Volume 13 Fall 2006 The Newsletter of the Fern & Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Dear Friends of Judaic Studies, hen this a workshop for heads of religious studies We have been truly blessed this newsletter departments. These workshops are very past year in being able to welcome new reachesW you, the interesting, as we get to discuss issues that colleagues to the university and friends year 5767 will many of us struggle with in our jobs. It into the community. Of course Coach be well under is also a great way to network. As I am Bruce Pearl does not need an introduction way. We will writing this, the technicians are rewiring anymore, and after last year’s reception, be satiated with our building, McClung Tower, for the he knows he and his family are welcome. celebration and internet. Their work brings huge strands We, in turn, are grateful to him for giving will have begun of multiple cables hanging from the of his time to inspire the Jewish students implementing ceiling. I often feel that my days are made on campus. We are also delighted with the the resolutions up of such multiple strands of diverse and strong leadership in pursuit of excellence we wrought in a eclectic tasks, including activities to do that Dr. Bruce Bursten, Dean of the College clear-headed moment. with teaching, administration, scholarship of Arts and Sciences, has brought to the In last year’s newsletter I expressed and service. The department, like the college. It is an honor and pleasure to the hope that the thirteenth year of the program, is actively involved in growth, welcome Dr. Robert Holub, Provost and Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in and for that purpose new ways of seeking Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Judaic Studies would be a lucky one for outside funding are necessary. One of Provost Holub’s academic home is the us, and I was not disappointed. These our dreams is to establish a Center for German Program in Modern Foreign are exciting times for our program. In Middle Eastern Studies, building on the Languages and Literatures, also the home addition to many bright students taking considerable expertise in Judaism, Islam, of our new colleague, Assistant Professor our classes, exciting research projects for Arabic, and Hebrew in our department Dr. Daniel Magilow. Although hired in our faculty, and honors and accolades for and beyond. This dream may have a 2005, Dr. Magilow completed a year’s our colleagues, we are actively pursuing chance of becoming real because the fellowship at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial the expansion of our program, primarily Chancellor is committed to an intercultural Museum in Washington, D.C. and has through development as part of the and international diversity initiative called joined us in Knoxville. I hope you all will university’s Capital Campaign, but also “Ready for the World.” What better way introduce yourselves to these new friends through external grants. We owe a great to contribute to this initiative than by as they get to know the community. debt of gratitude to our “zaddikkim,” properly teaching Hebrew and Arabic, as Many times during the year someone families who helped found the Judaic well as other Middle Eastern languages. will tell me how much you enjoy receiving Studies program and who have supported To this end I am currently learning the the newsletter. I hope that you will enjoy us since then. Fern and Manny Steinfeld, ropes of filing an electronic application reading this one as well. We would love to Diane and Guilford Glazer, Dr. Alan for a federal grant with the Department hear from you. Solomon, Natalie Robinson and her late of Education, not something I have done With best wishes for a sweet year, husband Mitchell z”l, and Mitchell’s before. hopefully a year of peace for all humanity. brother Ruben Robinson z”l take the lead It has been a great joy to work in ongoing major contributions, enriched with the departmental Board of Visitors B’Shalom, by many friends and contributors who this past year, especially the Arabic support our work. We are deeply grateful subcommittee which is very active and to all of you for making Judaic Studies at deeply involved in making the quality the University of Tennessee one of your teaching of Arabic a reality. Similarly, ongoing priorities. our development officer in the college Gilya G. Schmidt, Ph.D., In addition to chairing the Fern is aggressively pursuing funding Professor and Head and Manfred Steinfeld Program in opportunities for Modern Hebrew. Private Department of Religious Studies Judaic Studies, I continue as Head of gifts for either goal or major contributions and Chair the Department of Religious Studies. to endowed professorships would be most The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Preceding the American Academy of welcome and would provide a tremendous Program in Judaic Studies Religion annual meeting last fall I attended boost to our effort.  Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 chair of the German Program here, has as well as by Ambassador Ashe, his wife Judaic Studies moved to Emory University where he has Joan, and by his staff. We were introduced Advisory Committee become the Chair of the German Studies to the foremost Jewish intellectuals in Department. We wish him well in all of Poland today, among them Eleanor n Palmira Brummett his endeavors. Bergman, who directs the Jewish Historical One of the highlights of Professor Institute in Warsaw, a Holocaust museum n Brummett’s work this past year included Marilyn Kallet and museum of Eastern European Jewish participation in three international Through a Professional Development life. The museum is a treasure trove of conferences: Grant and a Hodges Research/Travel recovered Jewish artifacts and documents, — “The Ottoman Adriatic,” Symposium grant, Professor Marilyn Kallet, Lindsay and a must for any scholar of Jewish on Shakespeare and the Eastern Young Professor in English, was able European history. Mediterranean, Interuniversity Centre, to travel to Poland this past July, Once we left Poland for Latvia, we Dubrovnik, Croatia, October 2006. accompanied by Rabbi Beth Schwartz entered a more ominous zone, one without — Keynote Address, “The Lepanto of Temple Beth El, where Professor ambassadorial protection. At the border, Paradigm Revisited: Knowing the Kallet gave poetry readings on “Poetry Rabbi Schwartz passed through passport Ottomans in the Sixteenth Century,” and Jewish Identity” in Warsaw and control ahead of me, no problem. But I Symposium: “The Renaissance Krakow. The United States embassy was stopped. A young uniformed Latvian and the Ottoman World,” Warburg sponsored the readings as part of their officer told me dispassionately, “I cannot Institute and The School of African “America Presents” series. In Warsaw, let you enter my country.” My passport and Oriental Studies, London April she read at Beit Warszawa, a Reform had a few days short of three months left 2006; held in conjunction with the Jewish congregation; the Jewish Historical on it. I had no clue about that three months opening of the “Bellini in the World” Institute, the Schorr Foundation for Jewish rule. I asked to see someone higher up; the exhibit at the National Gallery. Culture; in Krakow at the Galicia Gallery commander read my passport, saw my — Discussant (invited), “Sources of Jewish Life in Poland. Rabbi Schwartz plane ticket to Paris, (our next destination), of Exoticism and Imperialism,” gave presentations on the history of and waved me through. Symposium on Ottoman and Atlantic women in the rabbinate, and on Jewish Jennifer, our Latvian guide, said this Empires in the Early Modern World, poetry in our liturgy. She led services at kind of red tape and arbitrary yes-or-no Omohondro Institute of Early Beit Warszawa, which has 300 members stamp, was very typical. Rabbi Schwartz American History and Bogazıçı on its rolls. On July 19, they were guests and I exhaled and proceeded on an intense University, Istanbul, October 2005. of Ambassador Victor Ashe, former mayor tour of sites of Jewish interest in Riga and of Knoxville, at a luncheon in their honor, surrounding areas. Jennifer had schooled n Heather Hirschfeld held at the residence. David Peleg, the herself in Jewish history and Hebrew. Heather Hirschfeld had a busy Israeli Ambassador to Poland, was present She became our friend and ally. With her year teaching, serving as book review at the lunch, as was Jersy Halbersztadt, help, we arranged to meet with Margers editor of the annual journal Medieval and the director of the new Museum of Jewish Vestermanis, a Shoah survivor and director Renaissance Drama in England, and working Life in Poland. They then traveled to Riga, of the Jewish Museum in Riga. He was a on her next book project, a study of Latvia, for Holocaust research. Professor sweet, spiritual man in his eighties, who English Renaissance revenge tragedy and Kallet read the poems about her research has documented every available scrap on Reformation theology. Three of her articles at the “Living On” exhibit at the East information about Jewry in Latvia that he appeared over the course of the year: “ Tennessee History Center on October 9. could find. And we visited Sasha Bergman, ‘We all expect a gentle answer, Jew’: The The event was cosponsored by the Fern filmmaker and author at his apartment. Merchant of Venice and the Psychotheology and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Mr. Bergman has made sixty trips to of Conversion,” ELH (73): 2006, 61-81; Studies of the University of Tennessee and Germany on behalf of Jewish survivors “Compulsions of the Renaissance,” the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, and their reparation rights. Shakespeare Studies 23 (2005): 109-114, and as were the other eight programs held We spent time at the extraordinary “Psychoanalysis and Its Contemporary between August 28 and October 22. monument to German Jews in the Engagements,” Shakespearean International •••••••••••••••• forest at Bikernieki, where there is a Yearbook (2005). She presented at the The poem below, “Passport Control, field of sculptured markers resembling annual Shakespeare Association of Riga,” was composed after a research trip gravestones. Each stone has the name of America conference (April, 2006) and was to Poland and Latvia, in July of 2006. I a city on it. “Stuttgart” was the very first an invited speaker at the Yale Conference was accompanied by Rabbi Beth Schwartz stone we encountered. Most likely, my on Rethinking Historicism (May, 2006). She of Temple Beth El of Knoxville. My goal family was on that Stuttgarter transport. also gave guest lectures to Heska Amuna’s was to continue Holocaust research. In Unlike the records of Western European Prozdor class and at the Church of the addition to Holocaust research, I wanted camps kept by the Germans, the records Ascension in Knoxville. to say Kaddish for my relatives who were of the Latvian genocide are virtually transported from Germany to Riga, to be nonexistent. Numbers are inconsistent. n Peter Höyng murdered there. We do know that 