November 2023 Newsletter
KU Jewish Studies November Recap
It is with a heavy heart that we mark the passing of Jewish Studies donor and friend to the program, Mr. Harvey Bodker. Mr. Bodker established the Harvey Bodker Fellowship for Study Abroad which commemorates Rabbi Morris Margolies, senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom and longtime professor of Jewish Studies at KU. Mr. Bodker was committed to the virtue of tikkun olam and his contributions will never be forgotten. Our hearts are with his family. May his memory be a blessing.
As the war between Israel and Hamas continues we recognize the toll this is taking on our students, staff, and faculty. We want to remind you to take care of your mental health during this heartbreaking time. Please remember CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) are here for you any time, night or day. If you need immediate assistance or know someone who is in crisis you can call or text 988 and be connected to emergency mental health support.
What's Happening in Jewish Studies?
A warm welcome to our new minors Evelyn Brand, Morgan Campbell, Olivia Fox, Abigail Friedland, Evyn Gadd, Molly Handelman, and Alyson Weinberg. We are so happy you are going to pursue an education in Jewish Studies.
Spring 2024 enrollment is well underway. Have you finished enrolling? As an interdisciplinary program, Jewish Studies has a wide variety of courses. Need help deciding what to take? Come talk to us. We are here to help.
November Events: Engaging with our Community
Dr. Rami Zeedan and GTA Asaf Day were guests at KU Hillel’s annual Rock Chalk Shabbat on November 3rd. It was an important event that brought together members of the local and regional Jewish community in reflection, healing, and the celebration of Jewish life and faith.
The Hall Center for the Humanities hosted Dr. RB Perelmutter for the Resident Fellows Speaker Series on November 8th. Dr. Perelmutter, Professor of Jewish Studies and Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies, presented “Two Alien Forests: Translating Gender and Science Fiction Fantasy between Two Cold War Superpowers".
On November 9th at the Max Kade Center for German American Studies, Associate Professor, Ari Linden, Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies, presented “On Nature and Need in Theodor Adorno”.
On November 15th and 16th the Jewish Studies Program, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the University of Kansas Libraries, the Kansas African Studies Center, the Center for Global and International Studies, the Department of Religious Studies, the KU Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and KU International Affairs co-sponsored the premier bilingual, interdisciplinary, and virtual symposium - Druze Studies: Past, Present, and Future. This two-day event brought together international scholars as well as KU students, staff, and faculty and featured panel discussions, and a film screening, raising the visibility of Druze Studies at KU and providing a platform for sharing the work of the Druze Studies Journal and the Druze Studies Reference Portal. If you would like to learn more, please visit https://druze.ku.edu/.
On November 30th in partnership with KU Hillel, Jewish Studies co-hosted the movie screening of “Golda”. Dr. Henry Bial, Dr. Omri Senderowicz, and Dr. Rami Zeedan were on hand along with Mika Kislanski, Israel Emissary of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, to discuss the film with students and Hillel staff.
Fellowships Available
We hope you have submitted your research to the Fall Undergraduate Research Showcase! Please let us know if you have, so you can be considered for the Danciger Research Fellowship. If you have consulted with a faculty member in Jewish Studies and have written a paper relevant to Jewish studies, please do not forget to submit your writing to be considered for the Danciger Essay Contest. Email your submission to Jewishstudies@ku.edu no later than December 15, 2023. If you are a Jewish Studies major or minor in need and qualify for FAFSA, please do not hesitate to apply for our need-based awards through the Danciger Fund. Questions? Visit Tyra in 4017B Wescoe or email her at tkalman@ku.edu.
The Israel Institute provides funding to undergraduate and graduate students in good standing at American universities who are interested in taking one course or more offered by a college or university in Israel. These scholarships provide $1,200 in funding to students who are enrolled in at least one course offered by a college or university in Israel. Courses can be in any subject within the humanities, law, social science, or business administration. These scholarships are ideal for students participating in study abroad or summer study programs. The deadline to apply is March 6th, 2024 for Summer placement. Credit earned at Israeli universities can be transferred back to your KU transcript, with prior consultation with the Jewish Studies Program. To learn more: https://israelinstitute.org/program/siis/
In the news: Celebrating Achievements
Congratulations to Dr. Bogi Perelmutter, editor of the recently published anthology, Rosalind’s Siblings, a collection of stories and poetry about scientists of marginalized genders. This anthology was published in memory of Rosalind Franklin, a Jewish physical chemist, who was one of the discoverers of DNA and an innovator of virology and whose contributions have mostly been overlooked. To learn more about the book, check out the link here.
Coming in December: Save the Dates!
With a nod to Hanukkah and our collective love of fried food, don’t miss the Sufganiyot Social happening Monday, December 4th from 11AM-1PM in the Jewish Studies suite. Students, you have an amazing opportunity to network with members of the Jewish professional community in Lawrence and the Kansas City metro area. Grab a donut and some coffee and chat with Dr. Lara Giordano, Program & Engagement Director of the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation, Dr. Shelly Cline, Historian at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education & KU Jewish Studies faculty member, Bailey Nakelsky, Interim Executive Director at KU Hillel, Ben Novorr, Director of Youth & Family Programming at Congregation Beth Shalom, Jay Lewis, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, and Kate Jacobs, Fund Development Associate at Jewish Vocational Services. Majors, minors, and Hebrew students – this event is for you - but also for any friends who might benefit from eating a jelly doughnut and hanging out with these amazing humans.
Finals are coming! Stop Day is Friday, December 8th. Remember majors and minors, you can use the Jewish Studies suite as a quiet place to study for your finals. The suite will be open after Stop Day and through finals week, Monday through Friday from 8AM-4PM. Good luck!