Newsletter - Judaic Studies - University of Central Florida

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Distribution “F, DD”
Judaic Studies
Fall 2007
Newsletter
Prof. Sander Gilman Speaks on
“Multiculturalism and the
Jewish Experience”
“Multiculturalism and the Jewish Service Professorship of the Liberal
Experience” was the topic of the UCF Arts in Human Biology at the University
Judaic Studies program Fall Semester of Chicago, and for four years he was a
Distinguished Lecturers Series on Distinguished Professor of the Liberal
Arts and Medicine and
Tuesday, October 30,
creator of the
2007. Prof. Sander
Humanities Laboratory
Gilman also presented
at the University of
a seminar on “Jewish
Illinois at Chicago.
Identity
and
Prof. Gilman
Contemporary Jewish
was president of the
Literature in the
Modern Language
Diaspora.”
Association in 1995.
Dr. Sander
He also served as a
Gilman has been
visiting professor at
Distinguished
several universities in
Professor of the Liberal
Prof. Sander Gilman
the U.S. and abroad,
Arts and Sciences at
Emory University since 2005. A cultural and was a Guggenheim Fellow. Prof.
and literary historian, he is the author or Gilman was awarded a Doctor of Law
editor of over seventy books, including degree (honoris causa) at the University
a study of the visual stereotypes of the of Toronto in 1997 and has been
mentally ill, Seeing the Insane, and a elected an honorary professor of the
study titled Jewish Self-Hatred. For Free University in Berlin. He is very well
twenty-five years he was a member of published in various languages, and
the humanities and medical faculties at currently has several works in progress.
Cornell University, where he held the Dr. Gilman’s special focus is on
Goldwin Smith Professorship of investigating the constellations of
Humane Studies. For six years he held medical, social, and political discourse
(Continued on page 4/ Gilman)
the Henry R. Luce Distinguished
In This Issue:
•
•
•
•
•
Judaic Studies Distinguished Lecturer Series
Courses for Spring 2008 – page 2
Judaic Studies Goes International – page 1, 3
Jeff Golub Named UCF Employee of the Year
2006-2007 – page 3
Hillel Happenings – page 4
Judaic Studies Goes
International
Dr. Moshe Pelli, Director of the Judaic
Studies Program and Abe and Tess Endowed Professor of Judaic Studies, as
well as Dr. Ken Hanson, Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies, participated in
two international conferences this summer
and presented academic papers in their
respective fields of research.
(Continued on page 3- Judaic Studies)
Hillel’s “The Vault”
is Open!
Hillel@UCF’s new, temporary building, affectionately called “The Vault”, is a converted
bank. The name was coined after the working
vault still inside. See Page 4 for more.
Join Friends of Judaic
Studies. See Page 6
Contact Judaic Studies:
Judaic Studies Program
Colbourn Hall 415 E-J ● PO Box 161992 ● Orlando, FL 32816-1992
Dr. Moshe Pelli, Director ● (407) 823-5039
Jeff Golub, Program Assistant ● (407) 823-5129
Fax: (407) 823-3603 ● E-mail: judaicst@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Visit our Website: www.cah.ucf.edu/judaic_studies/
Editor: Brooke Goldberg
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2
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Judaic Studies Newsletter – Spring 2008 Courses
Members of the Community Are Invited to Enroll
HBR 1121
ELEMENTARY MODERN HEBREW LANGUAGE AND CULTURE II
Elementary Modern Hebrew for the second semester is designed to teach major language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing,
and to introduce the student to Israeli culture and Jewish civilization. First semester Hebrew or its equivalent is prerequisite. The course is
open to students and members of the community who have had some background in Hebrew, equivalent to one semester.
Section: 0001 Tue & Thu 13:30-15:20
4-credits (code: 13017)
CL1 220
Instructor: Dora Avni
Section: 0002 Tue & Thu 15:30-17:20
4-credits (code: 10198)
CL1 218
Instructor: Dora Avni
Section: 0003 Tue & Thu 08:30-10:20
4-credits (code: 21161)
TA 304 (Tue)
TA 222 (Thu)
Instructor: Dora Avni
HBR 3410 (code: 18954)
CONVERSATIONAL ISRAELI HEBREW
Conversational Israeli Hebrew will use current Israeli newspaper articles in order to acquaint the students with contemporary Israeli idiom and
practical usage. Radio news broadcasting from Israel will be used, as well as tapes. First year Hebrew or its equivalent is prerequisite.
Tue & Thu
18:00-19:15
3-credit course
CL1 212
Instructor: Dora Avni
JST 3005 (code: 18955)
TENETS OF JUDAISM
This course is a study of the basic tenets of Judaism as they have evolved from ancient times to the modern era, including the values,
practices and beliefs that define Judaism as a religious civilization. The course of study will involve a mutli-level approach using both
primary and secondary sources.
