through endowment gifts from Sam and Gina Shapiro and Anita Zucker and her family, respectively. We have enabled forward progress in the expansion of the Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik Jewish Studies Center with a collective $1,000,000 gift toward the building project, an effort that will honor our distinguished program director Marty Perlmutter with a kosher vegan/ vegetarian dining facility bearing his name. We have created scholarships, faculty and staff enhancement funds, and student travel abroad support funds. Having secured more than $7 million toward our $10 million goal, we are well on the way to defining the next era of Jewish Studies at the College of Charleston through A Time to Build.

Yet every great building requires a strong foundation to survive, and to thrive. That foundation for the Jewish Studies Program is the annual fund that so many of you have so generously and loyally supported in the program’s nearly 30 year history. The Jewish Studies Program’s annual fund is also a funding priority in the A Time to Build Campaign; the annual fund lends critical support to a wide variety of initiatives, including community programming, Jewish student life activities, and student scholarship and study abroad funding. The annual fund also supports two staff positions within the program that are crucial to the continued recruitment of Jewish students to the College of Charleston and to the expansion of programming made available for the community at-large. We are extremely fortunate to have had the Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation as anchor supporters of the annual fund for many years. Sylvia Vlosky and Henry Yaschik, ob”m

Like the other priorities in the A Time to Build Campaign, your continued and increased support of the Jewish Studies Program’s annual fund is critical to our goal of successfully achieving this ambitious campaign by June 2015. The pronoun “we” truly applies to the program’s incredible family of supporters, as this collaborative effort has demonstrated how meaningful – and powerful – philanthropy can be. I hope you will continue your support of Jewish Studies by making your gift to the annual fund this year, and every year. at the Movies

Popcorn and lemonade will be served. Screenings are free and open to the public. All are in Hebrew with English subtitles.

October 21 –The Black Panthers (in Israel) Speak (HaPanterim HaShhorim Midabrim) (2003, 54min) Courageous and witty, the film explores a turning point in Israeli history: the revolt of the Israeli Black Panthers in the early 70s. The Black Panthers were an Israeli protest movement of second-generation Jewish immigrants from Middle Eastern countries. They were one of the first organizations in Israel with the mission of working for social justice for Mizrahi Jews. The film initiates a long suppressed debate about the bias of Israeli home politics, and also reveals a new perspective in Europe on the future of the Israeli state within an Arab Middle East. November 4 –Round Trip (2004, 95min) A divorced Israeli woman hires a single African woman as a nanny, and soon the two women form a passionate friendship that leads to a romantic relationship. November 18 –The World Is Funny (Haolam Mats’hik) (2012, 122min) Full of quirky charm, this ambitious, multi-strand tale about storytelling – and a fractured family – unfolds in a friendly Tiberias, where reality and fantasy cleverly intertwine. 8 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program Monday Evening Programs READING HEBREW SHULA HOLTZ Mondays, August 26— December 2, 2013 5:25—6:40pm in the Rabbi Hirsch Levin Judaica Library (Room 209)

Reading Hebrew is an informal, weekly course teaching students how to read Hebrew. It is aimed at beginners and those who have rusty skills and are interested in developing more skills. The focus is reading, not language comprehension. This is a beginning class and no previous knowledge is required. Participants are requested to attend all class meetings. Registration is not required. The course is free of charge and open to the entire community. It cannot be taken for college credit. There will be a small charge for the text used in each class. The sessions are weekly 75-minute classes, taught by native Hebrew speaker Shula Holtz, who has been teaching the class since its inception with a great deal of success. CURIOUS TALES OF THE TALMUD FINDING PERSONAL MEANING IN THE LEGENDS OF OUR SAGES RABBI HESH EPSTEIN Mondays, August 26, September 30, October 28, and November 25, 2013 7:00— 8:30pm in Arnold Hall The Talmud’s role as a primary source of Jewish law can obscure its value as a literary treasure. The stories in the Talmud reveal an imaginative richness that is a crucial part of the interpretation and preservation of a treasured culture. The course will draw upon the wisdom contained in hundreds of volumes of post-Talmudic literature. It is predicated on the understanding that the Talmud employed cryptic stories and parables to relay relevant and profound messages in a way that makes the reader an active partner in decoding the text and constructing its meaning. Written in esoteric language, these stories couch within them penetrating insights into life, our universe, God, humankind—and how they all come together.

