jspnews Fall 2015

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM @ UD

From the Director during the month of October. The ability of the Jewish Stud- t is an honor to assume range of students, both to the 327) listened to a lecture by ies program to bring outside Idirectorship of the Jewish courses and the minor. Seth Katzen, CEO of the Jew- guests to the university is vital Studies Program following ish Federation of Delaware, to enriching the students’ un- The Jewish Studies Program the retirement of Jay Halio. who spoke about the current derstanding and broadening has and will continue to run The program has benefited landscape of American Jewish their perspectives. programs that highlight the tremendously from Jay’s philanthropy and civic life global and transnational I am very excited to lead leadership over the past four right here in Delaware. In nature of contemporary Jewish Studies as we work years. At the same time, there September, we presented the Jewish life. In December, we to expand the program and is still enormous potential work of American-Palestin- hosted Ukrainian scholar Sofia enrollment. Please read on for Jewish Studies to grow ian photographer Kholood Grachova, who lectured on to learn more about these at Delaware. In the past year Eid. Kholood’s photographs, the memory of the Holo- and other events sponsored alone, the number of students shown on this newsletter’s caust in post-Soviet Ukraine by Jewish Studies this past pursuing the Jewish Studies inside pages, tell the stories to students in Comparative semester, as well as our pro- Minor has more than doubled. of Israeli and Arab women in Genocide (HIST 250/JWST gram’s faculty, students, and The planned addition of Haifa, . Her remarkable 250). In addition, students upcoming courses for Spring new courses, faculty and images of Jewish and Arab in the course on American 2016. programs promises to attract mothers and daughters Jewish History (HIST 327/JWST even greater interest, and will were displayed in the ISE Lab —Polly Zavadivker ensure that Jewish Studies continues to play an integral and innovative role in the in- Jewish Studies Program: Past and Future tellectual life of our university. or more than two noted scholar Lawrence ies was conceived as a secular Although our program curric- F decades, Jewish Studies Langer, who spoke about program devoted to provid- ulum is strong in the area of at the University of Delaware Yale’s archive of interviews ing studies on the history and modern Jewish culture, it can has had an important role of Holocaust survivors, and culture of Judaism through be enhanced by emerging to play on campus. Besides Abraham Foxman, then the the ages. We are a vital part areas of study, including gen- enlisting outstanding faculty Executive Director of the of the University’s efforts to der and women’s history, food from numerous departments, Anti-Defamation League, promote diversity of all kinds studies, material culture, and including English, History, who addressed anti-Semi- on campus. To this end, we museum studies. Our goal Political Science, Philosophy, tism in the modern world. continue to cooperate with is to continue making new and Psychology, it has While these speakers enrich similar programs and depart- connections across depart- brought distinguished the curriculum, the heart of ments, such as Islamic Studies ments on campus, in order speakers to the university. the Jewish Studies program and African-American Studies. to strengthen the interdisci- Throughout the years, guests was and remains the courses Our courses are designed to plinary nature of the program, have included the author offered every semester. appeal to students regardless as well as attract a broader Philip Roth, who read from his of their religious affiliations, From the outset, Jewish Stud- then recent book Patrimony, if any. To this end, we have introduced several new My firm belief is that Jewish Eid Photography Exhibit Opens courses while continuing to Studies at Delaware will maintain most of the courses and must continue to grow, n September 21, 2015, that have proved successful particularly at a time when O an exhibit by Kholood from the beginning, such as anti-Semitism is spreading Eid opened in the ISE Lab on the Introduction to Jewish among those who have campus. Titled Intersecting Philosophy, Modern Jewish distorted or little knowledge Parallels: The Identities of Arab and American Literature, and of Judaism. The same is true and Jewish Women in Haifa, Arab-Israeli politics. Our pop- about studies involving Israeli Israel, the exhibition featured fession. While these factors ular courses on , history and culture, which descriptions and photos of 6 vary for each woman, it is the taught jointly with the History seem to have a growing women, 3 mothers and their common threads throughout Department, have expanded interest among today’s daughters, going about their the photo series that shed so that we have been able to undergraduates. For better everyday lives in modern light on the lives of modern introduce Women and the or worse, articles on Israel hit Israel during the summer women in Israel. This exhibit Holocaust, and Comparative the pages of our newspapers of 2014. The collection of was sponsored by the Jewish Genocide, for example. almost daily and must be photographs emphasizes Studies Program, as well as seen in proper perspective. the complex ways women the Women and Gender Stud- We will continue to expand Eventually, the Jewish Studies construct identities, with the ies Department, UD Hillel, and our outreach beyond the program should evolve into a artist noting the following Center for Global and Area campus borders, not only regular department, through factors as most important in Studies. To view Kholood’s by bringing in speakers for outreach to the community shaping individual identities: photos and learn more about our spring lecture series, but and students, as Women’s nationality, gender, culture, the artist, please visit also by sending our growing Studies and African-American sexuality, religion and pro- kholoodeid.com. faculty out into the commu- Studies have done. We are nity. This will heighten our making good progress, thanks recognition both on and off to support from the dean of campus, and help to increase Arts and Sciences, our new student engagement with leadership, and growing num- our program. Our minors in bers of interested faculty. Jewish Studies, now with the option to focus on the —Jay l. Halio , are poised to attract more students and faculty.

