Pluralistic Israel: Women, Minorities, and Diversity the Association for Israel Studies: Annual Conference
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June 7–9, 2021 Pluralistic Israel: Women, Minorities, and Diversity The Association for Israel Studies: Annual Conference University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Program in Jewish Culture & Society EVENT SPONSORS The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago The Association for Israel Studies The Israel Institute The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences The Program in Jewish Culture & Society The Academic Engagement Network The School of Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics The Gies Business School The Law School—Comparative Criminal Procedure and Policing The Office of the Chancellor for Equity and Diversity Hewitt International The Program in Comparative and World Literature The Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies The Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies 37th Annual Meeting of the Association for Israel Studies Pluralistic Israel: Women, Minorities, and Diversity June 7–9, 2021 Hosted Virtually by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign PROGRAM 2 Contents 3 Welcome from the AIS President 4 Welcome from the Conference Chair 5 Conference Team 5 Association for Israel Studies 6 Program Committee 7 AIS Award Winners 8 Conference Information 10 Virtual Event Code of Conduct 12 Schedule at a Glance 16 Time Zone Conversions 17 Opening Events 18 Pre-Conference Events 22 Conference Schedule 59 Index of Participants 3 Welcome from the AIS President It is my immense pleasure to welcome a deeper interdisciplinary understanding of the you to the 37th Annual Meeting of the complexities of Israel, but also offers a lens through which to better compare and understand other Association of Israel Studies, its first virtual countries who likewise work through issues of conference. diversity, identity and (in)equality. The intellectual stimulation and satisfaction of sharing the growing Although we regret not being able to get together and diverse scholarship in Israel Studies through our in person, we are thrilled to be able to engage conferences is vital to the field of Israel Studies. each other virtually, to learn about and discuss the cutting-edge Israel Studies research you are all We are also proud to present the AIS Life-Time conducting. Achievement Award, AIS Young Scholar Award, Yonathan Shapiro Award for the Best Book in Israel The conference is the culmination of a year-long Studies, and the Ben Halpern Award for the Best effort on the part of AIS to continue to make Dissertation in Israel Studies. These awards are an Israel Studies research accessible to its members indication of the excellence in Israel Studies that the in the midst of this challenging year. Throughout AIS is helping to support. the year the AIS has been able to co-sponsor symposiums and lectures, and get the word out On behalf of the AIS and its Board, I want to extend about the many virtual events sponsored by our a huge thank you to the University of Illinois, institutional members. We offered a virtual early- Urbana-Champaign for hosting this conference, and career workshop for graduate students led by Arieh especially to Conference Chair Professor Rachel Saposnik, and we launched a new AIS Distinguished S. Harris for her incredible vision and execution of Lectureship Program so that the research of this tremendous conference. I also want to thank our distinguished scholars could be highlighted her whole team, including the important work of throughout the year as they lecture to universities Professor Dara Goldman and the valuable assistance across the globe. of Heidi Bell. A big thanks also to AIS team member and Assistant to the Conference Chair, Anina Selve The highlight for the AIS each year is its conference. for her tremendous help with this conference. It was with deep regret that we had to cancel Having to negotiate the first virtual conference, the AIS conference in June 2020 organized by covering multiple time zones, is an incredible feat. Professors Michael Cohen, Brian Horowitz, and Ari Thank you to the AIS Vice President Arieh Saposnik, Ofengenden at Tulane University. I thank them for Executive Director Asaf Shamis, Treasurer Ilan their hard work for what certainly would have been Ben Ami, and Assistant to the Executive Director, a very successful conference. Unfortunately, none of Stephanie Colley, for their vital assistance. Thank us had, at that moment, the experience or technical you to the fantastic Program Committee. I am know-how to hold a virtual conference on relatively sure that this conference will energize the already- short notice. vibrant scholarship on Israel being conducted by our Given last year’s need to cancel, we are especially members. excited there are over 450 registered attendees and almost 400 participating presenters (out of Yael Aronoff 500 current AIS members). This year’s conference President, Association of Israel Studies promises to be engaging and timely. Attendees Director, the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and presenters will explore Israel’s diversities, and Modern Israel grappling with its past and present and thinking Serling Chair in Israel Studies through its possible futures, always attentive to the Michigan State University aspirations toward and need for greater equality. As always, the field of Israel Studies not only offers 4 Welcome from the Conference Chair I am delighted to welcome you to The opening night events include a conversation the University of Illinois for the 37th with the former United States of America Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, who grew up Association of Israel Studies annual in Urbana-Champaign, and whose father Michael conference—even if it is only virtually. Shapiro was a faculty member in the Department of English for many years, and served as co-founder For 14 years the University has been home to the and inaugural director of the Program in Jewish Israel Studies Project (ISP), housed in the Program in Culture & Society. He will be in conversation with Jewish Culture & Society. Through the resources of Tamara Cofman Wittes, a senior fellow in the Center the ISP we have strategically implemented a robust for Middle East Policy at The Brookings Institution. array of Israel Studies programming across campus, including organizing visits from prominent cultural Look out for a musical performance by Mira Awad figures, developing conferences and workshops, and Guy Mintus. We are also screening Awad’s and offering multiple courses within the Program in 8-episode television series Muna. We conclude the Jewish Culture & Society. Through this programming, conference with a dance party/workshop for non- we estimate that over the last 10 years more than dancers with Gaga practitioner Omri Drumlevich. 2,000 people participated, including over 700 Keynote Dany Bahar will speak about Israel’s students completing semester-long coursework. response to COVID and the success of its swift This work has enabled us to promote greater vaccination program. His respondent Rebecca Smith understanding of and engagement with Israeli was part of the University of Illinois taskforce on culture and society, in all of its complexities. The COVID, which served as a model for universities hosting of the international organization’s annual across the United States. conference is the next step in our efforts to advance the University of Illinois’s role in the study of Israel. There is also a full film program available 6-13 June through the conference platform, and conversations This year’s conference theme “Pluralistic Israel: with filmmakers and directors throughout the three Women, Minorities, and Diversity” recognizes efforts days of the conference including Awad, Ethiopian we began in 2013 to focus on bringing a diverse filmmaker Esti Almo Wexler, and feminist filmmakers range of Israeli voices to campus and celebrating the and activists Smadar Zamir and Lior Elefant. Also work of Israeli women, Arabs, Ethiopians, Palestinians look out for our wellness corner where you will and Mizrahi writers and scholars. In 2019, we hosted be able to follow Ariana Starkman as she leads us a taskforce on the situation of women in Israel through some light yoga. Feel free to engage her Studies, launching a major initiative for the AIS which anytime through the on demand video. has led to a new mentoring program and the creation of a women’s caucus. Drawing on these particular And don’t forget to check out our exhibition space strengths within our own community, we envisaged where you can find information about the latest a conference that explores diverse communities publications by AIS members, resources available to in Israel, including religious minorities (Christian, faculty from Israel—or teaching Israel Studies, and a Muslim, Bahai and Druze), ethnic minorities and dedicated channel for tech support where you can women. These hopes have been realized in a rich and test your equipment or ask for instructional support inclusive conference program. for navigating the program platform and managing In addition to the hundreds of conference papers, zoom functionalities. presentations and roundtables on these themes, you will find program highlights that address We look forward to sharing this exciting conference these topics. We draw your attention to our with you! plenary “Women, Activism and Israeli Law” on the ways women are using the law to advocate for Rachel S. Harris women’s rights across traditional divisions in Israeli AIS Conference Chair 2021 society, fighting against gender based violence, Editor in Chief Journal of Jewish Identities discrimination