August 26: Life Lessons from Gargantuan Fish, Geese, and Corpses September 30: A Study in the Art of Anthropomorphism October 28: Seeing the Divine within Everything November 25: When the Rabbis Overruled a Heavenly Decision

Rabbi Hesh Epstein has been the Executive Director of Chabad Lubavitch of South Carolina since 1987. His popular evening courses have become a regular and popular fixture of Jewish Studies community education offerings.

JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA A SUMMER TO REMEMBER UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC November 9— 10, 2013

Jewish summer camps have been a fixture of the southern landscape for sixty years. Blue Startar, Judeaa, Barney MedintzMedintz, ColemanColeman, and RamahRamah, the most recent arrival, have nurtured generations of youngsters, creating a Jewish social milieu hard to find in small southern communities. Join us in Columbia for a weekend of reflection and remembrance as the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina explores the history of these camps and their ongoing impact on the way Jewish youths see themselves and the world. FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 9 9 A New Sunday Evening Program REFORM IS A VERB RABBI STEPHANIE M. ALEXANDER Sundays, November 10, 17, and 24, 2013 5:00— 6:15pm, Arnold Hall Twice a year, during the popular Three Rabbi Panels, Rabbi Alexander represents the Reform Jewish perspective on a wide variety of issues. However, the Reform Movement is by its very nature a dynamic and ever-changing expression of Jewish practice and belief. This series will provide an opportunity to go into greater depth regarding the evolution of Reform Judaism on three frontiers.

November 1010: The Big Tent - How has the Reform Jewish community evolved into one of the most diverse Jewish communities, and how has that diversity helped Reform Judaism to evolve?

November 1717: Israel - How has Reform Judaism evolved from an anti-Zionist movement at its founding to one that just saw a congregational trip to Israel of 50 participants?

November 2424: Back to the Sources - How are Reform Jews evolving through their rediscovery of Jewish ritual and classical Jewish texts? Rabbi Alexander received her ordination from The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and is the rabbi at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston. Brown Bag Lunch Series BIBLICAL TABOOS: IDOLATRY, NECROMANCY, AND SODOMY JOHN HUDDLESTUN, PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES Wednesdays, September18, October 16, and November 13, 2013 12:00—1:00pm in Arnold Hall In this Brown Bag series, we consider three fun and exciting biblical taboos, ones that are often misrepresented or not well understood in the biblical text. While idolatry is prohibited in the first two Exodus commandments, a number of questions come to mind as one reads these laws. In addition to the Exodus texts, we will look at some other relevant biblical passages; Isaiah, Jeremiah, a Mesopotamian description of the making of cult statues, and archaeological evidence from sites in Israel. With necromancy, we consider not only the well-known story in 1 Samuel 28, where king Saul has the prophet Samuel brought up from the dead, but also a number of other biblical passages; Isaiah, Psalms, and non-biblical inscriptions that refer to the status and cults of the dead in ancient Israel and Canaan. Lastly, we take up the topic of sodomy. Despite popular views of the story, a close reading of this narrative reveals little, if any, connection to homosexuality; other biblical references to Sodom do not support such a reading. In addition to Genesis, we will grapple with the thorny issue of the biblical prohibitions against homosexuality in Leviticus; 18:22 and 20:13, and the various explanations offered by biblical scholars for these laws; cultic, social, moral, etc. So come spend that otherwise humdrum lunch hour with us in a discussion of death, sex and idols!