25,000 Jews It is with considerable sadness that In Warsaw and Krakow, Rabbi were shot in two days in the forest at we bade farewell last July to our cherished Schwartz and I gave readings and Rumbala. We visited the monuments colleague, Dr. Peter Höyng, who had been presentations, sponsored by the United there. The sculpture of a dragon built in a founding member of the Judaic Studies States Embassy’s “America Presents” metal resembling barbed wire guards Advisory Committee. Peter was a loyal cultural series. While in Poland, Rabbi the entrance to the forest; a barbed wire participant in and contributor to all of Schwartz and I were treated like visiting menorah is at the center of the monument. our academic activities, curricular as well royalty, offered magnificent hospitality by Other monuments were less as programmatic. Peter, who served as the Jewish community at Beit Warszawa impressive. There’s a tall light-infused Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006  stalk that marks the thousands who died his next door neighbor, then shot and No traces of Jews. in Kaiserwald concentration camp. This pushed in. At his granddaughter’s request, As the Russian army drew closer monument is at the corner of a bustling Rabbi Schwartz and I said Kaddish for Mr. Kaiserwald inmates were forced suburban square and garners little Kappel as well as for more than a dozen of to unbury the dead at Hochwald attention. In Latvia, unlike Poland, most my relatives, Schwarzes and Lembergers, and burn them. monuments do indict local collaborators who were on the list of martyrs. along with Nazi perpetrators. Then the diggers were shot. The plaque at the ruins of the Old Passport Control, Riga Erased from camp records. Choral Synagogue is a disgrace. This “Schraibt, idn, schraibt” The rabbi and I have come for them, monument marks the beginning of the (“Write, Jews, Write”) too. We stride the city sidewalks end for Jews in Latvia. On Kristallnacht, Last words of Yiddish historian Jews were forbidden. 300 Jews were rounded up, locked in the Simon Dubnow, murdered in Riga, synagogue and burned alive. The historical 12/8/1941 In the woods we’ll chant Kaddish site of that horror is now littered with beer for Freddie and Hilde Lemberger, bottles. Five thousand miles from Tennessee. the Schwarzes from Horb, Salaspils, a former concentration A young passport officer Hilde and Max Kahn, camp, is better maintained. The Soviets stops me: “I can’t let you into Latvia. Jetchen Strauss, built a huge, impressive memorial suite Your passport expires in three months. of sculptures there, as Soviets were Nothing I can do.” and Wolf Kappel, imprisoned there by the Nazis, along whose neighbor forced him with thousands of Jews. For many December, 1941, my family was shipped at gunpoint years after the war, the Soviets required here by Nazis, to dig his own grave schoolchildren to visit Salaspils. Now it is herded with whips in his own backyard. not even mentioned in most tourist guides. into Bikerniek Forest (printed with permission) But it is an extraordinary sight; those and Rumbala. traveling to Latvia should make a point of Now I can’t say Kaddish. n Vejas Liulevicius visiting the vast memorial. Dr. Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius (associate We attended services at the one A “superior” waves me through. professor, History) spent the last year on remaining synagogue in Riga, an Orthodox My friend the rabbi has been waiting. research, funded by a fellowship of the site. We sat upstairs with the women. “You can’t predict in Riga, National Endowment for the Humanities, There we talked with a Jewish woman it’s hit or miss,” our guide says. working on his next book, on German from Florida who was on a similar quest We’ll tour memorials for 70,000 Jews, views of Eastern Europe from 1800 to to mine. And we were feted at the home of 2000. The Teaching Company of Chantilly, the Chabad rabbi and his wife at a lovely for my great-aunt Hilde Lemberger Virginia, produced a taped lecture course Shabbat luncheon. and her son Freddie. by Dr. Liulevicius in its “Great Courses We traveled to the Baltic Sea resort “What would have happened to a six-year- Series.” His 36-lecture course is entitled of Jurmala, to meet with a Jewish gulag old?” “World War I: The Great War,” and covers survivor Gita Salovina, who had spent I asked the director of the Jewish Museum. the military, social, and cultural history of more than twenty years at hard labor in “They killed him.” this first “total war” (for more information, northern Siberia. She was shipped there see www.teach12.com). by the Soviets in 1941, before the Nazi “Rumbala” means “rapids,” our guide He also published two articles: occupation. People have said to her, “You says, “Von ‘Ober-Ost’ nach ‘Ostland’?” in were lucky to avoid the Nazis and certain “like a river.” Die vergessene Front. Der Osten 1914/15: death.” She responds, “None of us were 25,000 machine-gunned in two days. Ereignis, Wirkung, Nachwirkung, ed. lucky.” “Faster! Faster!” Gerhard P. Groß (Paderborn: Ferdinand The last name in my poem, Wolf Nazis streamlined Schöningh, 2006) and “Les dimensions Kappel, was sent to me by a woman sociales de l’occupation militaire: la in New York. Two years ago, an article the local fascist program, domination allemande en Europe du appeared in the travel section of the New “a definite plan to deprive Nord-Est pendant la Première Guerre York Times, touting Riga a pretty place to non-Latvians of the possibility mondiale,” in Histoire et Societes: Revue visit for loganberry tarts and museum of existing.” Européenne D’Histoire Sociale, No. 17 exhibits of hardy Latvian patriots. In a In basements, forests, (January 2006). letter to the New York Times, I pointed out that at least 50,000 Jews had been mass graves, n Daniel Magilow murdered in Riga, and that some of those German and Latvian police Dr. Magilow spent the academic year hardy Latvians had helped in the killings. carried out secret order Number One: 2005-2006 as the Pearl Resnick Postdoctoral After my letter appeared, I received an “The efforts of anti-Semite Fellow at the United States Holocaust e-mail from a woman of Latvian descent circles aimed at self-purification Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. saying that the Jews just wanted publicity, to research a project about yizkor books. and that some Latvians had helped the should not be hindered. Yizkor books are the compendia that Jews. (Only a handful of “righteous” They should be provoked, intensified, survivors created to memorialize their people are noted at the Jewish Museum in and directed, destroyed communities. Many were Latvia). Another lady wrote to me about in such a way that written in Yiddish shortly after the war. her grandfather from Riga, Wolf Kappel, no traces [of German orders] are left.” Although long stigmatized as overly who was forced to dig his own grave by subjective and sometimes historically  Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 inaccurate, yizkor books have in the last several audiences: Professor Neff was which she is co-teaching with Professor decade become the objects of renewed invited to speak on the Assisi frescoes at Rosalind Hackett, are keeping her on her scholarly interest. In that many of them the Courtauld Institute of Art History in toes this semester. contain family photographs, they provided London and at the Franciscan Institute The recent spring and summer proved Dr. Magilow an opportunity to examine of Saint Bonaventure University, New to be very productive for Dr. Shepardson’s new research project on the spatial photography’s role in the memory of York. She will also be speaking this fall at a conference at the Vatican Film Library, politics of religious controversy in fourth- trauma and in the representation of Jewish century Antioch. Thanks to a Professional identity. Saint Louis, Mo., on the texts and images of a beautifully illuminated late thirteenth- Development Award from the University During his year in D.C., Dr. Magilow century manuscript. of Tennessee, this research included her also did outreach for the Holocaust Professor Neff is grateful for a research first research abroad, a wonderful trip Memorial Museum. He presented lectures leave this fall semester and for support as a to Antakya (Antioch), Turkey, near the about various Holocaust related topics, Dale Cleaver Professor of Art History Syrian border, where she spent time at including yizkor books, Holocaust films, during the academic year, 2006-2007. The a museum of Roman mosaics, searching and Holocaust memorials to high school released time and financial support will be out local Roman ruins, and studying the and college students and to Jewish used to finish the editing on two articles topography of the city and its suburb Harbiye (Daphne). The trip proved to be community groups in Tennessee, Georgia, on Assisi and to work toward completion of a book on the manuscript called the much more than a lesson in Roman and Indiana, California, and Washington early Christian history, and the interaction D.C. One lecture that he presented to Supplicationes variae, painted in northern Italy in 1293. with the people she met and the places she several groups, including UT students, visited have proved useful for teaching the concerns the “Paper Clip Memorial”, the n Charles H. Reynolds introductory World Religions class. Her project for which students at Whitwell Professor Reynolds has been working recent research on Antioch has already Middle School in Whitwell, Tennessee with John Hodges, Bernard Bernstein and produced two conference papers and a successfully collected more than 6,000,000 Arnold Cohen, among others, to assist large article that she is currently under paper clips to symbolize the six million the Department of Religious Studies and revision for submission to the leading Jews murdered in the Holocaust. His its Board of Visitors in establishing a journal in her field. This article will, in turn, become a chapter in her new book research on that memorial and similar memorial fund named after the late James project on Antioch, to which she will “memorial collections” forms the basis of Washington. Dr. Washington, a major in Religious Studies at UT who graduated in return as soon as the revision of her first a forthcoming article in the journal Jewish book manuscript on the anti-Jewish Social Studies. 