News fromzerici the Jewish Studies Program and the Center for Israeli Studies Fall 1999
From the Directors
ediAUt, the newsletter of the Jewish Studies Program and
the Center for Israeli Studies in the College of Arts and YSciences at American University, is dedicated to building bridges between countries, among disciplines, and across time. The
key links in our bridges are the many programs, courses, and events
Pamela Nadell, we sponsor. In future issues, our news and feature articles and profiles Director, Jewish Studies Program will address a wide range of issues in Jewish and Israeli studies. We
welcome your ideas as we nurture YediAUt, and our programs, from
strength to strength.
Howard Wachtel, Director, Center for Israeli Studies AU Launches the Center for designed to become a national and international The Arts and Literature in Jewish and Israeli Studies at AU hub for the creation and dissemination of knowl- Israeli Studies edge about Israel, including its performing and visual arts, literature and letters, economy, environment, n the first year of the Center for Israeli Studies, artist in residence Nahum Tevet by Howard Wachtel, Director law, and society. The center’s two inaugural installed his exhibition Arrangement for Six Units in AU’s Watkins Art Gallery. Israeli events—a reception for the Batsheva Dance author and writer in residence David Grossman gave a public reading from his The center establishes a n the fall of 1998, the Cora and John H. Davis Company and the awarding of an honorary degree to former Prime Minister Shimon Peres at the 1998 I Foundation presented American University with work and discussed writing with graduate students in the Department of Literature’s bridge from Israel to the a generous grant to mark the occasion of the commencement of the College of Arts and Creative Writing Program (cosponsored by the center, Jewish Studies Program, and United States . . . I Sciences—as well as 14 other recent programs, 50th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. Several AU faculty and a representative indicate this breadth of interest. The center Visiting Writers Series). Two choreographers in residence from the Batsheva Dance sponsors three primary initiatives: conferences of Company of Israel taught AU dance students a scene from Anaphase, which the interest to Americans and Israelis both inside and outside the academy; in-residence Israeli scholars, students then performed publicly in December 1998 and again during the annual writers, policy makers, and artists, who teach uni- meeting of the Association for Israel Studies the following May. versity classes and participate in public programs for the wider community; and AU’s World Capitals In addition to these activities, the center mounted an exhibit of historic posters, study abroad program in Israel. In January 1999, Zionism and Israel, in the Bender Library and accepted from Eliahu Ben-Elissar, the the Association for Israel Studies moved its head- former Israeli ambassador, a collection of books and videos for the library. quarters to American University and is now housed in the center. We are excited about this bridge to the association. Writer in residence David The Center for Israeli Studies is a new venture, Grossman. which former Ambassador Ben-Elissar characterized as courageous. I take his statement seriously and add my own description of ambitious. The center establishes a bridge from Israel to the United States, introduces the many contributions of Israeli designated by President Benjamin Ladner decided society—its life and culture—to the public and uni- that the university could best commemorate Israel’s versity communities, and offers a perspective that, AU President Benjamin Ladner creation by establishing a permanent center in the best tradition of a university, provides an and Shimon Peres, former primededicated to the scholarly and intellectual explo- open forum where many ideas and people can be minister of Israel, just before ration of Israeli society and culture. showcased. Our task in the year ahead is to Peres received an honorary The Center for Israeli Studies has become a unique develop the resources appropriate to the center’s doctorate from American university-based institution in Washington, D.C., courageous and wide-ranging ambitions. University to mark the founding Israeli ambassador Eliahu Ben-Elissar presented a collec- of the Center for Israeli Studies tion of documents and other materials to the Bender Library. From left to right, Ambassador Ben-Elissar, Patricia Wand, university librarian, and Howard Wachtel, director of the Center for Israeli Studies.