September 18: ”Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” - The Making of Idols and the Biblical Prohibition against Them

October 16: ”Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’”- Consulting the Dead in First Samuel and Other Biblical Texts

November 13: What Justice Scalia Never Told You - Sodomy in Genesis and Beyond 10 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program Academic Course Offerings ATTENTION: SENIOR CITIZENS South Carolina residents who are over 60 years old are eligible to enroll in regular College of Charleston courses on a space-available basis for a fee of $25 for the semester. Permission of the instructor is required for Jewish Studies courses. Call 843.953.5620 for details. FYSM 142.01 and FYSM 142.02 Understanding Israel Joshua Shanes Tu, Th 10:50am-12:05pm and Tu, Th 12:15-1:30pm Jewish Studies Center, Levin Library (Room 209) This course will first introduce students to the history of Israel from the birth of modern Zionism through today. We will then focus closely on the contentious issues in contemporary Israeli society: political dynamics, religious-secular tensions, immigration and refugees, internal ethnic conflicts, military culture, the role of women, and of course Israel’s prolonged conflict with the Palestinians and Arab states. Only open to freshmen.

FYSM 142.03 Children and the Holocaust Ted Rosengarten MW 4:00-5:15pm Jewish Studies Center, Levin Library (Room 209) Why did Nazi Germany target Jewish children with such special ferocity? A small number escaped or were rescued and lived to write their recollections which are just now surfacing. The ordeal of non-Jewish children in war-time Europe—German, Polish, Ukrainian—a story long buried in silence, is also finding a voice in film and literature today. This seminar will investigate the experiences of children who were swept up in the “Final Solution” and ask questions they might have asked about the world that produced the catastrophe whose meaning eludes us still. Only open to freshmen.

HBRW 101.01 Elementary Modern Hebrew Oren Segal MWF 11:00-11:50am and M 9:00-9:50am Jewish Studies Center, Levin Library (Room 209) An introduction of fundamental language structures with emphasis on acquisition of basic language skills: reading and listening comprehension, oral and written expression, including speaking. No prerequisite.

HBRW 201.01 Intermediate Modern Hebrew Oren Segal MWF 10:00-10:50am and W 9:00-9:50am Jewish Studies Center, Levin Library (Room 209) The object of this course is the development of basic proficiency through practice in the use of basic language skills emphasized in previous courses, and the acquisition of new vocabulary. Prerequisite: HBRW 101& 102.

HBRW 313.01 Advanced Modern Hebrew: Conversation and Composition Oren Segal MW 3:30-4:45pm Jewish Studies Center, Arnold Hall (Room 100) The goal of Hebrew 313 is to facilitate students in developing communicative competence in Hebrew and a deeper understanding of modern Israeli culture. This course is designed for students who have completed successfully Hebrew 202 or its equivalent.

JWST 210.01 and JWST 210.02 Jewish History I: Ancient to Modern David Slucki Tu, Th 9:25-10:40am and Tu, Th 10:50 am-12:05pm Jewish Studies Center, Arnold Hall (Room 100) A survey of the social, economic, religious and political experience of the Jewish people in the pre-modern world (from biblical origins through 1700.) The course begins its focus just before the destruction of the second Temple (70 C.E.), continues through the medieval period - paying equal attention to the Jewish experience in the Christian and Muslim worlds - and ends in the seventeenth century in northwestern Europe, where the transformations of Jewish life in the modern era were already beginning.