1970, earned a master’s degree at Harvard and a doctorate from Yale (1979) before rhetoric of Ephrem, the Syrian’s fourth- Although Dr. Magilow’s fellowship joining the faculty at Union Theological century writings is complete. This work ended in May 2006, his time at the United Seminary and Columbia University. continues to inch through the acceptance States Holocaust Memorial Museum also Professor Washington authored Frustrated process at Catholic University of America exposed him to resources that he hopes Fellowship: The Black Baptist Quest For Social Press, and an article on Syria in Late to implement in his teaching at UT. In the Power (1986), A Testament Of Hope: The Antiquity should come out this year. spring 2007 semester he will be teaching Essential Writings Of Martin Luther King, As the semester gets into full swing on campus, the faculty research seminar on two courses with significant Jewish studies Jr. (1986), and Conversations With God: Two “The Mediterranean World in Late components: an undergraduate survey Centuries Of Prayer By African Americans (1994). His early and untimely death was Antiquity” that Dr. Shepardson started about German-Jewish culture since the through the Humanities Initiative with late 18th century and a course about the on May 3, l997. The sub-committee’s goal is to honor the person and academic Professor Michael Kulikowski (History) experience of childhood during the Third achievements of Dr. Washington with and Professor Thomas Heffernan (English, Reich. a memorial fund that will assist faculty adjunct in Religious Studies) is beginning and graduate students at UT to pursue its second year, and continues to provide a scholarship in African American religion. valuable opportunity to engage with local The Symposium “Democracy scholars in the field. and Tradition” organized by Professor Likewise, Marco and Judaic Studies Reynolds at the University of Tennessee help her to stay connected with other in the fall of 2004 has now resulted in two colleagues whose work and interests special journal issues which he edited: overlap with her own. As always, Dr. Soundings, Vol. 87. No. 3-4 and the Journal Shepardson continues to lecture around Of Religious Ethics, Vol. 33.4. Professor the Knoxville area, and finds it rewarding Reynolds wishes to thank all who helped to provide opportunities for those not to make this symposium such a successful community and university event. Professor Daniel Magilow and his collie Rifke n Tina Shepardson Dr. Shepardson is teaching again this n Amy Neff fall after being on leave last spring. While Professor Neff’s article, “Lesser she misses having more time to research Brothers: Franciscan Identity and and write, she also enjoys the excitement Minority at Assisi,” will appear in the and immediate rewards of the classroom. December 2006 issue of Art Bulletin. The The new course on Christianity in Late Antiquity (RS 322) that she taught for the article focuses on thirteenth-century first time last fall went very well, and she Old Testament frescoes in the church will be refining it for this coming spring of San Francesco, Assisi. Her new semester. Meanwhile, the introductory interpretation of these famous paintings New Testament class (RS 321) and the Dr. Tina Shepardson on the Hippodrome Wall from late medieval Italy has interested 200-person World Religions class (RS 101) in Antakya, Turkey. Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006  otherwise connected with the university event more with particular focus on two figures from to think in historical terms about the vivid. Another the Hebrew Bible: Esau and the prophet origins of Christianity, and in particular its project, which Balaam. While in New Zealand, they also complex relationship with second-Temple kept her busy visited Wellington, where she gave two Judaism and the larger Roman world in during her presentations: one on AIDS and biblical which it developed. spring semester interpretation and another on the Dead off, was writing Sea Scrolls. Now back in Knoxville, she n Johanna Stiebert a chapter for a is this fall teaching one of her regular This past year has been an eventful teaching text courses, RS 311, on Ancient Hebraic one for Dr. Stiebert. Her second book, aimed at college Traditions, as well as, for the first time, The Exile and the Prophet’s Wife: Historic students on Hebrew language (RS 309). Her aim is to Events and Marginal Perspectives, was the continent teach Biblical Hebrew for four consecutive published in 2005. This is an accessible of Africa. The semesters. So far, things are looking good: text on the events surrounding the exile main event the course is full. It is Dr. Stiebert’s hope in Babylon and also two methods of of the spring Carl Gustav Ezekiel Tandy that in the future there will indeed be a scholarly interpretation (psychoanalytic semester for Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the and ideological-critical interpretation). Dr. Stiebert, however, was the birth of her University of Tennessee, where languages The book is designed for college students first child, Gustav Tandy. He is already such as Hebrew and Arabic will be and interested laypeople and includes a well-traveled boy, as he accompanied offered regularly. Given the dynamics of both discursive sections, intended to be his parents on a trip to Auckland, New contemporary conflicts and politics and descriptive and informative, and creative Zealand, where they attended the Orality the desire to live in a more peaceful world, sections, imagining events from the and Literacy in the Ancient World this has never been as important as it is perspective of the prophet Ezekiel’s wife, Conference. Here Dr. Stiebert presented now. which are intended to make the historical a paper on oral and literary transmission

DEVELOPMENT -- JUDAIC STUDIES ON THE MOVE! PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS CREATE NEW ENDOWMENTS

A Major Gift from Manny and Fern Dr. Ruben P. Robinson Memorial Fund academic areas in the Department of Steinfeld Ruben Robinson z”l was a pillar of the Religious Studies, the departmental Board In line with our vision of expanding Knoxville Jewish community for his entire of Visitors which is in its third year of the Judaic Studies Program during life. He was instrumental in the creation of operation, has taken an active interest in the period of the University’s Capital the endowment that helped fund the chair establishing a Center for Middle Eastern Campaign, in May 2006 a delegation from in Judaic Studies held by Gilya Schmidt. Studies in the Department of the University of Tennessee visited with We very much appreciated Ruben’s Religious Studies at the University of Fern and Manny Steinfeld in Chicago to generosity during his lifetime and were Tennessee. A year ago the sub-committee introduce Dean Bruce Bursten and to ask not surprised to learn that he had also on Arabic developed a vision statement the Steinfelds for their help in our future remembered us in his will. Because of the which calls for our well-established Judaic plans. Mr. and Mrs. Steinfeld are long- generous estate gift from Ruben, we are Studies Program to be the foundation time major donors to various programs creating an endowed memorial fund in his for the center, along with permanent at the university and to Judaic Studies, name. The fund will be used for student improved faculty-taught courses in contributing to the chair endowment held and faculty support to study or conduct Modern Hebrew and Arabic at the by Gilya Schmidt and to the endowed research in Israel or at Jewish institutions beginning and intermediate levels. The professorship held by J.P. Dessel. Manny in Europe or elsewhere. Natalie Robinson sub-committee on Arabic has taken a and Fern graciously made an additional and family are very pleased that this strong lead in helping the Head secure major commitment to Judaic Studies to fund has come into being. We would seed money for a two-year visiting be used towards an additional endowed like to thank Natalie Robinson for her professor position through a federal grant professorship. They also endowed a and her family’s ongoing strong financial with the Department of Education. This is scholarship fund for students studying support and encouragement of all of our the first time we have attempted to secure in the Judaic Studies Program, which endeavors. funds to improve instruction in this way, will go into effect for next academic year and we will see if we succeed. Our thanks 2007-8 (see Student section). We are most Guilford and Diane Glazer Major Gift to the members of the sub-committee grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Steinfeld for their Guilford and Diane Glazer were on Arabic for their diligence and time: continued support of our work at the perhaps the first major donors to Dr. Rosalind Gwynne, Jim Harb, Anne University of Tennessee. contribute to the nascent chair in McKinney, and Valarie Budayr. Also many Judaic Studies occupied since 1993 by thanks to Aldon Knight, Development Gilya Schmidt. They have over the officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, years continued to be strong financial who has participated in our ongoing contributors. Their most recent pledge to deliberations and efforts. Aldon’s office the chair endowment is most welcome. We was also instrumental in submitting a are deeply grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Glazer proposal for a sizeable grant for Modern for their continued interest in and support Hebrew to a philanthropic organization. of Judaic Studies at UT. The full Board of Visitors meets once a year. Last year’s meeting took place on DORS Board of Visitors March 15 at the Faculty Club, this year’s Although not only a body of meeting has been scheduled for community leaders who are committed December 4. Left to Right: Dean Bruce Bursten and Mr. to supporting Judaic Studies, but all Manfred Steinfeld discuss Chicago’s Jewish history at the Standard Club. J.P. DESSEL FERN AND MANFRED STEINFELD PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT JEWISH HISTORY

 Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 change of course, but in June Israel where we dug in 1984 and how those essel ctivities was very calm and spirits were high. results might factor into the current J.P. D A While in Jerusalem I visited the tunnel project. Bill Dever and Sy Gitin also Fern and Manfred Steinfeld which runs alongside the Western Wall came down that day for a tour of Professor of Ancient and the City of David Excavations the site which made for a very nice (where I worked in the summer of reunion. I also gave a lecture while at Jewish History 1982). Both sites are marvelous from Gezer on the origins of the Israelites. an archaeological perspective and I then embarked for Turkey. well worth a visit. They are also My ultimate destination was the It’s hard to believe another year fascinating from a more political site of Tell Tayinat, located outside has passed! While I taught in the Fall, perspective, and both sites exemplify the modern city of Antakya in the I had no teaching responsibilities in how the past and present are welded Hatay Province which is wedged the Spring which allowed me to get a together in the Middle East. between the northeast corner of the lot of work done on the publication of I left Jerusalem to join the Mediterranean Sea and Syria. Of Tell ‘Ein Zippori and Tell el-Wawiyat. excavation team at Tell Kedesh. Tell course it would have been much Kedesh is a very large and beautiful faster if I could have driven from Research site that sits right on the Lebanese Tell Kedesh north into Lebanon The Dever Festschrift should border in the eastern part of the and then through Syria and into be out within another month and I Upper Galilee. The lower city of the Turkey – I figure it would have taken continue to work on the two