Blog Archives

what is "Jewish Studies" anyway?

12/19/2018

I am often asked how I find the engaging, articulate scholars who come to visit Cleveland to share their work with the public. The simple answer to this question is AJS! For folks studying Judaism, Jewish culture and Jews in one form or another, the Association for Jewish Studies is the premier learning society in the United States, if not the world.

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a bumpy definition of academic freedom: conversation with jewish studies director at temple University, mark leuchter

12/12/2018

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On the recent occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Professor of Media and Communication at Temple University, Lamont Hill, spoke at the United Nations. Hill’s 20-minute speech focused on the “plight of the Palestinian people,” as well as the “ethical, moral, and political implications of their struggle for freedom, justice and equality.”

His remarks, and his subsequent firing from CNN as a commentator, have generated much media attention. I’ve been interested in discussions about (1) the relationship between academia and political activism and (2) the relationship between critique of Israel and antisemitism. I’ve asked Mark Leuchter (pictured left), Director of Jewish Studies at Temple University, to weigh in.

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in manitowoc, WIsconsin jews gather to pray in Presbyterian church

12/5/2018

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This past Saturday morning, members of Anshe Poale Zedek (APZ) – the only Jewish congregation in Manitowoc, Wisconsin – gathered together in their new sanctuary. The hired hazan, who travels to town every other week to lead the services, sang familiar prayers in Hebrew. Sitting on a warm wooden pew, facing the ark that holds three Torah scrolls, I almost forgot where I was....

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