Lewis Recounts Holocaust Experiences to Class

n May 13, 2015, the voice from a truck. That was rienced upon liberation by O students of Dr. Zavad- the last time he saw her or the American army in April of ivker’s Holocaust class, HIST/ any other family member. Mr. 1945. Mr. Lewis emphasized JWST 254, were privileged to Lewis went on to detail life in that his purpose in sharing meet and hear the stories of the work camps, describing his experiences is to remind Holocaust survivor Herbert hunger as a very, very painful students to never forget what Lewis, the grandfather of thing and noting that his happened, to encourage University of Delaware his family home in Poland by childhood came to an abrupt them to tell their children and student Jake Horowitz. Mr. Nazis at the age of 14. On that end at the hands of the Nazis. grandchildren his story, so Lewis shared his firsthand day, while being marched He also described being that the atrocities committed experiences, beginning with through his hometown with forced on a death march from by Nazi are never a description of the day in the other prisoners, he briefly Buchenwald to Flossenbürg lost to history. 1941 when he was taken from saw his mother and heard her and the emotions he expe- Jewish Studies at UD Special Collections

he Alfred Gratz family in chronological order, portray a T papers, part of the Special driven and successful Jewish fami- Collections at the University of ly able to thrive in the tumultuous Delaware Library, document two early years of the United States generations of a successful Jewish and through the nineteenth cen- family of Philadelphia through tury. Members of the Gratz family evidence of the family’s business were active in the Mikveh Israel and political affairs during the Synagogue, the oldest congre- nineteenth century. This small col- gation in America, fought during lection includes correspon- the War of 1812, and became vital dence, contracts, reports, philanthropists and and financial documents leaders in Philadel- relating to five family phia. Their legacy members spanning the is still evident today, years 1802 through 1894. as Gratz College, The collection includes founded posthu- papers pertaining to mously by Hyman three brothers— as a “college for the Hyman (1776 - 1857), education of Simon (1773-1839), and residing in the city and Joseph (1785-1857), county of Philadelphia,” relative Henry S. Gratz (1859-1922), still bears their family and Simon’s grandson Alfred Gratz name. The Alfred Gratz family (1835-1938), the namesake of the papers, when looked at individ- collection. ually and as a whole, illustrate the important roles fulfilled by The documents, available for view Jews throughout the history of at Morris Library and presented Philadelphia and America.

Student Spotlight: Nicole Golomb

icole Golomb, also known shares her perspective on being I had some of the greatest experi- N as Nikki, is a University of a Jewish Studies minor, how ences of my life. Delaware Honors student and a the minor has helped shape her With my Jewish Studies Minor, member of the class of 2017. She college experience and her goals I hope to work for a Jewish is an International Relations major for the future. nonprofit after college. Interning with minors in both Jewish Studies Nikki Golomb’s at Hillel International this past and Public Policy. She devotes Statement summer and therefore being in shaping who I am, and the her time to numerous endeavors, The Jewish Studies with Language exposed to the Jewish profession- Jewish Studies Minor helped to including blogging as an intern Minor has given me many oppor- al community has reinforced this. reinforce these values. I hope to for UD Hillel, representing the UD tunities which I otherwise would The Jewish Studies Program has use what I’ve learned through the organization Bird’s Eye View as not have had. Being able to take given me the ability to expand my Jewish Studies Program to help Co-President, acting as the Public several Hebrew courses, as well as Jewish knowledge both person- me professionally by giving me Relations Chair for HOPE (Human many other interesting classes, has ally and academically, therefore opportunities beyond college to Oppression Prevention Effort), and been very valuable for me. It also helping me professionally. Jewish work both with and for the Jewish assisting the student organization provided me with the opportunity values have always been a big community in the nonprofit Koach as the Tzedek, or Commu- to study abroad in where part of my life and played a role sphere. nity Service, Chair. Below, Nikki Jewish Studies at UD Special Collections Faculty Research Spotlight: Rebecca Davis Spring 2016 Courses