volumes site is currently being excavated by maybe 8 hours or so. But that option dedicated to Dr. Sy Gitin, the first of Professors Sharon Herbert (University disappeared with the last Ottoman which is nearing completion. In the of Michigan) and Andrea Berlin sultan, so I flew instead, leaving Tel Spring I was able to get a considerable (University of Minnesota). They are Aviv for Istanbul at 6:30 a.m. (2 hours) amount of work done on the final interested in the Hellenistic levels and then flying to Adana (3 hours). publication of Tell ‘Ein Zippori and there and have already uncovered an In Adana I took a bus to Antakya Tell el-Wawiyat. Much time was spent incredible administrative center that (another three hours) and then my finalizing the drawings of the pottery housed an archive from which over colleague, Professor Tim Harrison and soon I will begin making the 2,000 clay bullae were recovered. My (University of Toronto) who directs final pottery plates for the excavation interest in the site is on the earlier the Tayinat project picked me up. I report. Once the plates are finished Early Bronze and Iron Age levels and I arrived at the site around 6:30 p.m. they will be submitted to the Israel am considering tying into the existing – some ten hours later. Antiquities Authority along with the project. While at Kedesh I also visited Tell Tayinat (http://www. pottery itself. This summer I will other sites in the area such as Tell utoronto.ca/tap) is an incredible site. spend a few weeks in Israel handing Dan, Tell Abel Beth Ma’acah, Baniyas, It was first excavated by the Oriental over the ceramic materials (boxes and Meona and others. While I was there Institute of the University of Chicago boxes of pottery) and cleaning out things were very calm and peaceful. in the 1930s. They uncovered a the lab I have used for the last seven The Galilee was filled with tourists beautiful Iron Age II temple (thought years. from Israel and abroad. I drove along to be very similar to the Solomonic I was awarded a Professional the border road with Lebanon as it Temple described in the Hebrew Development Fund grant from is one of most picturesque in Israel. Bible), an Assyrian palace and a the University to prospect for Everyone in the north remarked how wide array of Luwian (Neo-Hittite) archaeological sites. I am preparing to things were “normal” for the first time Aramaic, and Akkadian inscriptions. either join a new archaeology project in a long while. I left the Galilee very They also found extensive Early or start my own and am interested excited about the prospect of setting Bronze Age remains. Tim Harrison in several sites in northern Israel and up a Bronze/Iron Age component to renewed the excavations at Tayinat southeastern Turkey. Much of this the ongoing work at the Tell Kedesh. two years ago and this was to be the summer was spent exploring sites and Of course due to the war between second full season of excavation. I projects that would be suitable for my Israel and Hezbollah that erupted was visiting the site in hopes of research needs. in northern Israel shortly after I left finding a niche on the team as well In June I spent three weeks things look somewhat different now. as identifying some areas of research in Israel. First I was in Jerusalem After leaving Kedesh and on my that would fit into my own interests. working in my lab trying to tie up way to the airport I stopped at Tell I spent a few days getting acclimated innumerable loose ends. Things were Gezer, which again is being excavated. to the site and meeting all the team very quiet in Jerusalem, except for the My advisor Professor William Dever members. I spent about a full week number of tourists. For the first time headed the excavation project at actually excavating and directing the since the summer of 2000 restaurants Gezer in the 1960s and early 70s and work of a small trench. The site is and cafes were full, tourist buses I worked at the site in 1984. While both huge, about 35 hectare (one ha. clogged the roads and archaeology at Gezer I spent a day at the site = 2.4 acres) and very rich. In addition sites were jam-packed. This would explaining to the current directors to Early Bronze III material, much Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006  of this season’s material dated to (Classics) and David Anderson lecture to the KJA Mission to Israel on the Iron Age I which was somewhat (Anthropology) are very excited the archaeology of Nysa-Scythopolis unexpected. As I am actively working about building this new program and (the Greco-Roman name for the Iron in both the Early Bronze Age and broadening the interest in Old World Age and modern city of Beth Shean) Iron Age I, Tayinat is a good fit for Archaeology at the University. and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. my own research. I had an excellent In the Winter I served on a The group was very enthusiastic and time at Tayinat and came away very search committee for a historian I heard they had a great time. Later impressed by the project. It is very of Japan. While I do work in Asia, in that same month I gave a lecture well organized and staffed and seems it’s the farthest corner of western on Jewish scripture and sources as to have a good future ahead of it. Asia, so needless to say this was an well as modern American Jewry to an illuminating experience. We hired Interfaith Dialogue group at St. John’s Teaching and Dr. Robert Stolz who earned his PhD. Cathedral in Knoxville. This was a Departmental Service from the University of Chicago and very lively group and the question In the Fall semester I taught works on the Meiji Period. Robert and answer period continued for a a graduate seminar on the rise of will be an excellent addition to the long while and even out in the parking complex society. I always find teaching Department of History. lot of the church. graduate seminars both challenging In February of 2006 I gave a and stimulating. This gives me an Service to the Profession lecture to the Knoxville Jewish opportunity to work with the History I continue to serve on the Board Leadership Forum out in Oak Ridge graduate students and expose them of Trustees and Executive Board of the entitled “The Biggest Issues Facing to some of the theoretical literature Albright Institute of Archaeological Israel Today.” This was a really nice on issues such as the domestication Research (located in Jerusalem) opportunity for me to visit the Oak of plants and animals and concurrent as the secretary. This past year we Ridge Jewish Congregation. dramatic changes in the social, had Board meetings in Boston and cultural and economic aspects of Philadelphia. I also continue to work In Closing… society, emergence of urbanism and on the Fellowship Committee, and this An\ther exciting year has the state, and the eventual formation past fall we distributed over $250,000 passed. New opportunities, like of empire. Much of the seminar is in fellowships. It was another record the MA Program in Mediterranean spent examining pre and protohistoric year for the number of applications Archaeology and Tayinat case studies. As there are always for fellowships. At the May meeting Archaeological Project are a welcome new discoveries being made, both I was elected treasurer of the addition to both the Fern and Manfred the data on these issues and thus Institute; obviously they have never Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies the theory relating to those data are seen my check book. It is certainly and the University. Through these always changing. The recent reports interesting to see the inside views kinds of programs we hope to attract of an entirely new script found in the of the finances of an international more students interested in ancient Olmec heartland in Mesoamerica is non-profit academic institution. The Israel and the Near East. Again, I an example of how new discoveries municipal tax situation of running would like to thank the Fern and impact on our understanding of the such an institute in Jerusalem is mind- Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic rise of complex societies. boggling and involves a thorough Studies and Department of History I also taught the first part of understanding of the political changes for their generous support. Shanah Jewish History which includes the in Jerusalem over the last forty years. Tovah Umetukah ! biblical and rabbinic periods. This I am also on the steering gives me an opportunity to integrate committee of the Archaeology Section my own work and interests in the of the Society of Biblical Studies. archaeology of these periods into We select the topics and review the a historical perspective. My recent presentations which will be given at forays to Turkey and my interests in the annual meetings, this year they are the Roman and Byzantine synagogues in Washington D.C. This year’s topics found there have added a new included the archaeology of religion in dimension to this course. the Roman World and archaeological In August of this year the excavations and discoveries. MA Program in Mediterranean Archaeology had its first graduate, Service to the Community Meagan Ayer. Meagan’s thesis was Last fall (2005) I became the on the Roman and Byzantine pottery faculty advisor to UT Hillel. This from the Kerak Plateau in Jordan, has been a very easy and enjoyable Associate Professor J.P. Dessel (center) at Gezer and I served as her advisor. My position to fill, thanks to the efforts with Professors Sy Gitin (left) and William G. colleagues, Professors Alyedis Van de of the UT Hillel director Deborah Dever (right). Moortal (Classics), Merle Langdon Oleshansky. In September I gave a  Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 for inviting Judaic Studies to cosponsor Outreach of the College of Arts and Judiac Studies Lecture their speakers when appropriate and Sciences, the Fern and Manfred Steinfeld for supporting speakers whom we are Program in Judaic Studies, the U.S. Series inviting to campus. This past year we Holocaust Memorial Museum and the had a very rich and diverse offering Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies. of programming, comprising Israeli Although lectures occurring in this politics, history, Sephardic poetry, the David Tal academic year technically belong in Holocaust, and Jewish music. Our On November 2 and 3, Dr. David next year’s newsletter, I cannot help but thanks to our speakers and sponsors. Tal, Fellow at the Jaffee Center of mention what a wonderful beginning Strategic Studies, and lecturer at Tel Aviv we had this year with the visit by Reginetta Haboucha University, visited Knoxville, courtesy Professor Peter Machinist from Harvard Dr. Reginetta Haboucha, Acting of Emory University and the Robinson University. On October 6, he gave a Associate Vice President for Academic Family’s Modern Israeli History Fund. riveting lecture on Genesis. Thanks to Affairs as well as Acting Dean of the Dr. Tal spoke at the university about an endowment from Dr. Alan Solomon, School of Graduate Studies at the “The U.S. in Israel’s Thinking,” and to the Abraham and Rebecca Solomon and Fashion Institute of