Mon
18:00-20:50
3-credit course
HPA 106
Instructor: J. Berger
JST 3121 (code: 16981)
CLASSIC TEXTS OF JUDAISM
The course objective is to introduce the classical writings of Judaism, particularly the documents that took shape in the formative age of that
civilization, from the first through the seventh centuries of the Common Era. The classic texts of Judaism: the Hebrew Scriptures, the Mishnah,
Talmud, and Midrash, are introduced. This is carried out through a close reading, in English, of selected passages, with systematic attention to
the rhetorical, logical, and topical aspects of Judaism as related to the written and oral laws. An overview of these basic texts of Judaism and
their development and interpretation in the Middle Ages and modern times will be discussed and analyzed. The course will explore how these
books form the tenets of the Jewish religion.
Wed
18:00-20:50
3-credit course
CNH 202
Instructor: Z. Sulkes
JST 3125 (code: 18956)
THE BOOK OF JOB
This course is a study of the Book of Job in translation. It will focus on biblical and post-biblical views of evil, human suffering, divine justice,
and religious devotion. The course explores the Book of Job as literature, ethics, and the theology of human protest, faith, and recovery, in
face of adversity. How do we reconcile the predominance of evil with the traditional faith in an omnipotent and benevolent God? How do
we explain and deal with human suffering -- our own and others?
Tue & Thu
9:00-10:15
3-credit course
CL1 318
Instructor: K. Hanson
JST 3402 (code: 10763)
THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE II
Students will learn of life and history of the Jews in the medieval and modern worlds, including topics such as the Jewish-Christian relations; development of Jewish philosophy and mysticism; Jewish life in Eastern Europe and in the Arab countries; the Holocaust; Modern
Israel; and Jews and Judaism in North America (JST 3401 is not a required prerequisite for this course).
Tue
18:00-20:50
3-credit course
CL1 318
Instructor: K. Hanson
JST 3751 (code: 17711)
LITERATURE OF THE HOLOCAUST
This course is a study of the traumatic experience of the Holocaust in Europe as expressed and depicted in contemporary Jewish and
Hebrew literature (in translation). Authors to be studied include: Elie Wiesel, Aharon Appelfeld, Primo Levi, Ka-Tzetnik, H. Bartov, H.
Gouri, Y. Amichai, and J. Kosinski.
Tue & Thu
10:30-11:45
3-credit course
COM 147
Instructor: M. Pelli
JST 3820 (code: 18957)
MODERN HEBREW CULTURE
This course is designed to teach about the development of the State of Israel: political and ideological struggle for the establishment of the
State of Israel, with emphasis on forces which shaped contemporary Israeli society and politics, its culture, literature, and science
(Knowledge of Hebrew not required).
Tue & Thu
12:00-13:15
3-credit course
ENG2 302
Instructor: K. Hanson
Registration for degree students: October 30, 2007- January 6, 2008 Registration for non-degree students: January 4,
2008. Non-degree students are kindly requested to call the Judaic Studies Program office on or after January 4, 2008, to
be listed for registration. Classes begin January 7, 2008.
For information, please call Dr. Moshe Pelli, Director, Judaic Studies Program, (407) 823-5039; or: 823-5129, 823-2296.
Visit our web site at www.cah.ucf.edu/judaic_studies
Judaic Studies Newsletter – Program’s Activities
Judaic Studies Goes
International
Lecture in Shanghai
In addition, Prof. Pelli delivered a lecture at the Center for Jewish Studies in
Shanghai, China, which is part of the
Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
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Sabbatical Activities: Prague,
Berlin, Jerusalem
Prof. Pelli is returning from a year's
sabbatical. He was visiting scholar at
the Institute of Jewish Studies at the
Hebrew University in Jerusalem in
October 2006. He attended the 19th
Scholarly Conference sponsored by
the World Hebrew Union, European
Hebrew Studies, and the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, on
October 16, 2006, and delivered a
scholarly paper on the Hebrew Enlightenment. He then delivered a keynote
lecture at the International Conference
Commemorating Isaac Euchel's 250th
Birthday held at the University of Potsdam, Germany, on Isaac Euchel, on
October 17-18, 2006.
In December he presented a scholarly paper at the 38th Annual Conference of the Association for Jewish Studies, San Diego, California.
He conducted research at the Jewish Museum library in Prague, the State
library in Berlin, and the Jewish National
and University Library in Jerusalem, in
October-November, 2006, and at the
Yivo Library in New York, in December
2006 and January 2007.
