The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life ANNUAL NEWSLETTER • NUMBER 7 • FALL 2003

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life ANNUAL NEWSLETTER • NUMBER 7 • FALL 2003

From the Director’s Desk… workshops, under the auspices of the Herbert and Leonard Littman Families Holocaust Resource Center, continue to be an he 2002–03 academic year demonstrated the continuing important feature of the Bildner Center’s mission, and the Tgrowth of Jewish Studies at Rutgers. Since the establish- Center is planning to expand its public education in this area. ment of the academic program in 1998, a total of 256 students Our Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, underwritten by have graduated as majors or minors in Jewish Studies, and the the Karma Foundation, continues to enjoy great success and number of students enrolled in Jewish Studies courses annually attracts hundreds of community members. has reached 1,500. The rise of interest in Jewish Studies is a In the seven years that have passed since the Bildner Center testimony to what can be achieved in a large public university was founded, it has established Jewish Studies as a viable and where so many students stand to benefit from its development. growing field at Rutgers. Its presence has made a significant In fall 2002, Dr. Azzan Yadin joined the Department of Jewish impact on students’ experiences as well as on the intellectual Studies as Assistant Professor of Rabbinical Literature and has and cultural life of the community. We would like to welcome added important courses to the Jewish Studies curriculum. Rutgers’ new president, Dr. Richard L. McCormick, who has Currently, the department is engaged in an international participated in recent Center events and expressed the search for the Laurie Chair in Jewish History, thanks to a university’s support and recognition of the Center’s educational generous gift from the Laurie Foundation. Our faculty contin- mission. ues to be actively engaged in teaching, research, and writing, We look back with pride on the Center’s major achievements and have received fellowships and awards in recognition of to date, and we look forward to the continued growth of the their work. Jewish Studies faculty and the further development of the One of the areas of academic strength for Rutgers’ Jewish Bildner Center’s educational programs and initiatives. Studies Department is Israel Studies. A number of our faculty —Professor Yael Zerubavel members study and teach various aspects of Israeli history, society, culture, and politics, and the Bildner Center regularly hosts visiting professors from Israel who contribute to its activities through teaching, lectures, and faculty seminars. The Center also brings prominent scholars to Rutgers to speak at its public programs. The Ruth and Alvin Rockoff annual lecture this fall, presented by Professor Shlomo Avineri of The Hebrew University, attracted an overflow audience of community members, faculty, and students. In addition, the Center is sponsoring an ongoing series of informal lectures and discussions for faculty and students on a wide range of topics relating to Israel. The public programs offered during the 2002–03 academic year focused on Jewish social and cultural history as well as contemporary issues, including antisemitism, democracy and Yael Zerubavel with Rutgers’ President Richard L. McCormick (See security, and polemics over religious practices. Teachers’ story on page 10.) FACULTY FACULTY PROFILE themselves from their involved with the Jewish Jewish identity as they Studies department, mature. Fascinated by supervising Jewish Studies Maurice Elias the overarching honors students and, for rofessor of Psychology Maurice Elias question of how to raise the first time this past year, Phas always been interested in using children in the United supervising the internship his scholarly research as a tool to States so that they form of a Jewish Studies student improve community life. His orientation a strong Jewish identity, with the United Jewish toward action has led him to assist Elias and Dr. Jeffrey Communities. (Please see educational institutions in implement- Kress, a former Rutgers article on Aviva Kieffer on ing social and emotional learning graduate student and current colleague page 11.) Elias has offered help to the programs that foster compassionate, at the Jewish Theological Seminary of Jewish Studies department in develop- caring, and nurturing environments. It America, created the Jewish Identity has also led him to aid organizations Development Project. The project began Continued on page 9 within the Jewish community to create by exploring differences in attitudes and programs that nurture Jewish identity. beliefs among Jewish youth of different With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from denominations, and more recently it has Courses 2003–2004 the University of Connecticut, Elias broadened its framework. One of Elias’s Jewish Society & Culture I: brings varied perspectives and method- recent research interests is the impor- From Antiquity to the Middle Ages ologies to his research that give his work tance of social and emotional learning Jewish Society & Culture II: a unique quality. His combination of a for Jewish educators, which converges The Modern Experience community psychology perspective, with his interest in Jewish identity and Classical Jewish Philosophy clinical training, a background informed is contained within the rubric of his Modern Jewish Philosophy by Judaism, and broad knowledge about Jewish Identity Development Project. History of East European Jewry identity development allows him to Elias has worked with Jewish youth History of the Holocaust approach his research in different and organizations, such as United Synagogue Holocaust Literature in Translation exciting new ways. Youth (USY), to strengthen their role in Hebrew Bible: Formation and Elias’s research on social and fostering Jewish identity. Recently, his Interpretation emotional learning has had profound research has shifted to include the Jewish Places, Jewish Spaces effects on both public and religious importance of Jewish camping in Sociology of American Jewish schools. Concerned by the fact that helping to build a Jewish identity. Elias Religious Movements many youth have not developed social is currently seeking support for a Jewish Memory and emotional skills that would allow research and action study to survey Arab-Israeli Conflict them to treat others with respect, alumni of Jewish camps in order to Israeli Politics Israeli Culture compassion, and empathy, but instead explore the varying levels of Jewish History of Zionism turn to drugs, violence, and a life of identity with which they have emerged. American Jewish Experience in underachievement, Elias began to The data can be used to inform the way Literature the Jewish community approaches the search for the missing components. He History of Jewish Women development of informal educational applies this theory to Jewish education Remembering the Shtetl programs for Jewish youth. as well as to the public school class- Jewish-American Women: room. Elias has therefore spent a great A psychology professor at Rutgers for Contested Lives deal of time working with teachers and twenty-four years, Elias brings a unique Vision and Visuality: administrators in public schools, approach to his teaching in the Depart- The Rabbis and the Image yeshivas, Jewish day schools, and ment of Jewish Studies. Teaching the Elementary Modern Hebrew supplemental schools to implement seminar “Growing Up Jewish in Intermediate Modern Hebrew emotionally intelligent classrooms. America,” he finds it fascinating to see Advanced Modern Hebrew Elias’s concern for Jewish education, in how his students, who have varying Contemporary Hebrew Literature particular, is reflected in his involve- levels of Jewish interest or identifica- and Media (in Hebrew) ment with the Network for Research in tion, process and integrate the concepts Readings in Modern Hebrew Jewish Education and the Jewish discussed in the course in very different Literature (in Hebrew) Education Association. ways. He finds that his teaching can help Introduction to Modern Hebrew Elias’s research interest in Jewish to confirm or disprove some of his Literature (in Hebrew) identity development led him to explore research findings and helps him The Hebrew Novel (in Hebrew) why some Jewish youth embrace their generate ideas for further study. Elementary Modern Yiddish Jewish roots while others disassociate Elias has become increasingly