Technology in New the Jewish community on “The Other’s Ida Schwartz Distinguished Lecture York City presented a reading from Other: Entangled Jews and Arabs.” Both in Judaic Studies occurs every other her latest book, King Solomon and the lectures, cosponsored by the Knoxville year. We were delighted that Professor Golden Fish, to a community audience Jewish Alliance, were well received. Machinist, who was J.P. Dessel’s teacher at the Arnstein Jewish Community at the University of Arizona, was able Center on September 25, 2005. This Lucas Richman to accept that honor this year. The was followed by a September 26 lecture On April 4, Maestro Lucas Richman, Hodges Library Auditorium was filled on “Oral Narratives in the Sephardic director of the Knoxville Symphony to capacity, with standing room only. Tradition” to the University community. Orchestra, gave a well-attended lecture Thank you very much, Peter! The Co-sponsored by the Departments of on “Classical Music and the Jewish lecture was followed by a very special Religious Studies, History and English, Spirit: the spiritual inspiration of the reception, thanks to the generosity of an Marco, the Spanish Education Fund in Jewish musical legacy” at the University anonymous friend of Judaic Studies. It Modern Foreign Languages, and the of Tennessee. Maestro Richman and his was an inspiring highlight for faculty, Knoxville Jewish Alliance, the two-day wife Debbie have endeared themselves students, and community alike. event was very well received by the to the Knoxville Jewish community entire community of learners. through their generosity in sharing their considerable musical knowledge and talent with the community in various ways. A number of Maestro Richman’s fans from the larger community came to the lecture, and our students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation on a topic that should be more broadly covered in academia. This lecture was cosponsored by the Departments of Religious Studies, History, the School of Music, and the Office of Academic Outreach of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Arnold and Mary Linda Schwarzbart host Professor Reginette Haboucha (Center) from the New York Fashion Institute.

Daniel Magilow Dr. Daniel Magilow spent the academic year 2005-06 as the Pearl Resnick Postdoctoral Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. On Professor Peter Machinist from Harvard November 15, as part of the Museum’s University in Tokyo, Japan, in 2005 outreach effort, he gave a lecture on the Whitwell paperclips project, Collaboration between departments entitled “Counting to Six Million: and programs across the campus Collecting Projects and Holocaust to bring renowned national and Memorialization.” The lecture was international speakers to UT is one of sponsored by the Department of Modern Maestro Lucas Richman during the great joys of scholarly interaction. I Foreign Languages and Literatures, the University of Tennessee lecture on would again like to thank our colleagues German Studies Program, Academic classical music and the Jewish spirit. Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006  Research n Mira’s Book Memories and Gilya G. Schmidt Not through any effort of my Realities: own have I had the good fortune to Mira’s second book, Memories and Activities be included in two initiatives to do Realities, which I edited, was published a year ago, and the first copy was ready with German studies. In Spring 2006, nd my colleague, Dr. David Tompkins, for Mira’s 82 birthday. Since then, in the History Department, worked Mira has had numerous book signings Teaching up a proposal for a lecture series on around the Oak Ridge-Knoxville area While I serve as Head of the “German Identities and Encounters” -- at the Oak Ridge Public Library, Department of Religious Studies, I only for presentation to the College of Arts the UT bookstore, Borders for Jewish teach one course a semester. Most of my and Sciences’ Humanities Institute. Book Month, and Carpe Librum. Her students are not Jewish and do not major The rationale for the German Studies speaking engagements continue in Judaic Studies either, although a Colloquium and this inaugural lecture undiminished. If she didn’t pace herself, number of them minor in Judaic Studies. series was the vexing question in she could speak several times a week, a The classes never experience a shortage German culture and history “of how to pace she wisely rejects. of enrollment. A number of students define German identity and relations fulfill their upper level distribution n with the neighboring world.” The goal THANK YOU, MIRA! requirement with the courses I teach, of the Colloquium was to investigate When Mira Kimmelman published particularly in the area of non-Western “different aspects of this problem, from her first book, Echoes from the Holocaust, culture. a multidisciplinary perspective in the with UT Press, she dedicated the In Fall 2005 I taught RS 385/JS humanities.” Other colleagues who royalties to the endowed chair in Judaic 385, “Contemporary Jewish Thinkers,” have a primary interest in the topic Studies. That was in 1997. As of this with a focus on Zionism, to 40 students. are Vejas Liulevicius, Daniel Magilow, year, the proceeds from the sales netted As always, in studying the history of Denise Phillips, and Stefanie Ohnesorg. Judaic Studies $4,336.14. Mira likewise Zionism, students are surprised that On March 8, I presented a lecture on has dedicated the royalties from her Israel didn’t just appear as a result of the the influence of Swabian customs on second book to the endowed chair as world’s guilty conscience following the Swabian rural Jews in the nineteenth well. Thank you so much, Mira. We are Holocaust, but that there was an active and twentieth century, entitled deeply grateful for your generosity and political movement and diplomatic “Culture is Not a One-Way Street: The for everything you do for Judaic Studies effort going back to the nineteenth Contribution of Local German Customs at the University of Tennessee. century. to Rural Jewish Life in Southern In Spring 2006 I taught RS 405/JS n Germany.” This is an off-shoot of the Research on Rural Jewry in 405, a seminar on Israel, under the research I have been conducting for Southern Germany title “Modern Jewish Thought,” with the book project. I would like to thank By last summer, with Mira’s book 20 students. It is natural to follow the David for including me; it was very safely at the printer’s, I was able to development of the modern state of enjoyable. begin work full speed ahead on the Israel with a look at and discussion of Because we wanted to have book project on rural Jewry in Southern modern Israel until the present. That more time to interact with each other Germany that I had been working on course can never be the same because of and learn from each other, David periodically. This is a study of two the fluid situation, and even the focus submitted a proposal to the Colleges Jewish families who lived in the village on the history changes depending on Humanities Initiative to fund a year- of Süssen, near Stuttgart. There was not current political issues. long seminar in which we share the much time during the academic year I also continue to present two findings of our research, read and to advance this work, as writing takes lectures in the German Special Topics discuss books, and bring in outside a critical amount of quality time, but Program’s Berlin class (German 415). speakers. Again, I am grateful to David On January 25 I spoke on Jewish Berlin th for including me. On September 28 artists in the early 20 century, and on my colleague Dr. Daniel Magilow March 8 on the Holocaust. and I participated in a roundtable This semester I am teaching RS 381/ discussion on the presentations we had JS 381, “Introduction to Judaism,” which given for the “Living On” exhibition I always enjoy because it coincides with at the East Tennessee History Center. the holidays, and I can prepare myself My thanks to Daniel for creating and while teaching the students about maintaining a website for the seminar the holidays. We also look at Biblical and for posting my presentation as history, life cycle events, the Holocaust, well as our discussion and all the women’s spirituality and rituals, and other presentations on the website. finish up with a brief look at Israel. If you wish to follow what we are In spring 2007 I will not teach as discussing, you can access our videocast I will be on research leave to advance presentations by going to the website at and perhaps complete a first draft of http://web.utk.edu/~mfll/languages/ my manuscript on rural Jewish life in german/research_seminar/ Süssen, Germany. On this site you can also find Provost Holub’s Inaugural Address from rd Left to Right: Mira Kimmelman and Dr. October 3 on Nietzsche and Eugenics, a Gilya Schmidt at the UT Bookstore very interesting lecture indeed. 10 Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 during the summer I was able to go to materials previously obtained there, n Jewish Music Project Germany for five weeks and work on and to rephotograph some of the former There is a reason why scholars chapters that I needed to discuss with Jewish structures. We also traveled to a often work on more than one project my collaborators on location, Werner new community not previously included at the same time. As the previous and Bärbel Runschke. We were able in our documentation, Freudental, description shows, there are stages to to make considerable progress, and near Heilbronn, on the border between the development of a research project it was a shame I had to drop it again Württemberg and Baden. I would like -- information gathering, evaluation when the semester started. However, to thank Mr. Ludwig Bez, Director of of the sources, writing, and eventually with a semester off in Spring 2007 I am the Pädagogisch-Kulturelle Centrum publication. For the Süssen project, I confident I will be able to work through Ehemalige Synagoge Freudental, who am in the evaluation and writing stages; was most generous with his time and they often go hand-in-hand. The project who gave us a very informative tour on rural Judaism in southern Germany of “Jewish Freudental” and directed is in the information gathering and us to a very well preserved and well evaluation stages, the writing has not kept Jewish cemetery. Once the book yet begun. For the project on Jewish on Süssen is complete, I will continue liturgical music, or hazzanut, we are in the preservation of the sources stage. As all of my sources, cassette tapes and LPs, are in danger of disintegrating because of their age, the primary job is to transfer the sources to more permanent and up-to-date technology, namely CDs. To be sure, CDs will probably be outdated by the time I complete this project, but at least for the next ten years, the Jewish Author’s Day at Borders Books and Music. Left to right: Gilya Schmidt, Mira Former Lang Family Home in Süssen, Germany Kimmelman; standing: Glenn Bernstein and Marilyn Kallet the material that still needs analyzing and make additional progress on the manuscript.