WELCOME OREN SEGAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, HEBREW A native of Tel-Aviv, Israel, Oren Segal was raised in Bat Yam and Rishon LeZion. Oren graduated summa cum laude from Tel-Aviv University with a B.A. and M.A. in the Hebrew and Comparative Literature Department and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. While working three years for Israel’s weekly newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, he was a fellow at Alma College for Hebrew Culture in Tel-Aviv, studying the Talmud and various classical and modern Jewish texts. Oren earned a M.A and a Ph.D from the University of , Ann Arbor, in Near Eastern Studies. His dissertation, Imagining Independence Parkark, and his research and teaching focus on Hebrew literature and Israeli film and art in their historical and sociological contexts, with an emphasis on identity politics, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Oren will teach all our Hebrew language offerings. He will also teach a variety of courses on Israeli culture and film, often integrating those courses with Hebrew language instruction. FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 11 11 Academic Course Offerings JWST 300.01 Special Topics: Israeli Culture Oren Segal MW 3:30-4:45pm Jewish Studies Center, Arnold Hall (Room 100) This course is a study of Israeli culture in the historical context of Zionism and Judaism, the establishment of the State, its ethnic, gender, and sexual diversity, the Holocaust, and the continued Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Analyzing major Israeli novels, short stories, poems, films, and art, we will explore the intensity of the place, its trends throughout history, and see how writers, filmmakers, and artists respond both to the dreams and the reality of modern Israel.

JWST 310.01 Topics in Jewish History: Jews in the Post-World War II World David Slucki Tu, Th 1:40pm-2:55pm Jewish Studies Center, Levin Library (Room 209) This course provides a survey of the development of Jewish life around the world since the Holocaust. Beginning with an introduction to the Jewish world in the immediate post-Holocaust period, this course will be a tour through some of the Jewish centers as they developed in the wake of World War II. Topics include memory and justice after the Holocaust, changing demographics, the transformation of Jewish identity, and the relationships between Jewish communities around the world.

JWST 325.01 Jewish Mysticism Joshua Shanes MW 2:00pm-3:15pm Jewish Studies Center, Levin Library (Room 209) A study of the major forms of Jewish mysticism, particularly Kabbalah – the dominant expression of Jewish mysticism since the 13th century – and its modern manifestations in the Hasidic movement. Readings include both secondary and primary sources, in English translation.

LIST COLLEGE PROGRAM The Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston has just concluded a bilateral agreement with List College, the undergraduate college of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City. For over 125 years, JTS has functioned as the academic and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish Studies. In addition to operating multiple graduate programs, JTS partners with Columbia University and Barnard College as the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies.

Beginning in the spring of 2014, students at the College of Charleston will be able to take full advantage of this partnership. Students accepted for the one-semester program at List will pursue a rich and rigorous academic program that will include one course in modern Hebrew language, one course in Hebrew Bible, one course in rabbinics, and two elective courses in Jewish history, literature, thought, or liturgy. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to take advantage of the depth and breadth of Jewish Studies offerings at JTS, and to experience life in New York City, while paying College of Charleston tuition and Jewish Theological Seminary, getting College of Charleston credit for their coursework. Students wishing to apply for Broadway at 122nd Street Spring 2014 should indicate their interest to the director of Jewish Studies by November 1, New York, New York 2013. WELCOME DAVID SLUCKI VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, JEWISH STUDIES David Slucki joins the College of Charleston from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, where he has been an Early Career Development Fellow since August 2011 and where he received his PhD in 2010. His book, The International Jewish Labor Bund after 1945: Toward a Global History, was published by Rutgers University Press in 2012, and looks at the attempts of Bundists to adapt their shattered movement in the wake of the Holocaust. His current research interests include Holocaust survivor networks in the 1940s and 1950s; humor and Holocaust representation; and Yiddish travel writers’ encounters with race in the twentieth century. David has taught at the University of Melbourne and Monash University, and has been internationally published and awarded for his scholarship. From August 2010-July 2011, he was a Senior Curator in Indigenous History at Museum Victoria, one of Australia’s leading public museums. David is married to Helen and is father to Arthur. David will teach all the basic Jewish history courses as well as a variety of courses on post-Holocaust World Jewry. 12 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program JEWISH STUDENT UNION/HILLEL Carly Shevitz, President The Jewish Student Union/Hillel had a great 2012-13 year. As one of the most active groups on campus, our student run programs included brand new activities as well as JSU/Hillel staples. Successful events included a Bar Mitzvah party for Clyde, the College’s mascot, which united town and gown in raising over $3000 for Alyn Hospital in Israel. The past year included a variety of events focused on tikkun olam, the Jewish imperative to repair the world. We carried out a successful donor campaign for the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, continued our Challah for Hunger initiative, cooked and served meals at a homeless shelter, and hosted blood drives on campus. One of our biggest projects was the semiannual “carnival” for the kids at the Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC), a residential program for kids from abusive homes.