2 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE The First Visiting Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair in Jewish History Professor Elliott Horowitz served as the first Visiting Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair in Jewish History during the 2002–2003 academic year. Horowitz taught two courses that were new to the Department of Jewish Studies curriculum: “Jewish- Christian Relations” and “The Jewish Life Cycle in Historical Perspective.” He also enriched the Bildner Center’s community-outreach efforts by delivering the public lecture “Sabbath Pleasures in Medieval and Modern Times.” Horowitz, an associate professor in the Department of Jewish History at Bar-Ilan University, is co-editor of The Jews in the Early Modern Mediterranean (Bar-Ilan University Press, 2001) and has published and lectured widely on themes such as Jewish (Left to right) Laurie Foundation Executive culture in Italy; Jewish ceremonies, rituals, and leisure activities during the Middle Ages; Director Gene Korf, FAS Executive Dean and Jewish-Christian relations. Horowitz has held visiting professorships and received Holly Smith, Yael Zerubavel, Laurie fellowships from Yale, Oxford, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard, Foundation President Adelaide Zagoren, among other universities. and Elliott Horowitz The Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair in Jewish History was established by a major gift from the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. The Department of Jewish Studies has opened a formal search for the permanent Chair. JEWISH STUDIES FACULTY Yael Zerubavel, Chair, Jewish Studies; History FACULTY SEMINARS 2003 Myron Aronoff, Political Science William Donahue, German Rachel Elior, the John and Golda Cohen Professor of Jewish Thought at Hebrew Maurice Elias, Psychology University, presented a faculty seminar entitled “The Dispute on the Solar and Lunar Leslie Fishbein, American Studies Calendars in the Dead Sea Scrolls.” She addressed the ways in which the Dead Sea Ziva Galili, History Scrolls preserve the ancient priestly calendar. The talk was based on her new book Judith Gerson, Sociology The Temple and Chariot, Priests and Angels, Sanctuary and Heavenly Sanctuaries Paul Hanebrink, History Dina LeGall, History in Early Jewish Mysticism. Phyllis Mack, History John Gager, the William H. Danforth Professor of Religion at Princeton University, Alicia Ostriker, English delivered a talk entitled “Jewish Scholarship in Early Christianity: The Case of David Barbara Reed, Journalism Flusser.” The talk surveyed Jewish scholarship surrounding the New Testament figure Jeffrey Shandler, Jewish Studies Paul, focusing on the work of the late–twentieth-century Israeli scholar David Flusser. Nancy Sinkoff, Jewish Studies and History Gager demonstrated a recent shift in Jewish scholarship about Paul, who historically Chaim I. Waxman, Sociology had been represented negatively by Jewish scholars but has begun to be seen as a Azzan Yadin, Jewish Studies more legitimately Jewish figure. LANGUAGE INSTRUCTORS Josef Stern, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago, presented a talk Orly Moshenberg, entitled “Two Concepts of Holiness: Maimonides vs. Nahmanides.” The talk focused on Hebrew Language Coordinator the scriptural interpretations of Nahmanides and the philosophical writings of Edna Bryn-Noiman Maimonides and compared these two thinkers’ understanding of the concept of Eve Jochnowitz holiness. Lily Levy Steven J. Zipperstein, the Daniel E. Koshland Professor in Jewish Culture and PART-TIME LECTURERS History and Taube Director of the Program in Jewish Studies at Stanford University, Leonard Levin delivered a talk entitled “‘A Passion and a Conception of the World’: On Rereading the Marc Miller Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” He considered how this work, one of the most Rachel Neis notorious of anti-Semitic literature, has endured in its appeal to a wide range of Daniel Oden readers from the end of the nineteenth century in Russia, where it was created, to the Moshe Sherman present day. VISITING FACULTY Oren Soffer, fall Eliezer Don-Yehiya, spring See Page 4 for Visiting Scholars from Israel

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 3 ISRAEL STUDIES FOCUS ON

Exploring “Democracy in the Balance: Security and Justice in the Israeli Courts”. The Democracy and first, held on Rutgers’ College Avenue Campus, was designed for Rutgers Civil Rights in faculty and students, and was co- sponsored by Rutgers Hillel and the Israel Legow Family Israel Program Center of n February 2003, the Bildner Center the United Jewish Communities (UJC) Isponsored several forums that of MetroWest. The second, held at the explored democracy and civil rights in Rutgers School of Law in Newark, was Israel. The Center brought Professor cosponsored by Rutgers School of Law– Pnina Lahav to Rutgers to lecture and Newark and the Community Relations lead discussions in this subject area Committee of the United Jewish with Rutgers faculty and students as Communities of MetroWest. The talk well as with the larger community. A drew members of the Rutgers faculty of Pnina Lahav professor of law at Boston University, law and law students, UJC leadership, Lahav teaches constitutional law, and community members with special political and civil liberties, and com- interest in the topic. Lahav examined are affected by current social, political, parative law. She is the author of the increasing pressure on the Israeli and legal considerations. numerous journal articles and books, Supreme Court to mediate between Lahav also delivered the Raoul including the award-winning book principles of human rights and political Wallenberg Annual Public Lecture, Judgment in Jerusalem: Chief Justice and civil liberties on the one hand, and funded by Leon and Toby Cooperman, Simon Agranat and the Zionist Century. military and security concerns on the entitled “Up Against the Wall: Women’s Lahav delivered two talks entitled other, noting that the court’s decisions Legal Struggle to Pray at the Western Wall.” Her talk documented the efforts by women of different religious back- grounds, including Orthodox women, to Center Explores Israeli Culture through Literature and Film pray collectively at the women’s section of Jerusalem’s Western Wall for more Best-selling Israeli author, filmmaker, and cartoonist Etgar Keret read from his short than a decade. Lahav examined the stories and spoke about the challenge of writing about contemporary Israeli society women’s fight for the right to pray, the during a talk at Rutgers in January 2003. Born in 1967, Keret is one of the leading new attitude of the Knesset and the public, voices in Israeli literature and cinema. His story collections, best-sellers in Israel, have and the legal opposition they have been published in eight different languages, and his film Malka Red-Heart won the Israeli confronted. Oscar. His works include Pipelines, Gaza Blues, Kneller’s Happy Campers, Jetlag and The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories. The event was sponsored by the Bildner Center, the Consulate General of Israel in New York, and the Rutgers Office of Jewish Studies Courses on Israel Student Leadership, Involvement, and Programs. Fall 2002–Spring 2003 Award-winning Israeli authors Michal Govrin and Ronit Matalon participated in Trauma and Memory in Israeli Culture “Passages: Encounters with Jewish Writers,” a writers symposium presented by the Israel in the 1950s Bildner Center in October 2002. (See article on page 8.) In addition, the acclaimed films Arab-Israeli Conflict Late Marriage and Promises, which explore various aspects of Israeli society, were History of Zionism presented at the Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival in November 2002. (See article Israeli Culture: Formative Years, on page 9.) 1920s–1940s Israeli Society Israeli Politics

4 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE ISRAEL STUDIES ISRAEL

celebrations as major urban public Discourse in the Hebrew Language.” He Visiting Scholars events in early-twentieth-century Tel also received a law degree from Tel Aviv Aviv. Her publications in English include University. Soffer has a primary aca- from Israel 2003 a chapter entitled “East or West? Tel demic interest in political communica- Anat Helman received a Ph.D. from the Aviv in the 1920s and 1930s,” which tion, particularly Hebrew political Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where appears in People of the City: Jews and journalism in the late nineteenth and she is currently a lecturer in the the Urban Challenge (1999); the article early twentieth centuries. He is also Department of Jewish History and the “‘Even the Dogs in the Streets Bark in interested in the interrelationships Institute of Contemporary Jewry. Her Hebrew’: National Ideology and Everyday among law, politics, and communication. dissertation, which focuses on the Culture in Tel Aviv,” in the Jewish His publications include an article in development of civil society and urban Quarterly Review (2002); and a Hebrew entitled “Judicial Review in a culture in Tel Aviv during the 1920s and forthcoming article, “European Jews in Polarized Society,” in the professional 1930s, earned the Yitzhak Rabin Prize the Levant Heat: Climate and Culture in journal Law Review (2001), and another for outstanding doctoral thesis, and she 1920s and 1930s Tel Aviv,” to appear in called “Convergence and Distance in the has subsequently written and lectured the Journal of Israeli History. Relationship between the Center and extensively on the development of Tel the Periphery in the Journalistic Oren Soffer, the Aresty Visiting Aviv as a modern city. At Rutgers during Discourse,” for the journal Qesher Fellow for fall 2003, comes to Rutgers the spring semester, Helman taught the (2000). He also has a forthcoming article after undertaking a Halbert Post- course “Israeli Culture: Formative Years, in English called “Anti-Semitism, Doctoral Fellowship at the University of 1920s–1940s,” which examines Zionists’ Statistics, and Scientization of Hebrew Toronto’s Munk Center for International efforts to consolidate a Hebrew national Political Discourse,” which will appear Studies. Soffer received his Ph.D. in culture during the period of Jewish in Jewish Social Studies: History, immigration to the British mandate of political science at the Hebrew Univer- Culture, and Society. As a visiting Palestine. She also delivered a public sity of Jerusalem, preparing a disserta- professor at the Bildner Center, Soffer lecture, “Purim in 1920s–1930s Tel Aviv: tion entitled “‘Hazefira’ Paper — will teach the undergraduate course Carnival or Festival?” exploring Purim Modernization of the Political-Social “Israeli Culture” during the fall term.