Bärbel and Werner Runschke at Ernsbach Jewish cemetery Ottenheimer Company Workers Home in Süssen, Germany

collecting material, primarily on the families who lived in these other Jewish communities, for a second book more generally on rural Judaism in southern Germany. There are not words enough to thank my colleague, Mr. Werner Runschke, Director of the Süssen City Archive, and his wife Bärbel, for their generosity in every way in connection with this research project. They share Dr. Gilya Schmidt at Castle Staufeneck, their home, their communications Germany system, their contacts, their time, and their knowledge with me to advance this project, and I will never be able My team and I also traveled to other to repay them for their kindness and rural Jewish communities, notably to friendship. I hope the results will not be Laupheim and Baisingen, as well as disappointing. “Reissle” Rosa Lang’s headstone in Ernsbach and Göppingen, to supplement Ernsbach Jewish cemetery (1849-1919). Reissle was the wife of Schraga Seligman Lang, who preceded her in death in 1915. Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 11 music of Cantor Mordecai G. Heiser z”l Currently I am getting ready to help groups of faculty obtain funding should be safe on CDs. My thanks attend the American Academy of from the college for semester or year- to Erika Magnuson, who, for the past Religion annual meeting in Washington long seminars, workshops, and lecture year, has been working painstakingly D.C., including a day-long session series or lecturers. on digitizing the music, and is nearing for department heads/chairs dealing completion of the project. Once this with conflict resolution preceding the process is complete, I will continue conference. I will also work on building collecting the biographical data needed consensus among colleagues for a new for the project, including interviews section focusing on Martin Buber. In with individuals who still knew Cantor December, at the annual meeting of the Heiser. Association for Jewish Studies, I will participate in a panel on Martin Buber Service and Israel by reading a paper on Buber’s Last year, with a good deal of ideas on and realization of Israel in his development for Judaic Studies as well own life, and in January I will again as Religious Studies on the horizon, attend the Humanities Conference in I thought it might be beneficial to Hawaii with a paper presentation on the learn more about greater Knoxville, diverse settlement patterns of southern beyond the university and the Jewish German Jews, entitled “Oh Little Village community. “Introduction Knoxville,” Mine: A Historical Study of Jewish Gilya at Pali Lookout, Honolulu Hawaii, a program of “Leadership Knoxville,” Settlement Patterns in Rural Germany, January 2006 offered an interesting five-week series. 1772-1933.” I am also a member of the I enjoyed meeting individuals from GSA, German Studies Association, but different walks of life and learning about the timing of this year’s conference everything from charitable organizations was unfortunate as it occurred on the to the TVA and ORNL. Actually, the weekend of Yom Kippur. So I chose not tour of the new neutron spallation to attend. I hope that next year’s timing facility at Oak Ridge was my favorite. will be better for me. n Profession n Middle East Literary Colloquy In spring 2005, while traveling It had been a few years since we did halfway around the globe, I also a Middle East semester, so I was pleased organized a panel on Martin Buber when my friend Phil Scheurer, freshly for the Association for Jewish Studies retired, approached Rosalind Gwynne Annual Meeting last December in and me to participate in a Middle Washington, D.C. I was so glad we did East Literary Colloquy. The books we it, as it lead to some great collaboration chose were an interesting collection and another program for this year. of Palestinian and Israeli views on the For the second time last January I “matzav” or situation. Mary Papke traveled to the International Humanities led the discussion on Joe Sacco’s comic and Arts Conference in Honolulu, book Palestine. I had chosen Savyon Hawaii. I had traveled there in 2004 Liebrecht’s “A Man, A Woman, and a and enjoyed it thoroughly. This past Man” (2001) which was everything but January I read a paper that explored the political. Liebrecht is the female Thomas Conch ceremony at the Ilileai, Honolulu, contribution of local German customs to Mann of modern Israel. Rosalind Hawaii Jewish life in southern Germany. Gwynne concluded our discussions with I continue to chair the History Raja Shehadeh’s When the Birds Stopped of Judaism Section for SECSOR, the Singing. Participation was excellent, Southeast Commission for the Study as was the food. It was a thoroughly of Religion. This past year I again enjoyable and enlightening experience. n Public service organized a session which I chaired, On August 14, 2005 my colleague and I also read a paper, “Shalom Y’all: n University Professor Miriam Levering, invited Teaching Judaism at a Southern State My primary service to the College me to speak to the West Side Unitarian University.” This coming spring’s paper of Arts and Sciences consists of serving Church on Martin Buber and Israel. proposals have already arrived, and as Head of the Department of Religious Two of the ideas had to do with Buber’s we are in the process of organizing two Studies and as Chair of the Fern and notion of love of God. In one instance, sessions, one on a variety of topics in Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic in I and Thou, Buber admonishes that Judaism; the other, cosponsored with the Studies. There are two committees on “the encounter with God does not Hebrew Bible Section, will focus on the which I serve by virtue of my position as come to man in order that he may Second Temple Period. The March 2007 department head: the Space Committee henceforth attend to God but in order meeting will be in Nashville. As I will which deals with the scarce resources that he may prove its meaning in be on leave, the responsibilities will be of offices in McClung Tower, and the action in the world. All revelation is a delegated to a colleague. Humanities Initiative which seeks to calling and a mission. But again and 12 Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 again man shuns actualization and n YOM HASHOAH focuses on had previously photographed survivors bends back towards the revealer: he Darfur in the Miami area. Twice, during the would rather attend to God than to On April 24, 2006 the Jewish 1995 and 2001 Holocaust Conferences the world.” (Walter Kaufmann, ed., community commemorated the here at UT, we invited Rob to show these Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York 1970, Holocaust, as we do every year. The photos, always to great acclaim. The p. 164). The second passage is from a Committee on which I serve this year exhibition, with the able collaboration chapter in Buber’s book Hasidism. Here decided to focus on the suffering of Dawn Weiss Smith, who interviewed Buber states that “There is…yet another in Darfur, Sudan. The theme was the survivors and liberators, and Susan category of people whom we find it “Your Voice is Important. Do Not Be Knowles, who served as the curator at particulary hard to love: they are our Silent.” Rabbi Zivic made powerful all the venues, has now been traveling enemies.” Buber continues that Rabbi and moving remarks during the throughout Tennessee and Kentucky Yehiel-Michal of Zloczov, a great zaddik, memorial service at Temple Beth El. for a year and a half. After Nashville, “ordered his sons to pray for the well- The evening also included handouts Chattanooga, Clarksville, Memphis, being of their enemies. ‘And do you of booklets with poetry lamenting the and Kentucky, “Living On: Portraits of think’ he [the Rabbi] added, ‘that this is sad circumstance of genocide in Darfur, Tennessee Survivors and Liberators,” not divine service? It is a service greater drawing comparisons to the events of has been at the East Tennessee History than all prayer.’ Here the integration of the Holocaust. Marilyn Kallet secured Center from July 17 – October 22. the ethical into the religious has reached bracelets and dolls for the participants From our first meeting with its climax.” (Hasidism, Philosophical to take away and together with Rabbi members of the East Tennessee Library, New York, 1948, p. 182). Schwartz presented petitions for Historical Society in December of 2005, August 28, 2005. The Hopewell signatures. Debbie Richman helped the vision for Knoxville unfolded. Presbyterian Church in Dandridge with the program, and Sandy Parsons, On August 27, we held a major requested that I speak to their adult as always, made it all happen. Yom fundraiser for the Tennessee Holocaust education group on the peace process. HaShoah is a very important annual Commission at the East Tennessee December 1, 2005. Jewish community event, and we feel strongly History Center which was a rousing Leadership Knoxville had a lively group that it is the right time to show our success. Nearly 200 people attended of individuals who are interested in concern for the suffering of other groups the reception and presentations, and helping with the affairs of the Jewish in our time. we are grateful to Mayor Haslam, UT community. They asked me to speak President Petersen and his wife Carol, on the qualities that make up a Jewish Dr. Joe Johnson and his wife Pat, Vice leader. TENNESSEE President Robert Levy and his wife Dr. April 3, 2006. The SGA Committee HOLOCAUST Karen Levy, Dean Bruce Bursten from on Diversity Affairs invited me to COMMISSION the College of Arts and Sciences, as address the group on Judaism. This (www.tennesseeholocaustcommission.org) well as many other community leaders panel discussion was chaired by my Congratulations to the newest and the Jewish as well as educational department colleague Professor Mark Commissioner on the Tennessee community who came out for this event. Hulsether. Holocaust Commission – Larry Marilyn Burnett, always a favorite April 18, 2006. A very long time ago Leibowitz of Knoxville. Larry is a crowd pleaser with her kosher culinary Sharon Stevens was my student. This lawyer with the law firm of Leibowitz delicacies, again did not disappoint. Dr. year she helped facilitate my addressing and Cohen. We look forward to your Bernard Rosenblatt and Gilya Schmidt the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer and full participation in the educational work co-chaired the event. Honorary co- Transgendered Task Force Against of the Commission. chairs were Dr. Robert A. Levy, Senator Domestic Violence training session on Last year Governor Bredesen Tim Burchett, Robert Goodfriend, and the fate of Gays during the Holocaust. reappointed me to a fourth term as a Bernard Bernstein. April 26, 2006. The Religious Commissioner A great surprise was a gift of $10,000 Studies Association showed the video on the Tennessee from Diane and Guilford Glazer for “Fiddler on the Roof” and asked me to Holocaust the work of the Tennessee Holocaust lead a discussion afterwards. Commission. Commission. Commission Chair For Simchat Torah 2005 Heska This is my 11th Felicia Anchor and Executive Director Amuna Synagogue decided to honor year on the Ruth Tanner were overjoyed by this me for my contributions to Jewish Commission. contribution as well as others by the life and to the Jewish community in For the past attendees at the reception which totaled Knoxville. I was very touched and two years I have more than $18,000 for educational grateful for this great honor. It also been privileged programs in the state of Tennessee. gave me an extra opportunity to see my to see unfold I would like to say special thanks to daughter and granddaughter for a few an exhibition our survivors and veterans who honored days. Dr. Bernard Rosenblatt, outgoing that has us by coming to the event, to Rob Heller executive director of the Knoxville taken Knoxville by storm. When the for his incredible gift of photography, to Jewish Alliance, was also being honored. Commission began discussing the idea my co-chair Dr. Bernie Rosenblatt who Mazal tov to Bernie for the honor and a of photographing Tennessee Holocaust kept us afloat while I was in Germany hearty yashar koach for his service during survivors and World War II liberators, in July, and to Cherel Henderson and the time he served as director. there was only one person fit for the job, Dr. Michael Toomey and the entire staff and that was our colleague Rob Heller of the East Tennessee Historical Society, in the College of Communications. Rob who have been super to work with, as well as Heska Amuna and Temple Beth Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 13 El synagogues in Knoxville Oak Ridge Department, who has all of his course wanted to see what the other synagogue Jewish congregation, Chabad, and the work completed and is currently writing was like. Because he is such an Knoxville Jewish Alliance for their his dissertation with Professor John unusual individual, I asked Ali to write support, and to Felicia Anchor and Ruth Bohstedt. I am happy to have Michael something on his summer experience Tanner and Stacey Knight of the THC work with me for the near future. in the Middle East this year. His report for the great support they gave us for follows; it is a sobering account. this project. Certainly not least I would like to thank the College of Arts and “The world can be a very curious Sciences and Dean Bruce Bursten for his place at times. Growing up, I did not support of this event, and the University always see a world around me of people of Tennessee, especially Beth Gladden in who were willing or ready to accept the the Office of Communications, for media differences of those around them. It was and related support. something my parents always referred In addition to a teachers’ workshop to as ignorance with a touch of irony. To on August 11, nine programs took place them, it was ignorant simply because at the East Tennessee History Center many people chose not to learn about in connection with the exhibition, a or appreciate differences. However, it number of them with large audiences in was ironic because as Americans we attendance. There were also a number of are supposed to be taught to accept docent led tours. A complete report will Michael Booker at the New Den, Home of and appreciate differences. This does follow in next year’s newsletter. Millwall Football Club, Southeast London not mean that we must agree with or Our thanks to everyone who was embrace another’s way of life, only that involved in this excellent educational we must accept it as their decision. We, experience. in turn, expect the same right of choice. n STUDENTS Without this right, pluralistic societies Jerry Gay came to us with a very cannot hope to function well. focused plan of study, and graduated “Our family consists of individuals this past December with a B.A., double- of two very different backgrounds majoring in Asian Studies and Judaic – Persian Muslims on my father’s Studies. side and American Christian on my Igor deSouza graduated from mother’s. The key to the family UT as the top College Scholar of 2005. dynamic had to depend on the respect Studying medieval Jewish philosophy, for the right of choice. Regardless of the he is currently doing graduate work at differences, there was enough trust in the University of Chicago, and spent the one another’s ability to make personal summer in Jerusalem. decisions that the family was able to Allison Castell graduated from grow and mature accordingly. UT in 2004 with a degree in elementary “Recently I learned that crossing Professor Gilya Schmidt presents Glazer check education and Judaic Studies. Allison is a national border or checkpoint can be to Felicia Anchor, Chair of the Tennessee currently teaching in Virginia. much like accepting the differences of Holocaust Commission - Photo courtesy of the others. Hours can be spent awaiting University of Tennessee n FEATURING ALI AZIZI acceptance with the distinct possibility For the past several years, Religions of being denied by guards, who n Goodbye and Good Luck, Deborah Studies major Ali Scott Azizi has been on discretionarily prohibit one’s entry Deborah Scaperoth, a Ph.D. my radar as a student. In his final year, based on innumerable stereotypes and candidate in the English Department, he took two of my classes, including one misconceptions. It is a process which worked as my Graduate Assistant on the Holocaust. I was quite surprised depends largely on bias. from January 2005 until August 2006. one day when Ali asked whether I “Last summer, while working in While I am very happy for Deborah, would write him a recommendation to Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and who has completed her dissertation Vanderbilt where he wanted to pursue Jordan, I experienced this harsh reality. and is in the revision stage, I was not a graduate degree. I happily agreed, Although I have spent four of the last happy to lose her. She did the lion’s and am happy to say that Ali is on the five summers overseas, two in East share of the work for “Living On” and way to earning a Masters of Education Asia and two in the Middle East and for Peter Machinist’s lecture, and I am in International Education Policy, and Europe, I had never experienced such very grateful for everything she did in has applied to American University in a level of mass disenfranchisement as I helping me keep Judaic Studies current. Washington, D.C. to the Kogod School realized, first hand, on this assignment. We wish Deborah all the best with her of Business for their MBA Program. Ali It was my work in education which future endeavors. is the kind of young person of whom we took me into this region, as I believe need more. He speaks Farsi, Arabic, and development and reform of educational n Hello Michael Spanish, and has spent several summers systems has the capacity to alleviate Fortunately there are always overseas. After graduating from UT last future strife in a meaningful, graduate students who are just short year, and while at Vanderbilt, he came measurable way; especially in regions of finished with their advanced to services at Heska Amuna one day such as the Middle East. The irony case degree. This was the case with Michael because he had gone to Temple Beth El was that while I was attempting to do Booker, a Ph.D. student in the History for his assignment while my student and something positive, I was brandished as 14 Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 being potentially negative, exclusively [email protected] or because