Published by Shoshana Olidort September 27th, 2006
in Columbia University.
From SIPA’s Harriman Institute:
Wednesday, 27 September 2006, 12:00pm
Room 1219, International Affairs Building (12th Floor), 420 W. 118th St., Columbia University
The Ukrainian Studies Program, in cooperation with the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, will host the panel discussion:
“REMEMBERING BABYN YAR”
Babyn Yar (Babi Yar), a ravine in Kyiv, Ukraine, was the site of the massacre of Jews, Ukrainians, Gypsies and other civilians by the Nazis in late September 1941.
Panel speakers will include:
Dr. Natan Meir (University of Southampton, lecturer in East European Jewish History and Culture), discussing the history of Jews in Kyiv and the place of Babyn Yar in Kyiv today;
Mr. Vitaliy Pohribnyi (Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, Political and Media Affairs), discussing the Ukrainian government’s work in the area of Ukrainian-Jewish relations;
Dr. Vladimir Melamed (Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, Shklar Visiting Scholar), discussing the role of collaboration in the Babyn Yar massacres based on oral histories of Holocaust survivors; and
Mr. Martin Horwitz (American World Jewish Service, Director of Jewish Community Development Fund), discussing debates surrounding the plan to erect a large monument and Jewish community center on the territory of Babyn Yar.
Moderated by Prof. Mark von Hagen, Director of the Ukrainian Studies Program and Chair of Columbia’s Department of History.
For further information, please contact Diana at 212-854-4697 or ukrainianstudies@columbia.edu.
Published by David Buchwald September 27th, 2006
in University of Judaism.
For over a year the University of Judaism had no real dean, just acting deans, but this school year starts with Dr. Sam Edelman in the position, having recently been appointed as the new dean. I sat down with Edelman to discuss his story, and his goals for UJ.
“I grew up with a very strong Jewish background,� in Pennsylvania, Edelman said. He went on to earn his PhD in Jewish and Communication Studies from the University of Arizona, and was hired to work at Cal State - Chico immediately after finishing graduate school. There he founded the bachelor of arts in Jewish Studies degree and became the director of the Jewish Studies program.
Edelman spent 27 years at the school before being asked to take the position of Dean at the UJ. Edelman also helped found the State of California Center of Excellence for the Study of Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights, and Tolerance. He is currently the co-director of the center.
Edelman said has a vision for a very new UJ. He wants three major components to be blended together in a seamless flow: the core curriculum, the individual majors, and the extracurricular activities. The majors could all have their own Judaic spins and all extracurricular activities — like clubs, mentor programs, and internships — could be related to the core.
“Once everything is tied together you’ve got a hell of a package,� Edelman declared. In this system, everything is integrated into one and all students have the chance to become leaders in different ways. It is Edelman’s belief that in the end all students will be able to “function as leaders on various levels.�
Edelman is very excited to begin the new year with a bang. He stated that the new group of incoming students looks great. “We are off to a wonderful start,� he said.
In the latest issue of Contumacy, the Libertarian newsletter at UT, Bryan Brah poses the question: Is anti-Zionism anti-Semitic?
“Today, Zionism’s main goal is to compel or convince every nation in the world to recognize the legitimate existence of Israel as a Jewish state. Co-opting language by equating anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism creates an all-or-nothing proposition for opponents.”
Is it possible to be one without the other? Ahmadinejad is a clear anti-Zionist, but who knows, he could love watching Seinfeld. Mel Gibson might hate Jews, but might love Israel as a country.
Is it possible to be Jewish and anti-Zionist? Brah says “Many Orthodox Jews believe that Israel is a blasphemy and that only the Messiah can establish a Jewish State.”
Brah’s main point is that anti-Semitic countries can disguise their anti-Semitism as anti-Zionism. Hate against a people is viewed as wrong by the world, while hate and disdain for a country can be viewed as acceptable. The US hates North Korea, but that doesn’t mean we hate its residents.
