Jewish Studies November 2024 Newsletter
Dear Jewish Studies students,
You made it through the whirlwind of midterms and the 2024 presidential election. You’re nearing the end of the semester, the end of one historic presidency, and the start of another. How do you feel? As always, this office and the people in it are here for you. Whether you need a snack, to talk, or a quiet place to study – we've got you and so does KU. The following offices focus on student well-being to ensure that your time here is successful, meaningful, and full of growth. Take advantage of what they have to offer:
- https://access.ku.edu/ - Assists students with disabilities by facilitating accommodations that remove barriers to their academic success.
- https://caps.ku.edu/ - Provides mental health services and resources to students.
- https://learningandwriting.ku.edu/tutoring - Provides KU students with free in-person and virtual tutoring for 60+ courses.
- https://studentaffairs.ku.edu/ - Coordinates and develops student support services and programs and serves as an advocate for student needs across the university community.
- https://sgd.ku.edu/ - Advocates for livability, fosters wellness, critically educates, and creates connections with and for queer and trans students, faculty, and staff alongside the broader KU community.
- https://help.ku.edu/emergency-funds - Provides grants to students who are experiencing an unexpected or unforeseen expense due to circumstances beyond their control.
- https://iss.ku.edu/ - Supports our international community of students and faculty.
- https://legalservices.ku.edu/ - Provides advice, litigation support, negotiation, representation, and education to students on a wide range of issues free of charge.
- https://civilrights.ku.edu/ - Dedicated to stopping, preventing, and remedying acts of harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct, resulting in the building of a greater sense of belonging for all.
Regardless of your political leanings, staying engaged in the democratic process fortifies our democracy and the Center for Service Learning knows this. Download their post-election empowerment plan to focus your efforts and make a difference in your community.
For those who observe, October was full of reflection, gratitude, and visioning as the Jewish High Holidays filled the month. On October 18th we met high school students and their parents and shared information about Jewish Studies. The campus wide open-house event, Crimson and Blue Day, provides prospective students with a comprehensive view into all things KU. Our pal, Roman Ruiz, from the KU Career Center joined us on October 28th, for Carbs & Careers. We ate bagels (of course) and played Family Feud with Team Malli beating out Team Moshi for the win!
What's Happening in Jewish Studies
We are growing! October and November brought two new Jewish Studies majors to the program, and we are so excited! Please welcome Cami Katzen and Adina Thompson! This brings us to a total of 9 students seeking a BA in Jewish Studies, in addition to our 26 students seeking the Jewish Studies minor.
On November 14th Jewish Studies, in partnership with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, hosted Dr. Amber Nickell and Hollie Marquess of Fort Hays State University. Their Holocaust mapping project was the focus of this event: Through Hell to the Midwest. To learn more about this groundbreaking work visit, the mapping project here: https://www.mwholocaustmap.com/. If you were unable to attend, you can view the lecture here.
Dr. Rami Zeedan will begin his sabbatical at the end of December and his time as interim director of Jewish Studies will end. Rami has been integral to the growth of the Jewish Studies Program with his steady leadership and his commitment to student engagement. During his time as interim director he hosted many successful events including the Jews in the Americas Conference. He is a true servant leader who seeks to empower and inspire his students, staff, and faculty. We owe him our deep gratitude and wish him the best of luck on his upcoming research sabbatical.
We are so fortunate that Dr. Mechele Leon from Theatre & Dance will serve as the next interim director of Jewish Studies beginning January 1st, 2025. Mechele served as chairperson of the Department of Theatre from 2012 to 2017 and is a longtime affiliate faculty member of the Jewish Studies Program. We look forward to this next chapter, knowing Mechele will lead Jewish Studies with expertise and insight!
Faculty news:
Dr. Omri Senderowicz gave a talk for the senior citizen event series: Dessert and a Movie at the Lawrence Public Library on September 18th. Following the film Dancing in Jaffa, Dr. Senderowicz discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Arab-Jewish relations within Israel's mixed cities.
On November 18th, as part of the The Commons Engaged Reading program supported by the Hall Center for the Humanities, the KU Libraries, the Institute for Policy and Social Research, the Spencer Museum of Art, Dr. RB Perelmutter lead a guided critical discussion and reading of the book On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.