CARLY SHEVITZ As we enter the new semester, the members of the executive board and our JSU/Hillel student body join in welcoming our incoming Jewish freshmen class. We are ready for a brand new year for the JSU/Hillel full of new and innovative events. True to our mission, we will strive to foster Jewish community on campus and will be making a conscious effort to reach out to students who have been previously uninvolved with our programs. The ’13-’14 academic year will jumpstart with a Welcome Week full of events for new and returning students. I hope you join us, and become part of our extended family!

JSU/Hillel Executive Board 2013-14 Carly Shevitz (Santa Barbara, CA) – President Caroline Eichholz (Savannah, GA) – Vice President/ Social Media Intern Elana Malkin (Memphis, TN) – Student Engagement Chair Lauren Brami (Rockville, MD) – Social Chair Andrew Spector (Bedford, MA) – Religious Chair Kayla Sculnick (Sunnyvale, CA) – Israel Chair Naomi Nudelman (Columbia, SC) – Social Action Chair

FROM ONE HOLY CITY TO ANOTHER Dara Rosenblatt, Jewish Student Life Coordinator Early this past June I returned from a Taglit-Birthright trip to Israel with nine students from the College of Charleston and thirty students from other American colleges and universities. Taglit-Birthright Israel is a free, ten-day trip where young adults (who have never been on an organized trip to Israel before) tour the entire country, learning about its history, landscape, and culture. We traveled from Haifa in Israel’s northern region, to the Negev in the south, and back to Israel’s heart: Jerusalem. This was the first trip to Israel for most students on our bus, and for many this was the first time out of the United States. In fact, the number of “firsts” on this trip rapidly increased. Between climbing Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, touching the Western Wall, and eating Israel’s most delicious falafel, the students were overwhelmed by their excitement and a mix of other emotions.

A particularly meaningful moment during the trip occurred over Shabbat, when two students from the College elected to become B’nai Mitzvah, signifying a public commitment to living a Jewish life. One student in particular spoke briefly about how this was her moment to choose Judaism, and that doing so could not feel more right than while being in Israel and connecting with our history and our people. Traveling to Israel is always a blessing, but traveling to Israel with college students who are experiencing it for the first time and embracing Jewish life in a different way than ever before is truly remarkable. Thank you to Taglit-Birthright Israel and to Hillel for making this trip possible for our students, and for me.

If you are interested in attending a Birthright trip, or want to learn more about JSU/Hillel programs, please contact me at [email protected] or 843.953.2118. FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 13 13 WHAT’S UP AT THE CITADEL Marsha Alterman, Jewish Student Life Advisor Beginning in the fall of 2008, I agreed to serve as the Jewish Student Life Coordinator at The Citadel. My primary goal was to make sure Jewish cadets had the ability to explore and experience Jewish culture, education, religion, and a Jewish social life. I am so proud and pleased with what has been, and continues to be accomplished!

Since starting five years ago, there have been many positive changes on The Citadel campus for Jewish cadets. Jewish cadets are traveling to Israel on organized trips such as Taglit-Birthright Israel The Jewish Student Club is represented in The Citadel yearbook Jewish learning is offered during mandatory religious instruction sessions with local rabbis, CofC Jewish Studies faculty/staff and community members providing the instruction each week On-going communication with Jewish cadets and Citadel staff has provided support and intervention when needed Jewish cadets are actively participating in JSU/Hillel events and forging friendships with CofC Jewish students Jewish cadets have gotten to know each other and have developed a support system for one another Community organizations cook and sponsor monthly meals, during which the Jewish cadets “host” a dinner at The Citadel for Jewish students from the College. It is the first time CofC students have traveled to The Citadel for programming!