ebecca Davis is an Associate race, gender, and “authenticity” it in terms of his career opportuni- R Professor and Director of in modern America. Davis faced ties. Instead, what I find fascinating Graduate Studies in the History accusations that he was, on the is how the responses to his con- Department. She is also a member one hand, “too black” to be really version reveal deeply felt—and of the Jewish Studies Executive Jewish, and, on the other hand, rarely articulated—mid-twentieth Committee. Her work focuses on “too Jewish” to be authentically century ideas about the possibili- gender, sexuality, religion, and eth- black. Americans’ ideas about ties for racial, ethnic, and religious nicity in the United States during ethnicity and race are complicated self-transformation. the 19th and 20th centuries. and frankly strange; when we A forthcoming article in American Below, she discusses her latest throw religion into the mix, the Jewish History considers this epi- work, a book examining religious results are a fascinating mess of sode. My book will consider Davis conversions of public figures contradiction. Some of Davis’s alongside other mid-twentieth during the 20th century. pals— and several historians—ac- century converts, including the cused him of opportunism; they how questions of authenticity Davis on Her Research congresswoman and playwright say that he converted to curry shift depending on the religious, Sammy Davis, Jr. was arguably one Clare Booth Luce (Protestantism to favor with powerful Jews in the racial, and gendered identities of of the greatest entertainers of the Catholicism), boxer Muhammad American entertainment industry, the individuals involved. twentieth century. He was also a Ali (Protestantism to Islam), and or suggest that he converted on a Jewish convert. Over the past few singer/songwriter Bob Dylan (Ju- whim. My work challenges both of years I’ve been studying Davis’s daism to evangelical Christianity). those uncharitable and historically Spring 2016 conversion—and particularly, This comparative approach allows unfounded claims. Davis studied Highlights the American public’s responses me to consider what’s unique in Judaism for years before he con- to his conversion—as part of a the public response to different verted, and he gained little from Featured Course larger book project about religion, kinds of religious conversion, and Jewish Studies 201: Issues and Ideas (1 credit, Wednesdays, Experiential Learning 12:20-1:10pm). This semester’s theme will be Jewish Commu- nities in Global Perspective. Join n December 6, 2015, Dr. was explained to the students as us for a different speaker each Zavadivker’s American they toured the synagogue and O week to learn about Jewish Jewish History class, HIST/JWST observed the various artifacts, communities around the world 327, traveled to Philadelphia to including a Tebah, or reading Museum of American Jewish His- from ancient times to the present. visit the Mikveh Israel Synagogue platform, from the mid-1800s, an tory, which was founded in 1976, Learn about the Jews of: and the National Museum of Jew- American chandelier in the style where students had the oppor- • Biblical Israel ish History. Congregation Mikveh of the chandeliers of Spanish-Por- tunity to view exhibits highlight- • Medieval Spain Israel, commonly referred to as tuguese synagogues in Europe, ing all aspects of Jewish life in • Colonial Jamaica the “Synagogue of the American and a Hehal, or Ark, containing America, from art to immigration • Weimar Berlin Revolution,” dates back to the 20 Torahs, two of which boast to religion to family life. With over • Odessa, Ukraine 1700s and holds the esteemed silver finials produced by eminent 30,000 artifacts in their perma- • Postwar Detroit titles of oldest congregation and colonial silversmith Myer Myers of nent collection and 100,000 • and more! oldest continuous synagogue in New York. A short distance from square feet of exhibit space, the America. This extensive history the synagogue is the National museum offers significant insight Dr. Ruth Lecture into the long history of Jews in Join us on Wednesday, April America. This trip, funded by a 13th for a lecture by Dr. Ruth Delaware Difference Develop- Westheimer! Dr. Ruth, the ment Initiative grant through pioneering sex therapist, is also the College of Arts and Sciences, known as a refugee from Nazi allowed students to see firsthand Germany and a freedom fighter in how deeply Jews are rooted in the Israeli War of Independence. American history. Spring 2016 Courses

