News

Professor Samuel Boyd Featured on NPR's Podcast, On the Media

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 20:22:18 +0000

Professor Samuel Boyd Featured on NPR's Podcast, On the Media Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/20/2020 - 14:22

Samuel Boyd, Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies and Religious Studies, recently spoke with NPR's On the Media podcast about the long tradition of religious communities adapting when they're denied access to their houses of worship.

He explains that there's a tension common across faith traditions between the idea that God dwells in specific holy places, and the idea that God can be found in all places and things. According to Boyd, Zoom seders, Facebook Live Jummah prayers and online Mass all feel new, but virtual worship has historic roots.

Listen to the podcast episode, published on April 15, 2020, on the NPR website or through Apple Podcasts.

Listen to Professor Boyd's Podcast Episode on NPR

Off

Traditional

White

Message from the Director: COVID-19 Response from the Program in Jewish Studies

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 16:15:19 +0000

Message from the Director: COVID-19 Response from the Program in Jewish Studies Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 03/20/2020 - 10:15

As we complete our first full week of the “new normal” of online learning and remote work here at the University of Colorado Boulder, I write to you with an offer of support and a message of gratitude. First and foremost, I want to say that the Program in Jewish Studies stands ready to support you in any way that we can, and that I am always available to speak by phone or video. To our students, in particular, I want to say that we know how difficult this period is, and we are here for you. Please let us know if you encounter any issues, ranging from lack of access to WiFi or computing technology to food insecurity to uncertainty about university procedures. We are in close and constant communication with campus leadership, and we will do our best to connect you with the right offices and individuals at CU and get you the resources you need; we are also working closely with our undergraduate advisory board to make sure that we are responsive to any emerging challenges that arise. (For those of you who don’t know it, I also encourage you to visit the university’s COVID-19 site.) We often throw around the term “intellectual community” in academic settings, but that is what we are: a genuine community.

I write, second, to express my profound thanks to our students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Amid the challenges of ever-changing information, new technologies, and social isolation, our courses, internships, and other operations continue, albeit in online form; our events, including a concert with the Conference on World Affairs and lecture with Anschutz’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities, have been put off, but we are looking into the possibility of rescheduling in the future; all in-person spring commencement programs at the university have been cancelled, but we are exploring alternate ways to honor the many accomplishments of our students. All of this is a testimony to the dedication of the diverse members of our community, who have selflessly devoted their time and energy to ensuring that we can continue to fulfill our mission of educating tomorrow’s global citizens and community leaders.

None of us expected the semester to look like this, but I am confident that we, as a Jewish Studies community, will continue to be there for one another. I am so very grateful to each and every one of you, and my (virtual) door is always open.

Sincerely,
Elias Sacks
Director, Program in Jewish Studies
elias.sacks@colorado.edu

Off

Traditional

White

Meet the Incoming Director of the Program in Jewish Studies, Elias Sacks

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:54:30 +0000

Meet the Incoming Director of the Program in Jewish Studies, Elias Sacks Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/31/2019 - 11:54

We are excited to announce that Elias Sacks, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies, will begin his term as Director of the Program in Jewish Studies on January 1, 2020. We would also like to thank Professor Beverly Weber for serving as Interim Director during the Fall 2019 semester and for all of the wonderful work she did for the Program. Professor Weber will resume her duties as the Progam’s Director of Graduate Studies in the Spring 2020 semester.

Meet Professor Elias Sacks

Elias Sacks is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies and joined the University of Colorado Boulder faculty in 2012. His research and teaching focus on Jewish thought, Jewish-Christian relations, philosophy of religion, religion and politics, and religious ethics, with a particular interest in the modern period. He is the author of Moses Mendelssohn’s Living Script: Philosophy, Practice, History, Judaism (Indiana University Press, 2017), as well as articles on medieval and modern thinkers such as Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, Nachman Krochmal, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, and Jacob Taubes. Sacks also published some of the first English translations of Moses Mendelssohn’s Hebrew writings in Moses Mendelssohn: Writings on Judaism, Christianity, and the Bible (Brandeis University Press, 2011), which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He sits on the board of the Society of Jewish Ethics and is a past president of the Rocky Mountain-Great Plains Region of the American Academy of Religion / Society of Biblical Literature. Since arriving at CU, he has served as Associate Director of the Program in Jewish Studies, Associate Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, and a member of the Center for Humanities and the Arts steering committee.