The Ruth and Alvin Rockoff Annual Lecture Over 200 people gathered at the Busch Campus Center on November 19, 2002 for the Ruth and Alvin Rockoff Annual Lecture. “Israel in the Fifties: The Demographic Revolution” was delivered by Dvora Hacohen, the Bildner Center’s Norman and Syril Reitman Visiting Fellow during the 2002 fall semester. Hacohen, professor of Jewish history at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and the author of numerous publications on immigration to Israel, discussed mass immigration to Israel during the early years of statehood and its effect on the demographic composition of the country. She focused on the sociopolitical effects of Norman Samuels, Alvin Rockoff, Dvora Hacohen, and societal rifts between religious and secular Jews as well as Ruth Rockoff between Jews from European and Islamic countries.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 5 COMMUNITY OUTREACH

campus and stimulate dialogue on a variety of topical Jewish From the Associate Director issues. he Bildner Center’s community outreach programs continue The Littman Families Holocaust Resource Center continues Tto educate and enrich the community. Our public lectures to educate teachers throughout New Jersey. Last year, we bring large and diverse audiences to the Rutgers campus and the sponsored our first conference for elementary school teachers Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival is now one of the major which drew 65 educators to the Rutgers campus. Next spring the Jewish cultural events in the region. Due to the overwhelming Center will host the State of New Jersey’s Yom Hashoah success of the Jewish film festival we expanded the program for commemoration sponsored with the NJ Commission on 2003 to include a vintage film, a special screening for teenagers Holocaust Education and the Jewish Federation of Middlesex and a double feature of shorter documentaries with a guest County. appearance by the director. The Center’s public events, such as We look forward to seeing you at our events and invite you to “Rediscovering Jewish Eastern Europe,” a lecture and musical visit the Center next time you are on campus. presentation, bring large numbers of community members to —Karen Small

The Herbert and Leonard Littman Families Holocaust Resource Center

Programs for Educators range of topics, including ways of moral courage in children, and Helen The Littman Holocaust Resource Center preparing one’s class for a visit by a Simpkins, who presented the revised sponsored a variety of educational Holocaust survivor, films on the elementary school curriculum guide. programs for teachers this year. Holocaust, and the incorporation of Gail Rosenthal, director of the Holocaust “Teaching the Holocaust through music and theater into the curriculum. Resource Center at Richard Stockton Literature,” a four-session mini-course, Guest speakers brought new perspec- College, gave a lively presentation about brought together high school teachers tives to the group and included Danny the video series “Different and the and Rutgers faculty to discuss Holocaust Tamez, educational director of the Same,” which was created in literature published in Yiddish, Hebrew, George Street Playhouse; Helen conjunction with Mister Rogers’ German, and English. Simpkins, chair of the New Jersey Neighborhood to help children identify Finishing its second year, the middle Commission on Holocaust Education’s and prevent prejudice. school teachers discussion group curriculum committee for grades K–4 included eighteen public school and 5–8; and Hans Fisher, who gave a Community Yom Hashoah teachers who met four times over the talk on the music of Theresienstadt. In Commemoration The Bildner course of the year. Led by Denise addition, the group viewed a special Center and the Jewish Federa- Coleman, the group addressed a wide multimedia presentation, “Through the tion of Greater Middlesex County Eyes of a Friend: The World of Anne were co-sponsors of the commu- Frank.” nity Yom Hashoah Commemora- Sixty-five educators attended a one- tion. Held at the Rutgers Student day conference on “Teaching the Center on College Avenue, the Holocaust in Elementary School: program, which was attended by Focus on Friendship, Respect and approximately 400 community Tolerance” for teachers of grades K–4. members and survivors, featured Participants in the program came from a poignant talk by author and across the state, including teachers from survivor Inge Auerbacher on her Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, childhood experience in Passaic, Bergen, and Hunterdon Theresienstadt. A highlight of counties, as well as from Philadelphia. the event was a series of musical The conference featured Janice Cohn, selections performed by male Participants at the conference on author of The Christmas Menorahs: singers from the community, who teaching the Holocaust in elementary How a Town Fought Hate, who joined together under the artistic school discussed how to foster compassion and direction of Cantor Anna Ott of Temple Anshe Emeth for this solemn occasion.

6 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE Rediscovering Jewish Eastern Europe n a number of remarkable new ways, Americans have Ibeen rediscovering the rich culture of Ashkenazi Jews that flourished in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. The increase in tourism to Poland, the renewed interest in Jewish culture among non-Jews in Poland, and the flourishing of klezmer music were explored at “Rediscover- ing Jewish Eastern Europe,” a special program presented by the Bildner Center’s Herbert and Leonard Littman Families Holocaust Resource Center. More than 350 people gathered for the event, which included lectures, slide shows, and live klezmer music. Jeffrey Shandler, an assistant professor in Rutgers’ Department of Jewish Studies, moderated the program. Jack Kugelmass, Yael Zerubavel, and Jeffrey Shandler Jack Kugelmass, the Irving and Miriam Lowe Professor of Holocaust and Modern Jewish Studies at Arizona State in Cracow today remains very low. University and co-author of From a Ruined Garden: The Mark Kligman, associate professor of Jewish musicol- Memorial Books of Polish Jewry, examined the recent ogy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion rise of Jewish tourist culture in Kazimierz, the traditional in New York and visiting professor in Rutgers’ Department Jewish quarter of Cracow for generations before World War of Jewish Studies, was joined by Michael Alpert, a leading II. He discussed the flourishing of Jewish restaurants, figure in the current renaissance of Eastern European Jewish folk art, and Jewish cultural events in Kazimierz Jewish klezmer music, to address the resurgence that since the 1990s and considered the ways in which they klezmer music has enjoyed over the past twenty years. have appealed to both Jews and non-Jews. In a dynamic Through slides, audiotapes, and a musical performance by lecture accompanied by slides, Kugelmass probed the Alpert, the two demonstrated the development of klezmer, complexities of this resurgence of Jewish life, noting that the traditional music of Eastern European Jewry, and its many of those who have championed it and are reaping its revival in the United States and Europe, which offers new benefits, such as restaurant owners and klezmer perform- ways for Jews to connect with their Yiddish and Jewish ers, are not Jewish, while the number of actual Jews living cultural heritage.