I am very proud to report a major accomplishment by one of our Jewish cadets: C/SGT Sarah KatchenKatchen, a biology major from Galesburg, , will be the first Jewish cadet to serve as a Religious Officer at The Citadel.

As you can see, a lot of positive things are happening at The Citadel for Jewish cadets. There is still work to be done! My objective for 2013-14 is to continue to help make life for Jewish cadets easier by continuing to coordinate and facilitate participation in Jewish programming at The Citadel, the College of Charleston, the synagogues, and within the Jewish community.

If you are interested in helping in any way (sponsoring a meal, speaking to the group), please contact me at 843.953.3917 or [email protected]. WELCOME JODIE SINGER Jewish Student Life Engagement Coordinator

Jodie Singer is the incoming Jewish Student Life Engagement Coordinator. A native of , DC, Jodie headed toward warmer weather at the University of at Chapel Hill, where she graduated this past June. Jodie majored in the public relations sequence of journalism, minored in Jewish Studies, and was involved in a variety of different organizations throughout her time at UNC, including Challah for Hunger, UNC Campus Recreation, Carolina Public Relations Student Society of America and UNC Hillel. During her senior year, Jodie served as co-president of UNC Hillel and loved every moment of her term. In joining the staff of the College of Charleston JSU/Hillel, Jodie hopes to enjoy an even sunnier climate while helping to strengthen the Jewish community.

As Jewish Student Life Engagement Coordinator, Jodie fills a unique position created over the past two years of recruiting Jewish students to the College and working with the JSU staff to keep new students engaged. She will be working closely with the Admissions Office, reaching out to high school counselors, parents and students in order to increase Jewish enrollment at the College. Additionally, Jodie will be spending a lot of time working with and reaching out to current students, particularly freshmen and members of the Greek community. Jodie is thrilled to join the JSU/Hillel staff, and cannot wait to meet everyone. When she is not working, you can find Jodie eating frozen yogurt, playing tennis, or watching UNC basketball. You can contact Jodie at [email protected] or 843.953.5657. 14 Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program Alpha Epsilon Pi At the College of Charleston, the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) Fraternity is the only Jewish fraternity on campus. The organization is very active in both the Jewish community and the College community. We have members who participate in Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, bi-weekly JSU/Hillel dinners and events, and many other student organizations, including the Student Government Association.

AEPi has also made its mark in the Charleston community at large, with innovative and successful philanthropy events, namely its first ever “Laughter is the Best Medicine” comedy show and its annual “Splash Bash” DJ paint party. The fraternity raised over $3,500 for the Save a Child’s Heart Foundation this past year.

AEPi is also known for its consistently high academic standing in the Greek community, as it continues to rank in the top tier of fraternity grade point averages. Our graduating brothers have secured jobs in the fields of communications, politics, and entertainment.

AEPi continues to raise the bar in the College of Charleston community and beyond, and we can expect great things in the 2013-2014 school year.

Executive Board Mitch Binder (Pittsford, NY) - Master Tristan Levant (Pittsford, NY) - Lt. Master Benjamin Shimmel (Atlanta, GA) - Scribe Bradley Maran (Atlanta, GA) - Treasurer Josh Schooler (Bethesda, MD) - Sentinel Andrew Spector (Bedford, MA) - Member at Large Zach Diamond (Charlotte, NC) - Rush Chair Greg Hoffman (South Salem, NY) - Pledge Master

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH JSU/HILLEL Adam Maslia ‘11

When I think back on my days at the College of Charleston, it is impossible to do so without thinking of all of the great times spent at the JSU with fraternity brothers, friends, and the amazing JSU staff. The JSU helped provide a Jewish context for all of the fun things I was already experiencing while living in the most beautiful city in the U.S. When I found out that I had the opportunity to relive many of my favorite college experience by attending the College’s annual alumni event A Charleston Affairfair, I did not hesitate to buy a ticket.