(Continued from page 1)
Dr. Pelli attended the 2007 International Conference on Hebrew Language,
Literature and Culture, held by the National Association of Professors of Hebrew
in the USA, at the University of Sydney,
Australia, in July. He presented a paper on
"The Reception of Isaac Euchel, the Founder of Berlin Haskalah, in the 19th Century." Prof. Pelli, who is vice president of
the National Association of Professors of
Hebrew, chaired a session, and met several directors of Hebrew literature centers
in Israel and the USA and discussed matters of mutual interest. He also met with
his Israeli publisher who participated in the
conference.
Dr. Hanson attended the International
Conference of the Society of Biblical Literature at the University of Vienna, Austria, in July. He presented a paper on the
subject of "Second Temple Pietism, the
Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Letter of
James."
Page
3
Professor Moshe Pelli (center) meets with colleagues
at the Center for Jewish Studies in Shanghai, China.
The lecture was attended by the Center's Dean, Prof. Pan Guang, professors who are members of the Center
and graduate students. The topic was
"Hebrew Culture in America in the 20th
Century." Questions and answers followed the lecture. Graduate students
who work on their PhD dissertations on
aspects of modernity and Judaism exchanged questions with the speaker.
One Chinese student, who is taking
Hebrew at Shanghai University, conversed in Hebrew with Prof. Pelli. Afterwards, the Center held a luncheon in
honor of the speaker.
Following the lecture and luncheon
Prof. Pelli discussed matters of cooperation between the Center and the
UCF Interdisciplinary Program in Judaic
Studies in research, exchange of scholars and books.
Jeffery Golub Named Employee of the Year
UCF Judaic Studies is proud to
announce that Jeffery Golub, the
Program Assistant, was selected to
be the 2006-2007 UCF Employee of
the Year. Previously, Jeff had been
chosen as the March 2007 Employee
of the Month; consequently he was
honored as the Employee of the
Year.
At the 35th Annual UCF Employee Awards Program on July 7,
Mr. William F. Merck, II, V.P. of Administration & Finance, presented the
2006-2007 Employee of the Year
Award to Jeff Golub.
UCF Human Resources noted that
Jeff’s supervisor and co-workers speak
highly of him with these words: "Not only
is Mr. Golub extremely timely, helpful and
cordial in the performance of his duties,
but he has shown volunteer involvement
in off-campus activities related to the
Jewish community, acting as a representative of UCF and the Judaic Studies Program in the larger community."
The Employee of the Year is selected
from the 12 Employees of the Month for
the fiscal year. A committee, comprised
of Faculty and staff from departments
across campus, reviewed all the nominations and letters of recognition and voted
on a winner.
Page
4
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Judaic Studies Newsletter – Hillel Activities
Hillel@UCF Finds a New Home
“The Vault” is the nickname given to
the over 3,000 square foot Hillel building
that was once a bank, but now is a home
away from home for thousands of Jewish
students. Located immediately off campus from the University of Central Florida,
where there are over 5,500 Jewish students currently enrolled, the Vault is
home to the Hillel staff implementing cultural and social programs. One can walk
into the Vault at any time and just relax
on a sofa, grab a bagel and play PlayStation 3 on a plasma television.
Several times a week, the Vault is a
venue to social events involving food at
no cost to students, and a social environment for students to get away from the
stress of college life. Max Friedman, a
Jewish student at UCF, reasons that “a
lot of people are not involved with Greek
life or other major student organizations,
so a place like the Hillel Vault gives them
a schedule of events to look forward to
attending. It adds structure to the lives of
many Jewish students and their friends.”
Hillel makes sure that the Vault has a
variety of event styles ranging from holiday dinners to athletic competitions, to
intern fairs. This variety of events keeps
students from phasing out their level of
involvement due
to a monotonous
calendar.
One Sunday every
month,
The Vault
Bagel Brunch
Photo Gallery
Hillel students tailgating at the Family Weekend
football game against Tulsa. UCF won 44-23.
Students making Sushi on Sukkot
is host to a brunch of bagels, lox, coffee,
desserts and more. The building fills with
students within minutes of the start, and
for hours they stay, talking about upcoming events such as Hillel’s Birthright trip,
upcoming exams, or football games. It is
events like these that lead to friendship
and camaraderie that students look for in
a college atmosphere.
Though the Vault is only a temporary
facility being used until a larger and more
permanent facility is constructed, it has
become a home to UCF’s Jewish students. Many students find that it is routine
to check the Vault schedule daily, or just
to stop off at the building to see if there is
anything going on. Rather than the
stereotypical resource center for pamphlets and guidance, the Vault has given
Central Florida Hillel its own identity and
has reserved a place in every Jewish
student’s schedule for cultural and social
activities, and for rest and relaxation.