BILDNER CENTER PROGRAM Historical Reflections on Contemporary Anti-Semitism HIGHLIGHTS 2002-2003 Steven J. Zipperstein, Stanford University The Ruth Ellen Steinman Bloustein and Edward J. Bloustein Memorial Lecture The Social History of the Bagel Co-sponsored by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, New York University Planning and Public Policy The Inaugural Toby and Herbert Stolzer Endowed Lecture From the Urban Ghetto to the Suburbs: Jewish Experience in the Catskills The Reshaping of the American Jewish Phil Brown, Brown University Landscape A lecture co-sponsored by Rutgers’ Institute for Health, Jenna Weissman Joselit, Princeton University Health Care Policy and Aging Research The Abram Matlofsky Memorial Program A lecture sponsored by the Karma Foundation

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 7 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Passages: Left: Allen Bildner, Yael Zerubavel, Joan Bildner, Encounters with and Alan Sagner Jewish Writers Below: Ronit Matalon, Michal Govrin, Marjorie mmigration is a wound of belonging... Agosin, Jonathan Rosen, I found myself among those Israelis I Yael Zerubavel and observing those wounds,” said Ronit Matalon, a critically acclaimed Israeli Norman Manea author whose presentation on individuality, belonging, and identity in Israel was one of several by prominent authors featured during “Passages: Encounters with Jewish Writers,” Prize, and other works, sponsored by the Bildner Center in Govrin noted the diversity October 2002. Made possible by a grant of the panelists and from the New Jersey Council for the referred to them as Humanities and supported in part by the witnesses of the passages Sagner Family Foundation, this writers’ that took place during the symposium exposed an twentieth century, a period intergenerational audience to contem- notorious for its mass porary award-winning and multicultural migrations and wars. She further Jews always pass from one location to Jewish writers. After presentations by observed that this past century wit- another, live in numerous places, exist as each of the featured authors, the nessed perhaps the greatest historical creatures of both earth and air, mediate program culminated with a panel uprooting of the Jewish people, which is between two worlds. While Jews discussion during which the audience echoed in the writers’ personal histories constantly cross back and forth between members were able to engage in lively or the biographies of their family two elements or worlds, between their discussion with the authors. members and is articulated in various religious tradition and the culture of the The symposium addressed the theme ways through their writings. society in which they reside, he said, the of “passages” and the ways in which the Among those joining Matalon, the Jewish experience in America and authors’ journeys between cultural author of The One Facing Us and Americans’ faith in happy endings make worlds and identities have affected Strangers at Home, was Norman bringing these two worlds together them, both as Jews and as authors. Manea, the award-winning Romanian possible. These diverse, individual journeys were author of numerous works including On Marjorie Agosin, the critically explored in relation to the passages Clowns: The Dictator and the Artist and acclaimed Latin American poet and theme ingrained in the collective Jewish The Black Envelope. Manea addressed author of Taking Root: Growing Up experience of immigration, emigration, how moving among numerous languages Jewish in Latin America, among many exile, and expulsion. Yael Zerubavel and political ideologies has shaped his other works, focused on her difficult said, “The movements between various writing. He noted that although he has childhood experiences as a Jewish girl in social, cultural, and political milieus lived in numerous places and knows Catholic Chile. She said she felt she was introduce deep ruptures into the lives of many languages, he has always been an outsider or “visitor” in her own individuals and transplanted labeled a Romanian writer. Displeased country. She remarked, “People would communities, while also producing a by such a label, he explained that as a ask me, ‘What are you? Are you a Chilean creative tension that becomes fertile Jew he believes he has a broader or a Jew?’ I wanted to be both.” Agosin’s ground for exploring the constantly identity. Nonetheless, he remarked, the family moved to Georgia when she was shifting and elusive categories of home label persists. fourteen, and she had to adapt to this and exile.” Jonathan Rosen, the award-winning new cultural environment, once again Michal Govrin, an award-winning American author of the novel Eve’s living as a minority within a community. Israeli poet, author, and theater director Apple and the work The Talmud and the Agosin indicated that her parents were and the Bildner Center’s Aresty Visiting Internet: A Journey Between Worlds, as instrumental in helping to mold her Fellow and Writer-in-Residence, served well as an avid bird-watcher, made a identity. “Through my parents, I came to as program moderator. The author of The compelling comparison between birds understand my own Diaspora. Only then Name, which received Israel’s Kugel and Jews. He noted that both birds and was I able to become a Jewish writer.”