Just having the opportunity to hang out with friends in historic Charleston and attend a stunning event in the Cistern would have been enough—dayenu! But thanks to the JSU hosting an alumni Shabbat dinner and having an Affinity Group Tent in the Cistern, I was able to relive my “glory days” in the same style that I did when I was actually in school. For one weekend, the JSU helped transport me back to my college routine and it was awesome! I encourage all JSU and Jewish Studies alumni to attend this event in the future and remain supportive of the JSU’s endeavors as they continue to expand and impact the Jewish identities and college experiences of more and more students each year.

Knowing that current CofC students are having similar transformative experiences to those I remember gives me additional pride as an alumnus, and makes me want to reconnect with my college friends. A Charleston Affair and the JSU/Hillel Alumni Weekend is a great time to do that. Hope to see y’all in Charleston next May!

Our first Alumni Shabbat, May 3, 2013 Entrance to A Charleston Affair, May 4, 2013 FALL College 2013 of Charleston, Fall 2004 Page 15 15 Where Are They Now? LOUIS TICK ‘98 Originally from Paducah, , Louis was a Business undergrad and Pi Kappa Phi brother. He found a second home and family at Jewish Studies by taking Jewish Studies classes, traveling with Marty to Israel, and attending social activities. Louis lives in West Ashley with his wife Kelly and their three children. Louis is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones and is an active community member on various boards, one of the most rewarding being the Jewish Studies Program Advisory Board.

SHARON NADAV ‘08 A native of Rehovot, Israel, Sharon received a double major in Business and Hospitality while at the College, and has since spent the past five years working as a Senior Account Executive for a specialized promotions agency in New York. As a former Jewish Student Union Social Chair, Sharon organized the first class of CofC students to attend a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. She is recently engaged to Jonathan Antone, whom she met on that very Birthright trip.

ELLEN IROFF ‘10 A native of Knoxville, TN, Ellen graduated from the College with a degree in Theatre, concentrating in costume design. As a student she was actively involved with the JSU board, Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, and Center Stage, the campus theater club. After working for the Spoleto Festival, she worked as a costume designer and seamstress for Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina. In January 2013, she happily returned to her beloved College of Charleston as the costume shop manager for the College’s Theatre and Dance department. Call for Students, Parents, and Alumni The College of Charleston has become an excellent choice for students interested in attending a college with a Jewish Studies program offering an academic major and minor, an active Jewish student life, a significant Jewish student population, and a supportive larger Jewish community. Jewish Studies has a Parent Network in place and we have parents and alums helping us recruit in cities around the country. We can use your help! Please let us know of prospective students who might have an interest in the College, and our office will take it from there. We are also working to increase our presence at college fairs around the country. If you are a parent or alum and able to staff a table at a fair in your area – especially in the Jewish community – we will happily provide admissions materials.

We are also working to develop our alumni connections. Join our Facebook alumni group at www.cofc.edu/~jsuhillel and click on the “alumni” link. You may also fill out a short questionnaire at bit.ly/14LEKzW. To receive our publications, please send us your snail-mail address or just call the office to be added to our list: 843.953.3917. News Notes The completion date of the forthcoming addition to the Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik Jewish Studies Center has been postponed to December 2014. In addition to office space and classrooms, the addition will house a new dining facility, offering vegan and vegetarian options, all kosher, to CofC students, employees and community members. The dining facility will be named after Marty Perlmutter, and is a result of generous donations from Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold, Anita Zucker, Alan and Charlotte Kahn, Art and Annie Sandler, and others. Carly Shevitz ‘14 is spending the summer training with the US Sailing Sperry-Topsider Olympic Team. She is sailing against the top teams in the world and improving her world ranking. Carly is on track as a candidate for the Summer 2016 US Olympic Sailing Team! Andrew Spector ’15 was awarded the Julie and Martin Klaper Fellowship from the Jewish Studies Program, allowing him to study in Israel over the summer. He volunteered and learned with Livnot U’Lebanot in Tzfat, studied in Jerusalem with the Pardes Institute, and meditated at a Buddhist Retreat Center. This past winter, faculty and staff from the College met with Sandra ZivZiv, Director of Marketing for the University of Haifa International School (UHIS.) Ms. Ziv’s visit was occasioned by a study abroad agreement between CofC and UHIS, which will begin during the academic year 2013-2014. Gary Zola has been appointed the Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Distinguished Visting Professor for Spring 2014. Professor Zola is the Executive Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. YASCHIK/ARNOLD JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM NON-PROFIT 9616 Wentworth Street Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies ProgramU.S. POSTAGE PRE SORTED Charleston, SC 29424 P - A - I - D phone: 843.953.5682 fax: 843.953.7624 CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT No. 485 web: jewish.cofc.edu email: [email protected]