Arrangement of Six Units by artist in residence Nahum Tevet Courses in history, Hebrew language and 1998 summer model institute, Jewish Hebrew Bible, Profile of Israel African American–Jewish (taught in Jerusalem) and Relations in the United States, Studies at AU History of Israel, and Nazi students joined with Prof. Germany and the Holocaust. Russell Adams, chairman of Bialik Prize–winning poet Howard University’s Depart- An exhibit of historic posters, Zionism and Israel, in Bender uring 1998–1999, in Moshe Dor, best known to ment of Afro-American Studies, Library, cosponsored by the Jewish Studies Program and Center addition to our rich American audiences as writer of and Prof. Pamela Nadell in an for Israeli Studies Dinternship opportunities, the song “Erev Shel Shoshanim,” exploration of the history and students chose from more than taught undergraduates the current state of African 16 Jewish studies courses: General Education course Voices American–Jewish relations. ancient and modern Jewish of Modern Jewish Literature. In a
2 3 Spotlight on Our Visiting Faculty at AU News from the Affiliated Faculty of the Jewish Studies Program n its inaugural year, the Center for Israeli with the AU community. In 1999–2000 the Center for Israeli Studies is delighted to host Hebrew Studies launched a program of in-residence ohammed Abu-Nimer, School of 1998), a finalist for the National Jewish Book University professor Yakir Plessner for the academic Israeli scholars and artists. Designed to build International Service, has just had pub- Award in Women’s Studies and just published in I year. Plessner is associate professor and chair of the bridges, the extended visits of the scholars in lished Dialogue, Conflict Resolution, and paperback. Nadell also serves as book review edi- residence allow them to share their cultural, artistic, Department of Agricultural Economics and M tor for American Jewish History. Change: Arab-Jewish Encounters in Israel (SUNY Management at Hebrew University and fellow and and scientific achievements with students and Press, 1999). Amos Perlmutter, Department of Government, secretary of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. faculty and our wider community. In 1998–1999, Leila Gal Berner, Department of Philosophy published Making the World Safe for Democracy: A He was formerly deputy governor of the Bank of Yakir Plessner, 1999–2000 environmental scientist in residence and Ben and Religion, has a forthcoming book, A Century of Wilsonianism and Its Totalitarian Israel and economic advisor to the minister of Center for Israeli Studies Gurion University professor Pedro Berliner shared Mediterranean Jewish Community. Challengers. finance of Israel. scholar in residence his research on agroforestry systems in arid zones Richard Breitman, Department of History, David Rosenbloom, Department of authored Official Secrets: What the Nazis Planned, Government, coedited Classic Readings in What the British and Americans Knew (Hill and American Politics with Pierto S. Nivola. He has Wang, 1998), a finalist for the National Jewish Book coauthored several articles on public management Award in Holocaust Studies and just published in reform in Israel in English and in Hebrew. In paperback. Breitman also serves as editor in chief winter 1999–2000 Rosenbloom will teach the New of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Public Management and Administrative Reform AU’s World Capitals Program in Jerusalem Gershon Greenberg, Department of course at Hebrew University. Philosophy and Religion, has a new book out, Daniel Schydlowsky, Department of Faith and Holocaust as Issues of Jewish Religious Economics, spent spring semester 1999 in By Dani Schydlowsky, Professor of university’s English-language academic offerings in Thought in the USA, 1938–1948: An Annotated Jerusalem launching AU’s first World Capitals Economics the historic heart of Israel. To ensure an effective Listing of Articles and Books, (Bar Ilan University, semester in Jerusalem at Hebrew University. start to the program, Daniel Schydlowsky, professor 1999). Greenberg also published “Wartime Simona Sharoni, Washington Semester n spring 1999, the Center for Israeli Studies of economics and Center for Israeli Studies faculty American Mizrahi and Agudat Yisrael Religious Program, is the author of Gender and the Israeli- inaugurated AU’s World Capitals Program in associate, was on site for the semester as program Responses to the Holocaust” in Mikha’el, in 1999. Palestinian Conflict: The Politics of Women’s Jerusalem. Housed at the Hebrew University’s I director. He also offered a special Jewish Studies Gregg Ivers, Department of Government, is the Resistance. Rothberg International School, the semester Program seminar, Profile of Israel. author of To Build a Wall: American Jews and the Rita Simon, Department of Justice, Law provides participants with access to Israel’s premier Participating students took courses in Hebrew Separation of Church and State. and Society, is editor of Gender Issues and language and modern Arabic, plus Halacha and the Alan Kraut, Department of History, served as Controversial Issues of Public Policy. She is also Modern World, the Defense of Israel, Archeology historical consultant to Sitting Shiva with the the author of In the Golden Land: A Century of of Jerusalem, and Politics of International Rogarshevskys: Lower East Side Immigrants Russian and Soviet Jewish Immigration in Terrorism. They also traveled extensively. Confront Death and Dying, a Lower East Side America (Praeger, 1997). Throughout their stay they explored Israel’s