8 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival he Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film TFestival, a much-anticipated cultural event in central New Jersey, offered Yael Zerubavel, Sharon Karmazin, Leslie Fishbein, Karen Small an expanded selection of critically acclaimed international films, stimulat- able to attend the screenings of Claude premiere of Anna’s Summer, a visually ing speakers, and festivities over an Lanzmann’s acclaimed documentary stunning dramatic feature film about a eleven-day period. The sold-out opening- Sobibor, October 14, 1943, 4 P.M., which woman exploring her husband’s Sephardic night screening of Focus set the tone for focuses on a successful uprising by Jewish ancestry. Rutgers’ own American the festival, which drew large to sold-out Jewish prisoners in the Sobibor Studies and Jewish Studies Professor crowds. Robert Sklar, film historian, extermination camp during World War Leslie Fishbein discussed the Jewish critic, and professor of cinema at New II. A class of fifty students from a high themes featured throughout the film. York University, offered insight into this school on Staten Island attended this Festival patrons enjoyed an exclusive dramatic feature film, which explores film as well. Many members of the reception at the conclusion of the event. anti-Semitism and extreme social audience were drawn by the opportunity The festival is made possible paranoia in a Brooklyn neighborhood to hear New Jersey’s own Esther Turner through the generous support of the toward the end of World War II. About Raab, an escapee from Sobibor, who Karma Foundation. The Fourth Annual 120 people gathered at the opening- offered moving testimony on her Rutgers New Jersey Jewish Film Festival night reception to enjoy a light supper experiences during the war. In addition, will be held from Thursday, November 6, and live music by Michael Alpert of a confirmation class from the Adath through Sunday, November 16, 2003. Brave Old World, Margot Leverett, and Israel Congregation of Lawrenceville Paul Morrissett of the Klezmatics. attended a screening of the documen- The festival welcomed Rutgers tary Promises, which explores the Fall 2002 Festival Films students, high-school students, and Middle East conflict through the eyes of youth groups to the documentary seven Israeli and Palestinian children Focus screenings. With the generous financial living in Jerusalem after the Oslo Peace USA, 2001, director: Neal Slavin support of the dean of Rutgers College, Accords and before the most recent Promises one hundred students from Rutgers’ intifada (Palestinian uprising). USA, 2001, directors: Justine “History of the Holocaust” course were The festival closed with the New Jersey Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg, Carlos Bolado Sobibor, October 14, 1943, 4 P.M. ELIAS PROFILE parenting have been translated into (Central New Jersey Premiere) (Continued from page2) Hebrew and published in Israel. Elias’s France, 2001, ing its internship program for students, most recent publication, with Jeffrey director: Claude Lanzmann and he hopes the department will be Kress, is entitled “A Comprehensive Leo and Claire able to offer a master’s degree program Skill Building Approach to Jewish Germany, 2000, in Jewish communal service or Jewish Values: Social and Emotional Learning director: Joseph Vilsmaier education. and Caring Early Childhood Class- Elias’s research on emotional rooms,” and is featured in the Coalition Silence United Kingdom, 1998, intelligence is reflected in his numerous for the Advancement of Jewish directors: Orly Yaddin and publications, which include Social Education’s most recent volume, Jewish Sylvie Bringas Problem Solving: Interventions in the Values for Growing Outstanding Jewish Schools (1996); Emotionally Intelligent Children. In addition to his academic Late Marriage Parenting: How to Raise a Self- publications, Elias used to write one Israel, 2001, Disciplined, Responsible, Socially weekly column called “Parenting director: Dover Kosashvili Matters” for the Home News Tribune Skilled Child (2000); and Raising Anna’s Summer and another called “Family Matters” for Emotionally Intelligent Teenagers: Germany, 2001, Parenting With Love, Laughter, and the Star-Ledger, dealing with the director: Jeanine Meerapfel Limits (2002). The two books on concerns of parenting.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 9 DEVELOPMENT Outreach To Friends of the Bildner Center Bergen County at the Jewish Museum In an initiative to broaden its Friends of the Bildner Center gathered in outreach, the Bildner Center hosted June at the Jewish Museum in New York a special gathering on April 30 for City for a festive evening featuring an Harriet Tabak the leadership of the UJA Federa- insider’s look at the acclaimed exhibit with Ellen tion of Bergen County and North “Entertaining and Herb Hudson, which co-sponsored the America: Jews, Hersh event. Movies, and Organized with the assistance of Broadcasting.” This the federation’s executive vice exclusive event Left: Toby president, Howard Charish, and included a special Stolzer and president, Dr. Len Cole, the tour of the exhibit Arline program included addresses by and a reception at Rutgers’ new president, Richard L. which participants Schwartzman McCormick, and Professor Yael enjoyed the unique Zerubavel, followed by a question- opportunity to learn and-answer period. Their presenta- more about this fascinating exhibit from Rutgers’ Professor of Jewish Studies tions highlighted Rutgers’ mission as Jeffrey Shandler, who served as guest co-curator of the exhibit. a public university, the unique scope “Entertaining America: Jews, Movies, and Broadcasting” is an arcade-like of activities of the Bildner Center, setting of media installations, posters, vintage photographs, and memorabilia and the development of the Depart- related to the history of American Jews and the media. The exhibit seeks to ment of Jewish Studies. Attendees amplify and extend the conversation generated over the past century about had the opportunity to engage in American Jews and how they have made, responded to, and been perceived in dialogue with President McCormick motion pictures, radio programs, and television shows. at a reception held in advance of the formal program. The event was an opportunity to MEETING THE BILDNERS’ CHALLENGE GRANT potential of this challenge and contribute further strengthen the relationship to the Center’s endowment. When the that the Bildner Center has Allen and Joan Bildner’s generous gift of developed with the Jewish federa- $2 million helped establish the Center for challenge is met, the Bildners’ tions throughout New Jersey during the Study of Jewish Life in 1996. Their $1 million gift will support a faculty the two-year Think Tank program in support of the center has continued with a position; other gifts will help fund a broad 2000–2002. $1 million matching grant, challenging range of activities that the Center offers. others to support the growth of Jewish the process of meeting with very inter- Campaign Leadership Committee studies at Rutgers. The Center is halfway ested individuals to meet the goal. But, we Welcomes New Members still need your help because we need to We are pleased to welcome Arline toward meeting this goal, but we need your Schwartzman and Roy Tanzman to help. Your gift will help us capitalize on the maximize the potential of this grant. the Center’s Campaign Leadership Committee. They join Joan Bildner and Alvin Rockoff, Center Appoints New Director of Development campaign co-chairs, and committee Paul Kuznekoff was appointed director of development for the Bildner Center. He has members Bruce Freeman, Herbert worked in the field of development since 1975, most recently serving as director of Klein, Sima Jelin, Norman development in the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers. Reitman, and Adelaide Zagoren. His prior experience in fund-raising includes serving as director of development for The committee is hard at work on American ORT and as assistant director of development for the Anti-Defamation raising funds for the Center’s League. He has also served as the New York director of commerce and industry for endowment campaign in support of the Development Corporation for Israel (State of Israel Bonds) and as the senior the academic program and director for comprehensive fund development in the national office of the American educational initiatives for school- Lung Association. teachers and the community.

10 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE STUDENT NEWS Ami Foger Aviva Kieffer hen Ami Foger enrolled at aised in a home imbued with Zionism W Rutgers, he planned to become a R and a love of Israel, Aviva Kieffer Jewish history major. After taking his developed a passion for Israel early in life. first course with Leonard Levin, an A recent Rutgers graduate and recipient of adjunct professor of Jewish studies and the award of the Maurice Meyer III and philosophy, his interests shifted toward Irma Meyer Endowed Student Support studying Jewish philosophy in its Fund, she spent her freshman year at the historical context. Professor Levin’s Hebrew University in Jerusalem, gaining a course on classical Jewish philosophy sparked his interest in deeper understanding of Israeli society and grappling with the relationships between general and Jewish philosophy, questions about the role that Israel should play in her Jewish affirming his long-standing interest in Jewish philosophy identity. When she arrived at Rutgers, Aviva became a Jewish while whetting his appetite for further research in the field of studies major with a concentration in Israel studies. general philosophy. Ami, a recent graduate and recipient of Aviva was particularly influenced by her early course “Jewish the award of the Baruch S. and Pearl W. Seidman Scholarship Society and Culture I,” which offered her insight into the social, Fund, became a double major in Jewish studies (with a focus economic, religious, and political experience of the Jews from on philosophy) and philosophy. biblical times through the fifteenth century. She later pursued While at Rutgers, Ami undertook challenging independent major interests in modern Zionism and contemporary Israeli research projects in the areas of Jewish philosophy and culture through her course work. Jewish law. Ami’s fascination with Maimonides’ radical Through the Department of Jewish Studies and supervised by conception of prophecy led him to undertake an independent Maurice Elias, professor of psychology and Jewish studies, Aviva study on this topic, exploring the meaning of Maimonides’ undertook an internship with the United Jewish Communities views and attempting to reconcile various scholarly works on (UJC). This internship marked the culmination of her efforts as a the subject. campus activist in support of Israel and of strengthening the Soon after, Ami began work on his Henry Rutgers Scholars collective voice of Jewish youth on college campuses. As the UJC Honors Thesis. He had planned to write about the relationship Rutgers campus intern, Aviva served as a liaison between the UJC between the Talmud and philosophy, a very broad topic. As he and the Jewish students on campus with the goal of connecting sought to narrow down his topic, he took a course on the Dead these students to all aspects of the Jewish Federation system. As Sea Scrolls with Professor of Jewish Studies Azzan Yadin. Aviva noted: “I did a great deal of networking so that Rutgers’ During the semester, Professor Yadin introduced theories rapidly growing, vibrant Jewish community will be able to access regarding the rabbinic method of formulating and resources in the organized Jewish community. I also wanted to transmitting law that broadened Ami’s previous approach to spread the message locally and nationally to Jewish organizations the subject. Ami’s profound interest in this area caused a shift about how strong the Jewish community is at Rutgers.” in his research to a study of the methodologies used in the The internship taught Aviva a great deal about issues facing formulation of rabbinic law. Ami’s thesis, “Evolution of Israel, American Jewry, and Jewish students on campus, as well Rabbinic Law—Tradition vs. Exegesis,” was written under the as the ways in which the Jewish community addresses these joint supervision of Professor Levin and Professor Yadin, and it concerns. Her final project included writing an op-ed piece about draws on a wide body of scholarship to demonstrate the ways responses to anti-Semitic provocation on college campuses. Her in which Jewish law is based on both biblical and rabbinic research shows that the potency of Jewish students’ responses to authority. anti-Semitism has been underestimated, and that these students Ami says that as an observant Jew, his research has been are helped tremendously by a multitude of resources provided to challenging and has carried both intellectual and emotional college campuses by organizations such as Hillel: The Foundation import. He believes that it is important to have a thorough for Jewish Campus Life, on whose international board of directors understanding of his religion and is excited by how much his Aviva sat for several years. academic research has broadened his knowledge and A Hebrew school teacher for many years, Aviva plans to earn a understanding of Jewish law. master’s degree in education and begin a career teaching in a Ami is currently deciding whether to pursue a law degree or Jewish day school. She remembers her own experiences at Jewish to work toward a Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy while simulta- day school fondly, but would also like to improve upon the current neously studying to become a rabbi. His interest in becoming a system of Jewish day school education to be inclusive of special rabbi does not stem from the goal of serving as a rabbi, but needs students. Aviva has worked with special needs children in rather is motivated by his wish to balance the secular, both a summer camp and a school setting, and she would like to academic study of Judaism with religious learning. In this way, be an instrumental force in promoting widespread special he hopes to gain as broad a knowledge of Judaism as possible. education programs in Jewish day schools.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 11 STUDENT NEWS