For more information, contact Hillel at
(407) 382-2687 or visit gohillel.org.
Students at Hillel’s Israeli Style Bar-B-Que
Dr. Sander Gilman’s lecture on Jewish Identity
and Contemporary Jewish Literature in the
Diaspora
Hillel Assistant Director Sam Kauffman talking
to students at the Gilman lecture
Distinguished Lecturer Sander Gilman Visits UCF
(Continued from page 1)
at various points throughout history. As a
cultural and literary historian, Prof. Gilman
studies the influence that anti-Semitism
had on Freud’s thought. Gilman discusses
anti-Semitic stereotypes and
documentation of anti-Semitic prejudices.
The Judaic Studies Program,
now in its 23rd year at UCF, offers the
Distinguised Lecturer Series in
conjunction with the Burnett Honors
College and Central Florida Hillel. The
lectures and seminars are open to the
public and are free of charge.
UCF Hillel Students at the General Assembly
in Nashville, TN.
Judaic Studies Newsletter – Hillel Activities
The Bar Mitzvah is a Hit!
On September 8, 2007, Hillel,
in cooperation with the newly
formed Student Organization
Sababa and the Student Government Association, threw a
special Bar Mitzvah, celebrating
Central Florida Hillel in the Fairwinds Alumni Center. The
event had everything a real Bar
Mitzvah would have, including a
semi-formal dress code, candle
lighting ceremony, and food
catered by Red Brick Pizza.
UCF Mascot Knightro being lifted
in a chair.
There was also the Hora,
where UCF’s mascot and
Guest of Honor, Knightro, was
lifted on a chair. There were
over 300 people in attendance,
including members of the Hillel
Board of Directors, Alumni,
and SGA president Brandie
Hollinger. The master of ceremonies for the night was Senior Julian Edelschick, and he
and Hillel student President
Benji Rabhan announced
candles (prefaced with rhym-
‫ע‬
Page
5
ing blurbs) dedicated
to organizations that
worked with and
helped Hillel in the
past, including the
Central Florida Hillel
Board of Directors,
Student Government President Brandie Hollinger
Alpha Epsilon Phi
sorority, the National and Vice President Logan Berkowitz accepting a
candle on behalf of SGA.
Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana
Laws (NORML), Catholic Cam- pus Ministries, SGA, the
Chocolate Club, and of
course, the Judaic Studies
Program. The event was a
huge success and the party
ran late into the night. It is an
event that already has plans
in the works for next year, and
students are bubbling over
with anticipation.
Student Assistant Brooke Goldberg accepting a
candle on behalf of Judaic Studies
Judaic Studies’ Dr. Ken Hanson
Featured on The History Channel
these works and explained the
On April 8, 2007, the History
reasoning why certain events
Channel aired a program called
“Banned From the Bible II” featur- may have happened because of
the actions of many different peoing Dr. Kenneth Hanson. The
ple in the bible, and why certain
show looks at several different
religious texts and events in his- stories and lessons have been
excluded from both
tory to find the
the Jewish and
foundations of
Christian bibles.
religion as it is
Check your local
today. In Dr. Hanlistings, or visit youson’s piece, he
tube.com and
examined the legsearch “Banned
end of Lillith, as
From the Bible II.”
well as the stories
The Special is also
of Daniel, and
available in DVD
tried to gain inBox set at the Hissight into the
tory Channel Store.
Apocrypha. He,
Visit http://
along with rabbis
store.aetv.com/
and professors
html/product/
from Los Angeles
index.jhtml?
and Stanford UniScreenshots from the History
id=77419 for more
versity, analyzed
Channel Special
Four Judaic Studies Minors
Graduating This Semester
The following students will be
graduating in December with a
complete Judaic Studies minor:
-Joel Goldstein
-Courtney Mader
-Chasyn Rance
-Jaime Wasser
In addition, a certificate in Judaic
Studies will be awarded to:
-Ernest Muro, Jr.
Notes From the Program...
The Judaic Studies Program extends its deepest gratitude
to Prof. Aaron Liberman of the College of Health and Public Affairs for his devotion and dedication to the program,
serving as interim director last school year during Dr. Pelli’s
sabbatical leave.
Judaic Studies would also like to extend its condolences to
Dr. Zena Sulkes on the recent passing of her mother.
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PERMIT NO. 3575
PAID
Judaic Studies Program
College of Arts and Humanities
Orlando, Florida 32816-1992
ORLANDO, FL
Join Friends of
Judaic Studies!
Judaic Studies Program
College of Arts and Humanities
Orlando, Florida 32816-1992
$75
$100
I am interested in a Minor or a Certificate in Judaic Studies
$50
I would like to take a course this coming semester
$25
Please put me on your mailing list
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