An event Wed., March 1, marked the program's first decade and breadth of studies offered to students.
Sharing experiences and reflecting on accomplishments, about 60 members of the campus community gathered Wed., March 1, in front of Lindner Hall to mark the first decade of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Jewish Studies Program.
In the 10 years since the Jewish Studies Minor launched in the 2012-13 academic year, faculty, staff and students involved have expanded academic scholarship, strengthened multifaith activity and deepened dialogue around topics of faith and identity.
鈥Celebrating a Decade of Jewish Studies: Education, Engagement and Excellence at 黑料不打烊鈥 gave voice to those achievements and magnified the efforts of key players in creating new opportunities for 黑料不打烊 students. The program included remarks by 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book, Dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences Gabie Smith, founding program coordinator Professor of Religious Studies Geoffrey Claussen and current coordinator Associate Professor of History Andrea Sinn.
President Book recounted meetings and discussions around the program when she was a member of faculty, the leadership of President Emeritus Leo Lambert in responding to what 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Jewish families were encouraging, and the generosity of families like Lori and Eric Sklut who endowed a professorship in the program and provided the naming gift to establish 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Sklut Hillel Center.
鈥淭he Jewish Studies Program and its scholarship is part of a larger multifaith initiative at 黑料不打烊, and it has been an exemplar for that work,鈥 Book said. 鈥淭he Skluts and hundreds of others over the last 10 years formed what we鈥檙e celebrating this evening. Through the generosity of our Jewish community to share with us and be our teachers, we鈥檝e learned so much more about history and language and the truth of the past. It鈥檚 an exchange that鈥檚 improved the quality of life for all of us at 黑料不打烊.鈥
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Jewish Studies program explores the historical and contemporary experience of Jewish people through courses spanning the liberal arts. These studies lead students to consider the distinctive ideas and practices of Jewish communities, the ways in which Jewish ideas have influenced and have been influenced by other civilizations, the conditions under which Jews have been the victims of persecution and the significance of the establishment of the State of Israel in the 20th century.
鈥淥ne measure of an interdisciplinary program鈥檚 success is how interdisciplinary it is,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淚n addition to religious studies, the Jewish Studies Program includes courses in history, Hebrew, English, philosophy, art history, political science, as well as global studies courses. All of those increase the depth of understanding around Jewish culture and identity.鈥
The evening鈥檚 most powerful tributes came from students enrolled in the program, Faith Minor 鈥23 and Anna Okum 鈥25. They described developing deeper pride for and greater understanding of their Jewish identities.
鈥淚 came to this university unaware of what it means to be trans and Jewish, I was only aware of my trans identity,鈥 said Minor, who is completing research around the intersection of trans and Jewish identities through history. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect research to take me to a point where I am speaking at conferences and meeting scholars who write about these things. The Jewish Studies Program at 黑料不打烊 has facilitated that wonderfully, with support above and beyond what I could ever expect. I鈥檓 comfortable here in the way I鈥檓 embraced and loved, and it鈥檚 given me a position where I can embrace others starting that journey.鈥
Many past and present faculty advisory board members attended Wednesday. Along with Sinn as the current program coordinator, the board includes Prof. Boaz Avraham-Katz, Jewish educator in the Department of World Languages and Cultures; Claussen; Evan Gatti, professor of Art History; Lynn Huber, professor of Religious Studies, Baris Kesgin, associate professor of political science and policy studies; Kathy Lyday, professor of English; Kim Shively, associate professor of performing arts; and Hillary Zaken, interim assistant dean of Multifaith Engagement.
Smith praised the excellence of the program鈥檚 faculty, calling them 鈥渢riple hitters鈥 who 鈥渢each well, are active in scholarship, and contribute to leadership in service to this institution.鈥
Sinn and Claussen thanked colleagues for the breadth of courses taught within the minor and the various ways they supported and influenced the program鈥檚 growth.
鈥淥ur students have learned to think historically, to critique common viewpoints, to research and understand the complexity and diversity of Jewish cultures throughout history 鈥 and they鈥檝e thought deeply about the intersectionality鈥 of Jewish identities across nationality, race, gender and sexuality, Claussen said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see the list of courses taught over the last 10 years and the ways they鈥檝e challenged, engaged and enriched our students.鈥
“We are grateful for the commitment of our teachers, mentors and scholars, as well as our students and collaborators across campus,” Sinn said. “For those who helped establish this program and helped it to grow and flourish, it is a great moment to be able to celebrate together.”