Student Awards THE STUDENT AWARD CEREMONY Jonathan Kobrinski ’03 The Leonard and Adele Blumberg Student Award Sarah Cohen with Prof. The Sandra and Stephen M. Chaim I. Waxman Greenberg Student Award Fund

Ami Yares ’03 The Louis Fishman Memorial Student Support Fund

Leo Brown ’04 The Betty and Julius Gillman Memorial Student Support Fund The Gertrude and Jacob Henoch Memorial Student Support Fund

Tatyana Knizhnik ’03 Leora Trub ’03 The Rudolph and Mary Solomon Klein Undergraduate Scholarship

Jeffrey Delle Chiaie ’03 Below: Amy Weiss The Norma U. and David M. Levitt with Theodore Student Award Metzendorf

Deborah Gill ’03 The Bernice and Milton I. Luxemburg Student Award Fund

Aviva Kieffer ’03 The Maurice Meyer III and Irma Meyer Endowed Student Support Fund Above: Rachel Berger with Prof. Orly Sarah Cohen ’03 Moshenberg and Prof. Leonard Levin The Harold and Betty Perl Endowed Scholarship

Ari Corman ’04 The Reitman Family Student Award IN MEMORIAM: TRIBUTE TO BARUCH SEIDMAN The Bildner Center is deeply indebted to Judge Baruch Seidman, who Rebecca Leibowitz ’04 generously supported the center during the crucial moments of its early The Ruth Feller Rosenberg Endowed development and who died in August of 2002. A Rutgers alumnus, Judge Student Award Fund Seidman benefited from a Rutgers scholarship and wished to give back to the university by supporting students. Judge Seidman’s multifaceted support Rachel Berger ’03 included the endowment of an annual scholarship award for students Ami Foger ’04 majoring in Jewish Studies who demonstrate outstanding achievement. The Sara Kellerman ’03 Baruch S. and Pearl W. Seidman Scholarship Fund will continue to provide Amy Weiss ’05 annual scholarships that profoundly affect the lives of Jewish Studies The Baruch S. and Pearl W. students. Seidman Scholarship Fund

12 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE JEWISH STUDIES GRADUATES MAY 2003 Majors Leora Trub Jackie Greenbaum Rachel Berger Allison Weinstein Joshua Jacobs Alumni News Marisa Bernstein Ami Yares Michelle Klein Robyn Bluestone Tatyana Knizhnik Sarah Cohen Minors Rebecca Novick Sharon Green, RC ’01, is working in Jeffrey Delle Chiaie Rebecca Baron Justine Reuben Washington, D.C., as a program Daniela Gross Jonathan Berkowitz Stephen Rosenberg instructor for the Close Up Foundation, Sara Kellerman Orit Carmiel Julia Roytburd a nonprofit organization that runs civic Aviva Kieffer Sara Chvala Michal Schindel education programs for high school and Marissa Lieberman Andrew Eis Renee Stein middle school students, as well as new Raina Spivack Davida Eisenberg Elizabeta Tertychnaya Americans and other groups. Sharon’s Liliya Tanenbaum Edythe Fineman Avital Yarmush responsibilities include planning and Mary Thomas Deborah Gill Janette Zeligman leading daily student workshops and mediating discussions between students and members of Congress with the goal of offering students greater knowledge Career Night: Post-College Opportunities of their government and current political issues. One of her most hat do Jewish Studies students do with their B.A. degrees when they leave challenging experiences has been WRutgers? Students gathered at the Bildner Center learn about career opportuni- running a workshop on the Israeli- ties in the Jewish community. Dr. Ilana Abramovitch, manager of curriculum at the Palestinian conflict. Museum of Jewish Heritage, talked about careers with Jewish museums; Rabbi Uri Gordon, director of the Jewish Teacher Corps, spoke about post-college work in the Shoshana Kordova, RC ’00, made aliyah field of Jewish education; Rabbi David Wise of Temple Beth El in Somerset talked in June 2000 after completing her about the rabbinate; Azzan Yadin, assistant professor in Rutgers’ Department of master’s degree in journalism at Jewish Studies, spoke about academia; and Karen Small, the Bildner Center’s Columbia University. She moved to associate director, talked about Jewish communal service. Jerusalem and became acting associate editor for the Jerusalem Post’s international edition. Subsequently, she HONORS THESES wrote for Ha’aretz’s English edition, Sara Cohen — “Modern Mikvah Use: Traditional Viewpoints and Contemporary where she was involved primarily with Attitudes in the Conservative Movement” (Jewish Studies Honors Thesis) “Anglo File,” the weekly section devoted to news and feature items of interest to Ami Foger — “The Evolution of Rabbinic Law: Exegesis or Tradition?” (Jewish English speakers. She is now doing Studies Honors Thesis; Rutgers College: Henry Rutgers Scholars Honors Thesis) freelance work for American and British Leora Trub — “The Counselor Within: Exploring the Role of Counseling in the newspapers while continuing to Rabbinic Identity” (Jewish Studies Honors Thesis; Rutgers College: Henry Rutgers freelance for Ha’aretz. Scholars Honors Thesis) Ami Yares — “The Evolving Tradition of Contemporary Iraqi Jewish Music” (Jew- Ari Yares, RC ’99, is finishing a ish Studies Honors Thesis; Livingston College: Paul Robeson Honors Thesis) doctorate in school psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. As part of the doctoral program, he taught an educational technology course to Authors of Jewish education majors at Temple and is Studies Honors Theses currently interning in the Newark public with their advisors: school system as a school psychologist. Back Row – Prof. Lenny Upon graduating, he plans to work as a Levin, Sarah Cohen, school psychologist, but he hopes Prof. Phyllis Mack, ultimately to enter academia and teach Prof. Yael Zerubavel, psychology at the undergraduate and Leora Trub, Prof. Azzan graduate levels. He also works for United Synagogue Youth as a religion/education Yadin. Front Row – Ami field worker for Northern New Jersey, Foger, Prof. Maurice planning the educational curriculum for Elias, Ami Yares the region’s conventions.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY • 13 FACULTY UPDATES