"I’m humbled and excited to take over as Director of Jewish Studies because I believe that what we do in this program stands at the heart of what a public university can and must do in the twenty-first century. By fostering the interdisciplinary exploration of global Jewish culture, history, religion, and thought, we provide students with the skills to become critical thinkers and engaged global citizens; we empower faculty to pose new questions and generate new knowledge; and we engage the broader public to wrestle with ethical, political, and religious questions central to contemporary life. I am deeply grateful for Beverly Weber’s dedicated service as Interim Director this past semester and for the leadership of our predecessors, Nan Goodman and David Shneer.”

Off

Traditional

White

Elias Sacks' Visit to the University of Virginia

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 19:10:57 +0000

Elias Sacks' Visit to the University of Virginia Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/26/2019 - 12:10

Elias Sacks, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies and Incoming Director of the Program in Jewish Studies, recently visited the University of Virginia to lecture on Jewish thought and anti-intellectualism, give a colloquium on the Frankfurt School and critical theory, and lead discussions with undergraduate and graduate students. His visit was sponsored by the University of Virginia's Jewish Studies Program, Center for the Study of Religion, and Center for German Studies.

Learn More About Professor Elias Sacks

Off

Traditional

White

Professor Nan Goodman Delivers Talk at University of Sarajevo

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 20:47:42 +0000

Professor Nan Goodman Delivers Talk at University of Sarajevo Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/22/2019 - 14:47

Earlier this month, Professor Nan Goodman delivered a talk titled “Hayonian Epistemology and the Tripartite Jewish God in the Age of Locke” at a conference on Nehemiah Hiyya Hayon at the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Off

Traditional

White

Professor David Shneer to Host Two "Indecent" Talkbacks in Denver

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:25:47 +0000

Professor David Shneer to Host Two "Indecent" Talkbacks in Denver Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/03/2019 - 09:25

David Shneer, Professor of History, Religious Studies, and Jewish Studies, recently worked as the Yiddish consultant for Indecent at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. He will host two talkbacks after the play on Sunday, September 15, 1:30 PM and again on Friday, October 4, 7:30 PM.

Learn More About Indecent and Purchase Tickets

Off

Traditional

White

Professor David Shneer coaches cast of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ production of Indecent about Yiddish theater and how to make the guttural “r” when speaking Yiddish

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 16:25:26 +0000

Professor David Shneer coaches cast of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ production of Indecent about Yiddish theater and how to make the guttural “r” when speaking Yiddish Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/07/2019 - 10:25

Yiddish Studies scholar David Shneer, Louis P. Singer Endowed Chair in Jewish History and Professor of History, Religious Studies, and Jewish Studies, gave a workshop for the cast of the DCPA’s production of Indecent, the Paula Vogel meditation on Sholem Asch’s “God of Vengeance,” that was a hit on Broadway in 2018. Indecent focuses on the challenges of taking a hugely popular Yiddish play about a Jewish family that owns a brothel and bringing that play to Broadway in 1923. Six weeks after playing on Broadway and after significant pressure from Reform rabbis, the New York vice squad arrested the cast and producer and closed down the production.

Just two days after returning home from the Helix program, a Yiddish cultural history tour through Belarus and Lithuania for which he serves as faculty advisor, Professor Shneer provided a crash course in Yiddish theater history in general, and Sholem Asch specifically. He then coached the cast in proper Yiddish pronunciation as he worked with the dialect coach, Mary Mac, on the difference between rolled “r” and throat rolled “r” sounds. Currently, he is helping tech with the proper Yiddish supertitles and is looking forward to seeing the final production, which opens on September 6.