of the background of my name. 690-6343. htetl ews There were innumerable instances S N where I was pointedly told that it was impossible to have my name and not adhere to the group of its origin. “The experience, while leaving me Unfortunately last year saw the somewhat frustrated, only strengthened death of several friends of Judaic Studies my belief in pluralism and education. who will be sorely missed. May their I walked away from each incident memory be for a blessing. knowing that it was ignorance which A year ago Sylvia Leibowitz z”l left was the root of the problem. The this earth to join her husband, Harold involved parties obviously knew no z”l, who had preceded her in death Left to Right: Marga Randall and Irma Meyer better of me than to label me according several years ago. Harold and Sylvia to my name. The only rational solution were among the founding members is to teach people the error of such of the Judaic Studies endowment that them Heska Amuna Synagogue’s modes of thinking, to show them helped create the endowed chair held Volunteer Ministry Program which she both the historical and contemporary by Gilya Schmidt. They continued to be shepherded for many years, the Zionist examples and repercussions of nurturing strong supporters of the program and women’s group Hadassah, and the ignorance – hatred, war, genocide, expressed their appreciation in many Knoxville Jewish Alliance. She was a etc. While in my case it produced no ways. We will miss Sylvia as we miss regular every year for the WUOT fund irreparable harm, if allowed to grow, Harold. drive, answering the telephone in the ignorance can be the cause of much Likewise, Gert Cohen, mother of earliest hours of the morning. She was greater evil.” Arnold Cohen, died last year. Soon active in many other organizations that after, Arnold also lost his wife, Linda. benefited from her n JEWISH FACULTY OUTREACH Arnold is a founding member of the generosity. Marcia The Knoxville Jewish Alliance has chair endowment and a member of the was also an avid taken the lead in reviving the Jewish DORS Board of Visitors. We express our bridge player. I faculty group which has been in owe Marcia much, existence for many years, but seldom heartfelt sympathy to Arnold for these losses. she was crucial meets. On April 6, Stephen Rosen and in getting me Gilya Schmidt convened a lunch at the Some of you remember my friend integrated into the Copper Cellar on Cumberland Avenue Marga Randall from Pittsburgh, a dear Knoxville Jewish to inform the UT Jewish faculty of the friend for more than 20 years, who left and women’s work of the KJA and the Jewish Student Germany in 1941 after experiencing much discrimination and chicanery at community, and I Center. Stephen Rosen, campaign chair, Dr. Marcia Katz and Deborah Oleshansky, director of the the hands of the Nazis. After I moved miss her terribly. JSC/Hillel spoke to the group. to Knoxville, Marga came to visit and On September 6 the Judaic Studies spoke to my classes and to classes at On July 11, while I was in Germany, Program, the Jewish Student Center, and Temple Beth El and the Baptist Student one of the dearest people in our the Knoxville Jewish Alliance teamed Union. Her presentations were riveting Knoxville Jewish community completed up for a reception at the Riverside and students thoroughly enjoyed his journey at Shannondale Health Restaurant to welcome Provost and hearing about her personal experiences. Care Center. Ninety one year-old Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marga was awarded an honorary Isaac Benhayon was born in Buenos Robert Holub who has recently arrived doctorate by Seton Hill College in Aires, Argentina in 1915. He grew up from Berkeley where he held a major Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for her in Gibraltar where he met the love of administrative position as well. Stephen contributions to Holocaust studies. Her his life, Esmeralda, to whom he was Rosen, Deborah Oleshansky, Elyse death last Thanksgiving has left a large married for fifty-nine years. They lived Messing and Seth Schklar from AEPi void in my personal life. spoke to the group about the activities Just recently I learned that long- currently underway. Professor Gilya time friend Irma Meyer, wife of Steven Schmidt introduced Dr. Holub to the faculty. His scholarly research focuses Meyer, also from Pittsburgh, died in on nineteenth-century German and January of 2006. Steven and Irma German-Jewish thinkers and writers, were among my first Jewish friends in such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Pittsburgh. Heinrich Heine. Dr. Marcia Katz, retired professor of n JEWISH STUDENT CENTER Nuclear Engineering, was suddenly torn Under the leadership of Deborah from our midst in April of 2006. Those Oleshansky, the Jewish Student Center/ who knew Marcia would have agreed Hillel has been quite active in spite of with her that life was an adventure. She the fact that we do not have a permanent was an incredibly generous person who space on campus. For information, gave of herself and of her resources please contact Deborah Oleshansky at for the good of many causes, among Left to Right: Isaac and Esmeralda Benhayon Judaic Studies Newsletter, Fall 2006 15 in Tangier, Morocco, before moving able to celebrate her 80th birthday in and the theatre he was able to communi- to New York City in 1961, where he good health and spirits. We wish you a cate with many different constituencies worked as a translator for the Chase hearty mazal tov, Natalie. May you live in the Jewish and larger community, Manhattan Bank for 19 years. In 1991, to be 120. and he always had the right thing to the Benhayons moved to Knoxville Likewise, on June 10 Barbara and say. Bernie’s accomplishment during where Isaac was active in the religious Bernie Bernstein celebrated their 50th his tenure were many, but perhaps his life of Heska Amuna Synagogue until wedding anniversary surrounded by most significant contribution was the his death. Isaac was a teacher to us all, family and friends. Bernie and Barbara estabishment of a partnership with the he was truly a chacham and a zaddik. He also were founding contributors to the Jewish teens in Hadera-Eiron and their was beloved by all, as was Esmeralda. endowed chair in Judaic Studies held by families. At the end of 2005 Dr. Bernie We will always remember Esmeralda Gilya Schmidt, and we appreciate your Rosenblatt decided to retire, and as we and Isaac with love and gratitude. continuing support and encouragement. have seen in this past year, his shoes are Our hearts go out to Jack and Judith Mazal tov on an important milestone in hard to fill. In recognition of Bernie’s Benhayon and family. your lives! place of honor in the Jewish community, Fortunately, we also were able to Dr. Bernard Rosenblatt and his wife the KJA established The Dr. Bernard S. celebrate some simchas in the community Lesley moved to Knoxville nine years Rosenblatt Fund which will benefit a this past year. ago. Bernie became the executive direc- wide range of activities within the Knox- Natalie Robinson, who with her tor of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, then ville Jewish community. We wish Bernie late husband Mitchell z”l, has been a still called the Knoxville Jewish Federa- and Lesley and Lesley’s Mom Virginia stalwart of Judaic Studies at UT, was tion. With his background in academics many years of fun and good health!

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Judaic Studies at UT D e p a r t m e n t o f R e l i g i o u s S t u d i e s 501 M c C l u n g T o w e r he Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies is now in T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e n n e ss e e its second decade. Public lectures, in collaboration with other UT K n o x v i ll e , TN 37996-0450 departmentsT and the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, Holocaust Conferences, t e l e p h o n e (865) 974-2466 book discussions, as well as cultural experiences such as trips to the U.S. fa x (865) 974-0965 Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., have helped to educate on campus as well as in the Jewish community and the community at large. e - ma i l Your support can help to make our program better and stronger. If you D r . G i lya G e r d a S c h m i d t : g s c h m i d t @ u t k . e d u wish to make a contribution, the following funds are available: D r . J. P. D e ss e l : j d e ss e l @ u t k . e d u J u d a i c S t u d i e s L e c t u r e F u n d , R e l i g i o u s S t u d i e s J u d a i c S t u d i e s C h a i r E n d o w m e n t , R e l i g i o u s S t u d i e s  J u d a i c S t u d i e s S u p p o r t F u n d , R e l i g i o u s S t u d i e s The Fern & Manfred Steinfeld A b r a h a m a n d R e b e c c a S o l o m o n a n d I d a S c h wa r t z D i s t i n g u i s h e d L e c t u r e F u n d f o r J u d a i c S t u d i e s , R e l i g i o u s Program in Judaic Studies ­S t u d i e s is located in D r . R u b e n R o b i n s o n M e m o r i a l F u n d , R e l i g i o u s S t u d i e s 501 McClung Tower M a n f r e d a n d F e r n S t e i n f e l d P r o f e ss o r s h i p E n d o w m e n t i n J u d a i c H i s t o r y , H i s t o r y D e pa r t m e n t You can also find us on the Web: web.utk.edu/~judaic

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