daily Tenement House Museum exhibit. He received an Myra Sklarew, Department of Literature and life, its national politics and an election, religious award for creative and innovative excellence from codirector of its Masters in Fine Arts Program, is and secular demonstrations against and for the the National Association for Summer Sessions for the author of Lithuania: New and Selected Poems. Israeli Supreme Court, the intricacies of Christian his summer institute, Ethnicity and the City, Three Russell Stone, Department of Sociology, is the observance in Israel, and through such simple tasks Neighborhoods: Harlem, Spanish Harlem, and the editor of Critical Essays on Israeli Issues and as collecting their mail and getting telephones Lower East Side. Scholarship. He also serves as the academic liaison installed, the mundane aspects of living in a foreign Yehuda Lukacs, School of International Service, for the Association for Israel Studies. culture. has revised Israel, Jordan, and the Peace Process, Howard Wachtel, Department of Economics By the end of their stay, the participants had which is forthcoming from Syracuse University and director of the Center for Israeli Studies, is become experts at managing in the Mt. Scopus Press. spending fall semester 1999 as a distinguished visit- dorms, buying their own food and cooking it, as Arnost Lustig, Department of Literature, reis- ing scholar at the American Academy in Berlin. well as navigating Israeli culture in elementary sued in paperback his book The Unloved : (From During spring 2000 he will be an academic visitor Hebrew and English. Now they have returned the Diary of Perla S.). at the Truman Institute, Hebrew University, and home to American University as ambassadors to Pamela Nadell, Department of History and visiting scholar in the Public Policy Program, Tel the next class of students headed in spring 2000 director of the Jewish Studies Program, authored Aviv University. for AU’s World Capitals Program in Jerusalem. Women Who Would Be Rabbis: A History of Top: Prof. Daniel Schydlowsky, Dept. of Economics Women’s Ordination, 1889–1985 (Beacon Press, Bottom: Heidi Jones, Nicole Samuel, Nicole Ruskin, Sarah Capper, and Alexis Bock spent spring semester 1999 at Hebrew University as the inaugural class of AU’s World Capitals Program in Jerusalem. To mark AU’s inaugural Jerusalem class, the B’nai B’rith World Center recognized Sarah Capper and Nicole Samuel for outstanding work in the Jewish studies course Profile of Israel.
4 5 Intellectual exchange at the “Israel after Oslo” 1999 Annual Meeting of the Association for Israel Studies in The Jewish Studies Program and Center for Israeli Studies thank the By Russell A. Stone, Professor of Sociology the newly renovated conference following donors for their generous contributions. and AIS Academic Liaison facilities of the Ward Circle Building o celebrate the new link between AU and Seymour and Lillian Klein Abensohn Johnston, Lemon and Company the Association for Israel Studies (AIS), the Roselyn F. Abitbol Martin and Corinne Kamerow university hosted the association’s 15th Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Alloy Marvin and Rhoda Kantor T annual meeting on May 23–25,1999. AU’s newly Jeffrey Berman Dr. L. M. Lazarou renovated conference facility in the Ward Circle Stuart and Martha Bindemann Michael A. Longwill Building presented an ideal setting for the meeting, Highlights included addresses Linda P. Brennan M. L. Sturm Foundation which featured more than 70 papers, talks, and Joseph and Jane Churchman Dr. Mark N. Ozer by Israeli ambassador Zalman presentations on the theme “Israel after Oslo.” Howard and Carole Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Donald Salkowitz Highlights included addresses by Israeli ambassador Shoval, former ambassador Cora and John H. Davis Foundation Clara Schiffer Zalman Shoval, former ambassador Itamar performance of the Batsheva Dance Company’s Arthur and Ann Eden Kenneth Schnoll Itamar Rabinovich of Tel Aviv Rabinovich of Tel Aviv University, Sen. Joseph controversial piece “Ehad Mi Yodea” from Richard and Lois England Samson Stern Lieberman, assistant secretary of state Martin Indyk, Anaphase. University, Sen. Joseph Freddie Mac Foundation Melanie L. Sturm Hebrew University professor and president of the In the year 2000, the 16th annual conference of Jerrold and Jane Goodman Reana C. Sudfield Lieberman, assistant New Israel Fund Yoram Peri, and former cabinet AIS will take place in Israel—the first time it has Dr. Everett and Marion Gordon Bruce D. Weinstein secretary Arye Naor. Various conference events been held outside the United States. This eventsecretary is of state Martin Toby Greene Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wolin were hosted by AU President Benjamin Ladner, tentatively scheduled for June at the Ben GurionIndyk, Hebrew University William and Barbara Harkaway Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon S. Zinberg Washington College of Law dean Claudio University of the Negev, Beersheva, and at the professor and president of Thank You Grossman, and Center for Israeli Studies director Desert Research Center at Sde Boker. AU and the Howard Wachtel. Evening programs included a Center for Israeli Studies look forward to assistingthe New Israel Fund Yoram reception and concert at the embassy of Israel and with travel and program arrangements for the large Peri, and former cabinet a dance program and discussion featuring AU’s contingent of U.S. association members hoping to Department of Performing Arts dancers in a participate. secretary Arye Naor.