CONTENTS COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

2 The Synergy of Jewish Studies: Martin Perlmutter Kevin Archer Charleston 3 Three Rabbi Panel: The Evolving Role of the Synagogue Gerry Sue Arnold, life member Columbia Norman Arnold, life member Columbia 3 Chanukah in the Square: Sunday, December 1, 2013 Rachel Gordin Barnett, ex officio Columbia 4 – 5 Sunday Mornings in Arnold Hall Jack Brickman Charleston 6 Generations of Leadership: Mark Swick David Cohen, ex officio Charleston 6 – 7 Monday Night at the Movies Stanley Farbstein Beaufort 7 The Power of Leadership Giving: Jenny Fowler Leo Fishman Charleston 8 Reading Hebrew class with Shula Holtz Amy Foster Charleston Jeffrey Foster Charleston 8 Curious Tales of the Talmud: Rabbi Hesh Epstein Scott Hellman Charleston 8 JHSSC meeting in Columbia November 9-10, 2013 Alan Kahn Columbia 9 A New Sunday Evening Program with Rabbi Stephanie Rachel Kronick Rothbart Los Angeles, CA Alexander Edward Kronsberg Charleston 9 Brown Bag Lunch Series with Professor John Spencer Lynch Charleston Huddlestun Risa Milbauer West Palm Beach, FL 10 –11 Academic Course Offerings Alan Nussbaum, Vice Chair Charleston 10 Welcome Oren Segal – Assistant Professor, Hebrew Martin Perlmutter, ex officio Sullivan’s Island 11 List College Program Michael Rabhan Atlanta, GA 11 Welcome David Slucki – Visiting Assistant Professor, Alan Reyner Columbia Jewish Studies Gerald Rittenberg Charleston 12 Jewish Student Union/Hillel: Carly Shevitz Jeffrey Rosenblum Charleston 12 From One Holy City to Another: Dara Rosenblatt Arlene Shawinsky Rosenthal Charleston 13 What’s Up at the Citadel: Marsha Alterman Debbie Rothschild Charleston 13 Welcome Jodie Singer, Jewish Student Life Regina Shapiro Atlanta, GA Engagement Coordinator Carly Shevitz, ex officio Santa Barbara, CA 14 Alpha Epsilon Pi Selden Smith, life member Columbia 14 Back to School with JSU/Hillel: Adam Maslia ‘11 Robert Steinberg Charleston 15 Where Are They Now? Louis Tick Charleston 15 Call for Students, Parents, and Alumni Loren Ziff Sullivan’s Island 15 News Notes Anita Zucker, Chair, life member Charleston Laura Funk Zucker Charleston

The Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program Newsletter is published twice a year, coinciding with the academic calendar at the College of Charleston. Photo credits: Enid Idelsohn, Leslie McKellar, Jeri Perlmutter, and Dara Written by Mark Swick and Martin Perlmutter, with contributions of others. Rosenblatt. Design and layout by Enid Idelsohn.