Yael Zerubavel continued to serve as director of William Donahue received the Aldo and Jeanne Components and Implementation Strategies,” at the Bildner Center and was chair of the Scaglione Prize for Studies in Germanic the annual conference of the Middlesex County Department of Jewish Studies. Among her Languages and Literatures, for “The End of Division of Mental Health and Addiction publications this past year are “The Mythologi- Modernism: Elias Canetti’s Auto-da-Fé,” The Services in Sayreville (October 2002). He cal Sabra and the Jewish Past: Trauma, Memory, Modern Language Association of America presented “Parents Today Are Different: How to and Contested Identities,” Israel Studies 7, no. (December 2002). During the past year, he Work with Them with Emotional Intelligence” at 2 (summer 2002); “Rachel and the Female delivered a number of lectures and papers: the annual meeting of the N.J. Association for Voice: Labor, Gender, and the Zionist Pioneer “Orientalism Reconsidered: Elias Canetti’s the Education of Young Children, in East Vision,” in History and Literature: New Voices of Marrakesh,” at the Rutgers Brunswick, (October 2002); “Be a Mensch, Readings of Jewish Text in Honor of Arnold J. Transliteratures Conference (March 2003); Raise a Mensch: How to Be an Emotionally Band, edited by David C. Jacobson and William “The Sacred & Secular in Fritz Lang’s Intelligent Parent and Raise Strong, Self- Cutter (Brown Judaic Studies Series, 2002), and Metropolis,” at Canisius College (March 2003); Disciplined, Responsible, and Socially Resilient “The Israeli War Widow in Fiction and Film,” in “The Holocaust in Fiction and History,” Children,” to Jewish Family Services/Jewish Landscaping the Human Garden, edited by Teaching Strategies from History, Literature, Federation of Durham–Chapel Hill, North Amir Weiner (Stanford University Press, 2003). and Sociology, Lessons & Legacies, Minneapolis Carolina (November 2002); and “Parenting with Her professional activities included participa- (November 2002); “The Holocaust and the Emotional Intelligence: Guiding the Way to tion in an Institute for Teachers on Israel, at Postmodern: Recent German Literature,” Series Compassionate, Committed, Courageous Adults” Emory University in summer 2002. She gave a on Teaching Holocaust Literature, at the at the annual meeting of the New Jersey PTA, presentation on “Language of Loss in a Bildner Center (October 2002); “Old and New Atlantic City (December 2002). Elias and J.S. Landscape of Conflict: On War Widows, Worlds in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and Elias Kress presented a paper, “Building Learning Bereaved Mothers and the Literary Imagination Canetti’s Auto-da-Fé,” at the Chicago Vienna Communities of Character: How to Create in Contemporary Israel,” in a conference Symposium, University of Illinois–Chicago Effective, Enduring Programs to Enhance sponsored by the Leo Baeck Institute in (October 2002); “The Popular Culture Alibi: Positive Values, Identity, and Academic Jerusalem (December 2002) and was a guest Bernhard Schlink’s Detective Fiction and the Success,” sponsored by the Center for Applied lecturer at Hebrew University, Haifa University, Culture of Left-Liberal ‘Repression,’” at the Psychology, of Rutgers University’s Graduate and Alma College in Tel Aviv (December 2002). German Studies Association Annual Convention, School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Zerubavel also presented “The Desert and the San Diego (October 2002); and “The Graying of in Piscataway (January 2003). Settlement: The Construction of Space, Memory the Red: The Repudiation of ’68er Activism (and and Identity in Modern Israeli Culture,” in a Beyond) in Bernhard Schlink’s Der Vorleser,” in Leslie Fishbein organized a session entitled conference on “Jewish Conceptions and “Ich will anders sein”: Difference in Contempo- Practices of Space” at Stanford University and rary Germany, conference, at Nottingham “Too Jewish” at the annual meeting of the “Major Themes in Israeli Literature” in a Trent University (July 2002). In addition, American Studies Association in Houston symposium on “The Jewish State and the Donahue was named to the Advisory Board of (November 2002), and presented a paper during Democratic Tradition” at CUNY, the Graduate the Encyclopedia of Antisemitism and Anti- that session entitled “So Jewish, Too Jewish, Center (May 2003). She also participated in a Jewish Prejudice, edited by Richard Levy. Not Jewish: The Intersecting Axes of Identity of panel discussion on “Building the Jewish Jewish-American Women in the Public Sphere.” Future: Jewish Life and the College Campus,” Maurice Elias published Academic and Social- sponsored by the Trust for Jewish Philanthropy Emotional Learning, Educational Practices Ziva Galili spent the year pursuing her research at the Jewish Federations’ General Assembly in Series, booklet no. 11 (International Academy of on Zionism in Soviet Russia in the 1920s. After Philadelphia in fall 2002. Zerubavel continues to Education [IAE] and International Bureau of five years as Vice Dean of the Graduate School serve on the editorial boards of Israel Studies Education [IBE], 2003); He also wrote “Road and before starting a three-year term as Chair of (Indiana University Press), Journal of Israeli Signs for Raising an Emotionally Intelligent the History Department, Galili spent the year on History (Tel Aviv University), and Israel Studies Teenager,” The Humor Connection 16, no. 5 sabbatical. She participated in a research group Forum (Association for Israel Studies). (2002). He co-edited with H.A. Arnold and C.S. on the “Russian Context of Modern Jewish Hussey, EQ + IQ = Best Leadership Practices Culture” at the Institute for Advanced Studies Myron Aronoff published “Democratizations in for Caring and Successful Schools (Corwin in Jerusalem (Spring 2003). During this time, Diversely Fissured Societies,” in Democratiza- Press, 2003). In addition, Elias co-authored the she completed three chapters for a co-authored tions: Complex Perspectives, Compound following: with J.S. Kress, “Creating Lasting book, entitled Prison or Palestine: The Contexts, edited by J.V. Ciprut; and “Temporal Programming for Jewish Identity and Values: Immigration of Soviet Zionist Convicts, 1924- and Spatial Dimensions of Contested Israeli Keeping Initiatives Afloat in Rough Seas,” 1937, to be published by Kass Publishers of Nationhood,” in Exploitation and Journal of the Jewish Educators Assembly London. Galili also completed an article to be Overexploitation in Societies Past and Present, (winter 2003); with I. Cohen and J.S. Kress, published in the Journal of Israeli History (Tel edited by Brigitta Benzig and Bernd Hermann. “Classroom Climate in an Orthodox Day School: Aviv University) entitled “”The Soviet Experi- In addition, he contributed entries in two The Contribution of Emotional Intelligence, ence of Zionism: Importing Soviet Political encyclopedias: “Political Culture” in the Demographics, and Classroom Context,” Culture to Palestine.” International Encyclopedia of the Social and Journal of Jewish Education 68, no. 1 (2002). Behavioral Sciences (Neil J. Smelser and Paul Elias gave the following keynote presentations, Phyllis Mack delivered the keynote address, B. Baltes, editors in chief) and “Political and “Emotional Intelligence: The Missing Piece in “Women and John Wesley,” at a conference on Legal Anthropology” in the Encyclopaedia Education,” at the Second International John Wesley in Manchester, England (June Britannica. Aronoff is listed in the sixth edition Seminar on Educational Trends for the 21st 2003). She also presented papers on “Writing of Who’s Who in American Education, as he has Century, at DUXX, the Graduate School of and the Construction of Emotion in 18th been in previous years. He was a discussant of a Business Leadership, in Monterrey, Mexico Century England,” at the Mid-Atlantic panel at the meeting of the Association for (October 2002) and “Exemplary and Promising Conference on British Studies, Baltimore Israel Studies, held in San Diego (April 2003). Prevention Programs in the Schools: Key (November 2002); and on “Women, Writing, and