Association for Israel Studies Moves to AU
By Russell A. Stone, Professor of Sociology a three-year period. AU’s College of Arts and ✄ and AIS Academic Liaison Sciences and Jewish Studies Program will assure office, telephone, and logistical support for the s part of the inaugural activities of the Invest in the future of JEWISH STUDIES and ISRAELI STUDIES education. association. Internet connections permit the Center Center for Israeli Studies (CIS), American for Israeli Studies to provide support to the inter- Help foster Jewish studies and Israeli studies teaching, research, and scholarship at American University. Your gifts guarantee University has become the administrative Prof. Russell Stone, A national board of AIS, linking its current president, that AU’s Jewish Studies Program and Center for Israeli Studies will move from strength to strength in the coming years. We base for the Association for Israel Studies (AIS). Association for Prof. Hanna Herzog, from her home base at Tel welcome and very much appreciate gifts of any amount. Founded in 1985, AIS is an international scholarly Israel Studies Aviv University to an ❏ association of researchers, professors, and graduate Here is my contribution to the Jewish Studies Program, JSP ______academic liaison executive committee students whose interests include contemporary ❏ Founded in 1985, AIS is an and board scattered Here is my contribution to the Center for Israeli Studies, CIS ______Israeli society, culture, politics, and international across the United relations. AIS has more than 250 members located international scholarly Name ______States, Europe, and at universities, research institutes, and public agencies, association of researchers, Israel. Address ______mainly in the United States and Israel. There are also Sociology profes- members in several European, Middle Eastern, and professors, and graduate City ______State ______Zip ______sor Russell Stone is Asian countries. The association publishes the students whose interests ❏ ❏ ❏ academic liaison for Visa MasterCard American Express Card#______Exp. Date______twice-yearly Israel Studies Bulletin, hosts an annual include contemporary Israeli the association and Signature______meeting, and sponsors publications and Israel- AU. Administrative ❏ focused sessions at various scholarly meetings, society, culture, politics, and My (spouse’s) employer will match my gift. ______assistance for such as the annual gatherings of the Middle East (Please enclose the appropriate information.) international relations. 1999–2000 is being Studies Association, American Political Science provided by sociolo- Thank you for your support. Association, and International Studies Association. gy graduate student Kate Nangeroni. Visit the AIS By recent agreement between AU provost Web site
6 7 Jewish History at AU Museum, exploring key issues raised by Richard Breitman’s new book, Official Secrets: What the This issue of YediAUt he conference “The History of American Nazis Planned, What the is dedicated to “our Jewish Political Conservatism,” cosponsored British and Americans teachers and their T by AU’s Jewish Studies Program and Knew, a presentation by students and the stu- Department of History and Temple University’s Tel Aviv University dents of their students” Feinstein Center for the Study of American Jewish archaeologist Zvi down through the History, was a highlight of the past year. Over the Lederman showing slides generations. course of two days, scholars, journalists, and of the excavations at Bet activists traced the historical development of Shemesh, an opportunity American Jewish political conservatism from its for Lilith magazine editor Jewish Studies Program, American University emergence in the 1930s to the “think tanks” of in chief Susan Weidman 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW today. The conference brought together critics at Schneider to join stu- Washington, DC 20016-8042 large Midge Decter, Charles Krauthammer, Elliot dents in the American Abrams, and Paul Berman with scholars Jonathan Jewish Women’s History http://www.american Sarna, George Nash, Richard Gid Powers, Michael course for dinner, and a .edu/academic.depts/cas/ Kazin, and others. Plans to publish these papers are presentation by Lehigh js/js.html under way. University professor Other special programs included a symposium, Chava Weissler about her new book, Voices of the Produced by University Publications cosponsored by the Department of History, Center Matriarchs. An equal opportunity, affirmative for Israeli Studies, and U.S. Holocaust Memorial action university. UP 00-199
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