Off

Traditional

White

Now Hiring: Program Coordinator

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 20:18:34 +0000

Now Hiring: Program Coordinator Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/11/2019 - 14:18

Now Hiring: Program Coordinator for the Program in Jewish Studies

The Program in Jewish Studies welcomes applications for a Program Coordinator. This position manages all operations for the Program in Jewish Studies in conjunction with the Director. This includes managing budgets and all grants, developing public programs, coordinating curriculum, developing and managing marketing and public relations campaigns, managing hiring and HR related issues for new faculty and other personnel, supervising staff, coordinating study abroad programs and student curriculum, and coordinating fundraising and development issues with CU Foundation.

This is a public-facing position that will interact with the community, students and faculty. Our ideal candidate must have strong organization skills, be an excellent communicator, and possess a real interest in working with students and our community.

Primary Responsibilities for this position can be viewed on the Program Coordinator job listing.

Requirements:

Incumbent must be available to work occasional evening hours.

What We Require

Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
1 year of experience in an education or non-profit management setting that includes both program and budget coordination.
Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.

What You Will Need

Understanding and passion for culture and education.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Desire and interest in working with students.
Strong organization and coordination skills.

What We Would Like You To Have

MA in field related to Jewish Studies.
5+ years of experience in the non-profit or educational management sector.
Knowledge of and professional experience in Jewish studies.
Development and grant writing experience.

Applications are accepted electronically at https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=19604 position number 19604.

View application materials and apply online at 91��ý Jobs.

Review of applications will begin on July 21, 2019 and will continue until the position is filled.

Learn More & Apply Today

Please email us at CUJewishStudies@colorado.edu with any questions. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through 91��ý Jobs.

The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the ADA Coordinator at hr-ada@colorado.edu.

The University of Colorado is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment and excellent benefits. Learn more about the University of Colorado by visiting https://www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Off

Traditional

White

Professor Hilary Kalisman Awarded National Academy of Education Fellowship

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:40:03 +0000

Professor Hilary Kalisman Awarded National Academy of Education Fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/14/2019 - 13:40

The Program in Jewish Studies is excited to announce that Professor Hilary Falb Kalisman has been selected as a 2019 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. This year, thirty fellows were selected from a competitive pool of 221 applications. The fellowship supports early career scholars from a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives that work in critical areas of education research. The fellowship includes three professional development retreats and will assist with Professor Kalisman's research expenses.

Congratulations, Professor Kalisman!

Learn More About the Fellowship

Off

Traditional

White

Professor Hilary Falb Kalisman Named American Council of Learned Societies Fellow

Anonymous — Thu, 02 May 2019 16:33:31 +0000

Professor Hilary Falb Kalisman Named American Council of Learned Societies Fellow Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/02/2019 - 10:33

The Program in Jewish Studies is excited to announce that Hilary Falb Kalisman, Assistant Professor of History and Endowed Professor of Israel/Palestine Studies in the Program in Jewish Studies, is one of two 91��ý historians to have won a fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS). They are among 81 fellows chosen from a pool of 1,100 applicants. The award will support six to twelve months of full-time research and writing.

Professor Kalisman’s research project, “Standardized Testing: An Imperial Legacy of the Modern Middle East,” characterizes standardized testing as a means of social control in the Middle East. Her work focuses on Britain’s Middle Eastern Mandates: the areas that became Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine/the Occupied Territories.

After World War I, the League of Nations charged Britain to facilitate the transition from imperial holdings to nation-states. During this time, the British strove to use standardized testing “as a way of neutralizing or even repressing anti-imperial politics.”

Professor Kalisman said becoming an ACLS fellow is an “incredible opportunity for me, particularly at this stage in my career.” She is currently finishing her book on public school teachers, state- and nation-building in the Middle East, and she can begin a second book that grew “organically” out of the first, she said.

Nan Goodman, director of the Program in Jewish Studies, said she and her colleagues are “delighted” by the ACLS award. “A year off from teaching will allow Professor Kalisman to make considerable progress on her new book project and bring innovative ideas back into her classes on Israel and Palestine.”

Congratulations, Professor Kalisman!

Read the Full Article on Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

Off

Traditional

White