Religion and Jamaica, and postwar New York Hebrew Language Philosophy and Detroit. HEBR 105/JWST 105: THE JEWISH STUDIES JWST 101: INTRODUCTION HEBREW I – ELEMENTARY PROGRAM @ UD TO JUDAISM HIST 363/JWST 363: MW 1:25-2:15pm & TR 2:00- MODERN JEWISH HISTORY FALL 2015 TR 9:30-10:45am 2:50pm MW 3:35–4:50pm Instructor: Micah Becker Klein, Instructor: Eynat Gutman, Newsletter Editor [email protected] Instructor: Julia Oestreich, [email protected] [email protected] Kathleen Whitlock Capallo (Satisfies breadth requirement B) Introduction to the Hebrew alpha- (Satisfies the College of Arts and bet and language, and develop- This course will introduce students Sciences multicultural and Group B Staff to some of the different ways requirements) ment of basic speaking, listening, Polly Zavadivker, Director Judaism can be explored and reading and writing skills. This course provides an introduc- Kathleen Whitlock Capallo, appreciated: through its political tion to the study of global Jewish Program Assistant history, the intellectual history of HEBR 106/ JWST 106: history from the 16th Century to HEBREW II – ELEMENTARY/ its values and thinkers, the way the present. Topics include the INTERMEDIATE Executive Committee it is lived as a modern religious Spanish Inquisition, the French MW 2:30-3:20pm & TR 3:30- Peter Cole faith tradition with ancient biblical Revolution, Jewish life in Western 4:20pm Rebecca Davis roots, and through the prism of and Eastern Europe, North Ameri- Instructor: Eynat Gutman, Derek Dolby different cultural arts. ca, and Israel. [email protected] Eynat Gutman Strengthening grammar skills, JWST 367: INTRODUCTION HIST 254/JWST 254: continued practice in speaking, Jay Halio TO JEWISH MYSTICISM THE JEWISH HOLOCAUST: listening, writing and reading Gabriella Hermon T 5:15-7:45pm 1933-1945 through conversation, texts and Julia Oestreich Instructor: Eli Gurevitz, rabbieli@ TR 2:00pm-3:15pm songs. Polly Zavadivker udel.edu Instructor: James Brophy, This course begins with an [email protected] Literature and Culture Donors overview of medieval era origins (Satisfies College of Arts and Sciences group B requirement) ENG 202/JWST 202: BIBLICAL of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) Yetta Chaiken AND CLASSICAL LITERATURE and its foundational text, the An introduction to the systematic Stuart Lederman, Esq. MWF 2:30-3:20pm Zohar. The course will focus on destruction of European Jewry Elizabeth Pressler Instructor: Miranda Wilson, during World War II. Topics will Steven Pressler the growth of Kabbalah during [email protected] include the implementation of the eighteenth century in the (Satisfies College of Arts and Sciences Janice Selekman context of the Hasidic movement. the “Final Solution,” European Group A requirement and the Explore a number of critical areas anti-Semitism, National Socialist multicultural requirement) Newsletter of kabbalistic thought, including ideology and racial laws, camp Selected readings from the Art Direction & Design and ghetto life, resistance, perpe- tzimtzum, the sefirot, the Jewish Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, Heather Harwood Sabbath, God and the celestial trators, victims and bystanders. Greek and Roman writers. The spheres. course examines the cultural, POSC 482/JWST 482: Stay Connected historical, intellectual, and literary History and Politics AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE Frank and Yetta Chaiken EAST contexts out of which these texts Center for Jewish Studies JWST 201: ISSUES AND MWF 2:30pm-3:20pm emerge. We will study the genres 30 W. Delaware Avenue IDEAS: JEWISH CULTURE found in the Hebrew Bible, the AND SOCIETY IN GLOBAL Instructor: Dan Green, dgreen@ Newark, DE 19716 udel.edu concepts of covenant, law, history, PERSPECTIVE (302) 831-3324 This course examines the history and prophecy. W 12:20-1:10pm www.udel.edu/jsp of America’s engagement with Instructor: Hillary Neben, [email protected] [email protected] the Middle East, going back to the FLLT 333/JWST 333: ISRAELI FILM (Satisfies College of Arts and WWII era, but with an emphasis on The University of Delaware is an Sciences Multicultural and Group B TR 11:00 -12:15pm issues since 1979. equal opportunity employer. requirement) Instructor: Eynat Gutman, For the University’s complete [email protected] In this one-credit course explore non-discrimination statement, Explore Israeli society through please visit www.udel.edu/ the culture and history of global aboutus/legalnotices.html Jewish communities from ancient film, literature, music and historical times to the present. Features a works. Topics include the history different guest speaker each week. of , the concept of the Topics include the Jews of biblical Israeli sabra, the effects of the Israel, medieval Spain, colonial Holocaust, ethnic groups and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Jewish Studies Program University of Delaware Nonprofit 30 West Delaware Avenue Organization Newark, DE 19716 U.S. Postage PAID University of Delaware