14 • CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF JEWISH LIFE Religion,” before the International Society for During the Holocaust, edited by Robert Moses European Jewry,” at the Jewish Theological Eighteenth-Century Studies (ISECS), at the Shapiro (Yeshiva University Press, 2003); and Seminary of America (December 2002); and University of California at Los Angeles (August “The State of Yiddish Studies: Some Observa- “Doing Jewish Women’s History in Austrian 2003). In addition, she delivered lectures on tions and Thoughts,” Conservative Judaism 54, Galicia,” in Hebrew, at Bar-Ilan University. “Religion, Feminism, and the Problem of no. 4 (2002). Agency,” at the University of Michigan (April Shandler presented papers at numerous Chaim I. Waxman served as acting chair of the 2002); and on “18th Century Religious conferences and other events including Department of Jewish Studies in spring 2003. Dissenters,” at the University of Minnesota “Audiences as Artifacts,” at the 2003 Council of Waxman co-edited, with Uzi Rebhun, Jews in (February 2003). American Jewish Museums Conference; “In Israel: Contemporary Social and Cultural Yiddish/On Yiddish: The Self-Reflexive Yiddish Patterns (Brandeis University Press/University Alicia Ostriker published “Psalm and Anti- Poem,” at the 118th Modern Language Press of New England, scheduled for 2003). In Psalm: A Personal View,” American Poetry Association Annual Convention; “Mirroring Evil: addition, Waxman wrote “The American Review (August 2002); and “The Book of Ruth Reflections of Controversies Past,” at the 34th Mizrachi Organization, American Orthodoxy, and the Love of the Land,” Biblical Interpreta- Annual Association for Jewish Studies and the American Jewish Community” (in tions (fall 2002). She also delivered several Conference. “Autobiography and the Holocaust: Hebrew), Hadoar 82, no. 1 (September 2002); lectures: “The Nakedness of the Fathers: Reflections on Oskar Rosenfeld’s In the four entries in the Encyclopedia of American Feminism and Contemporary Midrash,” at the Beginning Was the Ghetto,” at Deutsches Haus, Religion and Politics, edited by Paul A. Djupe Brandeis University Center for Research on New York University; “The Image of Isaac and Laura R. Olson (Facts On File, 2003); “The Women (April 2002); “A New Genre: Contempo- Bashevis Singer in American Films” (in Jewish Identity and Identification Baby rary Midrash,” at the Frost Place Writing Yiddish), at the Third International Advanced Boomers, Youth, and Children in the US,” in Conference (August 2002); “War and Peace in Seminar in Yiddish Studies; “The Jewish Mark Contemporary Jewries: Convergence and Divergence, vol. 2 of Jewish Identities in a Biblical Texts,” part of a four-day workshop that Twain: Sholem Aleichem’s Life and Legacy in Changing World (Brill, 2003); “What We Don’t she led at the National Havurah Conference, America,” at McGill University; “At Home on the Know about the Judaism of America’s Jews,” New Hampshire (August 2002); “A New Genre: Small Screen: American Jews and Television,” at Contemporary Jewry 23 (2003); and “Jewish Contemporary Midrash,” as the Bennington Princeton University; “Post-vernacular Yiddish: Education Does Matter,” in Knowing What: Writing Program Visiting Faculty Lecture Language as a Performance Art,” at Northwest- Jewish Culture, Identity and Language, edited (January 2003); and “Visions and Revisions in ern University; “Living Room Witnesses: by David Zisenwine, Studies in Culture, Identity Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl,’” as the Bennington American Television and the Holocaust,” at the and Community (Tel Aviv University, School of Writing Program Visiting Faculty Lecture. These University of Missouri; “The Virtual Rebbe: The Education, 2003). Waxman presented a paper, last two lectures were also delivered at Bar-Ilan Media Culture of the Lubavitcher Hasidim,” at “The Impact of 9/11 on the American Jewish University in May 2003. In addition to numerous the University of Maryland; and “Staging the Community and Jewish-Muslim Relations,” at a poetry readings, there were three performances Shtetl: The Memory Projects of Yaffa Eliach,” at conference in Hebrew on “September 11, of her cantata, Jephthah’s Daughter (set to the Center for Advanced Jewish Studies, 2002—One Year after: Dialogue or Tension?” at music by Moshe Budmor): the premiere, at the University of Pennsylvania. For the Bildner the Mosaica-Research Center for Religion, College of New Jersey (March 2002); Detroit Center, Shandler presented “Yiddish Literature Society and State, in Jerusalem (September University’s Mercy College (October 2002); and of the Holocaust” for public school teachers. In 2002). He was also a panelist-presenter on the West-Park Presbyterian Church (November addition, he was the co-curator of a media topic “The Significance and Implications of the 2002). exhibition, “Entertaining America: Jews, National Jewish Population Survey,” at the Movies, and Broadcasting,” at the Jewish International Conference on Jewish Demogra- Barbara Reed presented a paper, on the Museum in New York. phy, in Jerusalem (December 2002). (London) Jewish Chronicle’s coverage of the American Civil War, to the tenth annual Nancy Sinkoff wrote a chapter, “Strategy and Azzan Yadin published “4QMMT, Rabbi symposium on “The Press, Civil War, and Free Ruse in the Haskalah of Mendel Lefin of Ishmael, and the Origins of Legal Midrash,” Expression in the 19th Century,” in Chatta- Satanow,” in New Perspectives on the Haskalah, Dead Sea Discoveries 10 (2003); “A Greek nooga, Tennessee. In addition, her book edited by Shmuel Feiner and David Sorkin. (The Witness to the Semantic Shift ‘lkh’–‘buy,’” Outsiders in 19th-Century Press History: Littman Library of Jewish Civilization). Her Hebrew Studies 43 (2002); “‘Shnei ketuvim’ and Multicultural Perspectives, co-edited with Dr. manuscript Out of the Shtetl: Making Jews Rabbinic Intermediation,” Journal for the Frankie Hutton, was accepted by the University Modern in the Polish Borderlands was awarded Study of Judaism 33 (2002); and “Samson’s of Wisconsin Press. a 2002 Koret Jewish Studies Publications ‘Hida,’” Vetus Testamentum 52 (2002). In Program subvention, and is forthcoming from addition, his book, Scripture as Logos: Rabbi Jeffrey Shandler is co-author and co-editor, Brown University Press Judaic Studies Ishmael and the Origins of Midrash, was with J. Hoberman, of Entertaining America: monograph series. Her article “The Maskil, the accepted by the University of Pennsylvania Jews, Movies, and Broadcasting (Princeton Convert and the Agunah: Joseph Perl as a Press. He is currently working on a new book on University Press/The Jewish Museum, 2003); he Historian of Jewish Divorce Law” is forthcoming the halakhic interpretation of Rabbi Akiva. is also the editor of Awakening Lives: in the AJS Review; also forthcoming are Yadin also gave scholarly talks on “Rabban Autobiographies of Jewish Youth in Poland “Haskalah,” an entry in the Dictionary of Early Gamliel and Proclus in the Bathhouse,” at the before the Holocaust (Yale University Press/ Modern Europe, edited by Donald Kelley Jewish Theological Seminary, and “The Rabbinic YIVO Institute, 2002), for which he was a (Scribner’s); and, in Hebrew, “Between History Biography of Rabbi Akiva,” at Swarthmore finalist for the 2003 Koret Jewish Book Award. and Law: The Case of Joseph Perl in Austrian College; he also taught a community course at In addition, Shandler wrote “The Testimony of Galicia,” Proceedings of the Second Interna- Bnai Tikvah in North Brunswick, consisting of Images: The Allied Liberation of Nazi Concen- tional Conference on the Enlightenment, Bar- five evening lectures serving as an introduction tration Camps in American Newsreels,” in Ilan University. Sinkoff gave lectures on “1772: to the Zohar. Yadin continues as Rabbinics book American and International Journalism Polish Jews and the Transformation of review editor at Prooftexts.

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