It seems like a simple question. Are anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism the same thing? Short answer: Yes with a “but…”, long answer: Yes with an “if…”
Published by Ben Greenberg September 27th, 2006
in Indiana University.
On October 30th, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will be speaking at 7:30 in the IU auditorium. The speech will be open to the public but will require an admission ticket. According to the Indiana Daily Student:
Tickets will be available at the IU Auditorium Box Office starting Oct. 16 to any student with a valid IU ID and Oct. 19 to faculty, staff and the general public, according to a press release. There will be a two-ticket limit per person.
Published by Jason Millman September 26th, 2006
in Boston University.
“It’s been a busy few weeks for God,â€? quipped Jane Kramer, a staff writer from The New Yorker, during Tuesday night’s forum “Whose God Is It, Anyway?â€? held at the Boston University Photonics Center. The forum, focused on religion’s place in the United States and Europe, featured Kramer and Jan Ross, a staff writer for the German publication Die Zeit.
Ross said that Europe is a highly secular continent, placing a strain between Europe and America, which is much more religious. While liberal Americans may desire Europe’s form of secularism, Ross said, there are dangerous repercussions that come with it.
“People are ill-equipped to understand religion, a major driving force during the 21st Century,� Ross said. This supposed religious ignorance may possibly be the reason why controversial cartoons depicting Mohammed were released earlier this year, Ross hypothesized.
“Europeans do not take their faith seriously, and they did not understand why Muslims took offense [to the cartoons].�
If what Ross says is true, and Europeans and Americans have this religious divide, might this help explain their different positions on Israel?
First, S.O.Y. is putting on a couple of thematically relevent events: Tonight, a 9:40 p.m. Sichat Mussar by Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter in the Main Bais Medresh, and following Maariv, a Selichos Shiur with Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter in the Annex.
Wednesday, S.O.Y. presents another Sichat Mussar, this time with Rabbi Aharon Kahn, and Selichos/Mishmar with Rabbi Meir Glodwicht after Maariv in the annex.
Also this Wednesday, 8:00PM, Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky is presenting a lecture entitled: “Love and Fear Of Hashem: A Halachic Analysis.” That lecture is taking place in Weissberg Commons (Belfar Hall).
Laura Birnbaum, a sprightly blond girl of five feet and half of an inch, is currently a sophomore in the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Los Angeles, but is loving the rich cultural Jewish life of the East Coast. Laura took a year off after attending Shalhevet high school to study in Israel in Midreshet Lindenbaum. She is majoring in Jewish History and minoring in Creative Writing, and hopes to quench her passion for writing and Jewish issues via CampusJ. You can expect to be hearing from her soon, and she encourages your feedback!
I can be reached at lbirnbaum -at- campusj.com .
Published by Ben Greenberg September 26th, 2006
in Indiana University.
Falafel Flavors from Jerusalem (or simply, “Falafel’s” as most people call it) is the Jewish restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana. The owner and chef, Shai Sarsati, is an Israeli immigrant who works with his wife to make delicious Mediterranean foods. It’s a great place to take your friends or even your date.
Falafels is located at 430 East Kirkwood Avenue. It’s behind the archway next to Jimmy Johns and Uncle Fester’s.
Published by Ben Greenberg September 26th, 2006
in Indiana University.
I’m a Journalism major at Indiana University through the OPEN program. I’m currently taking sophomore classes (I completed my freshmen classes while at Bloomington High School North). I was born in Philadelphia, but I’ve lived all over the world, from London, to New York, to Jerusalem. At IU I’m a writer for the local student paper, the Indiana Daily Student. I look forward to sharing what I see, hear, and experience in the Jewish community in Bloomington. My interests are music, good food, computers, and traveling with friends. Pretty soon you’ll start hearing more from me. Until then, you can reach me at my campusj.com email: bgreenberg -at- campusj.com .
Recent Comments