Dr. Rami Zeedan published "The Druze Vote in Israel: Between Ideology, Socioeconomic Status, Kinship, and the Nation-State Basic Law” in the journal Democratization.
Upcoming Events
Holocaust Stories of Resistance & Resilience
Sunday, November 24th, 5:00-7:30PM
Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation
Meet two courageous men who fought to survive the horrors of the Holocaust and build new lives of hope in Kansas. As teenagers, Lou Frydman, a Holocaust survivor, and Jarek Piekalkiewicz, a Polish resistance fighter, defied daunting odds and lost everything dear to them. Despite their personal tragedies, each summoned bravery to build a new life in Kansas. This presentation is based on the book Needle in the Bone authored by presenter Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg and will take place in person and virtually. To learn more visit https://ljcc.shulcloud.com/event/needle-in-the-bone-stories-of-polish-resistance---5785-lindenbaum-lecture.html.
A Jewish Deli Experience
Tuesday, November 26th, 11AM
Jewish Studies suite, 4017 Wescoe
Join RB’s First-Year Seminar Class (JWSH 176) for a pop-up Kosher deli and build your own sandwich courtesy of Jewish Studies and the Hen House Kosher Deli!
Fall Awards & Fellowship Opportunities
Thanks to the ongoing generosity of the Danciger Fund, we are pleased to offer awards based on merit and need again this Fall.
The Jewish Studies Learning Community Fellowship provides a unique way to deepen your engagement with the field while earning an award of $500 per semester.
Program Requirements:
- Be an active KU student pursuing a BA in Jewish Studies; and
- Attend at least two Jewish Studies events each semester; and
- Attend an hour-long designated meeting with your fellow Jewish Studies Learning Community members and the Program Director, to discuss a contemporary topic.
All existing BA students in Jewish Studies are automatically enrolled in the fellowship. They only need to complete the program requirements mentioned above to receive their award. The funds will be available to students at the end of each semester. Additionally, we have a few more spots available for new students who will join the BA in Jewish Studies this year. The fellowship will be re-evaluated at the end of Spring 2025 and potentially renewed in the 2025-2026 academic year. We will announce the details of the renewal by August 2025.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance your academic journey in Jewish Studies, and we encourage you to take full advantage of it. Please contact Dr. Rami Zeedan (rzeedan@ku.edu) should you have any questions.
The Danciger Award for the Study of the Hebrew Language
These awards, distributed at the end of the Fall semester, are based on performance and proficiency in the Hebrew classroom. Students do not need to apply to be considered. Please come study Hebrew with us!
Danciger Essay competition in Jewish Studies ($500 first place, $300 second place, $200 third place)
This award is open to all KU undergraduates who submit an original essay of 2,500- 5,000 words on any Jewish Studies topic of their choice. The essay can include an assigned term paper on a topic drawn from any generally recognized Jewish Studies subfields, including: The Bible and History of Biblical Interpretation; Gender and Sexuality Studies; Holocaust Studies; Interdisciplinary, Theoretical, and New Approaches; Israel Studies; Jewish History and Culture in Antiquity; Jewish Languages and Literatures; Jewish Mysticism; Jewish Philosophy; Jewish Politics; Jews, Film, and the Arts; Medieval and Early Modern Jewish History; Modern Jewish History; Rabbinic Literature and Culture; Sephardi and Mizrachi Studies; Social Sciences; and Yiddish Studies. The deadline to submit your paper is Friday, December 20th and should be submitted to Jewishstudies@ku.edu. Criteria to evaluate the essays include quality of argumentation, depth of research and analysis, originality of thought, clarity and structure, critical thinking, language and academic style, and use of sources and citations. To submit your essay for consideration, you may email it to: jewishstudies@ku.edu.
Danciger Need-based Awards
FAFSA eligible students who would like to be considered for the Danciger need-based award should contact Jewish Studies through email jewishstudies@ku.edu or consult with Dr. Rami Zeedan or Tyra Kalman in person.
Coming in December: Save the Dates!
What Judaism Says About the Death Penalty & the Carceral State
Sunday, December 8th, 5:00-6:30 PM
Lawrence Community Congregation
Join Dr. Samuel Brody (KU Professor of Religion and Jewish Studies), Rabbi Doug Alpert (Kol Ami of KC), Kelson Bohnet (trial lawyer with Death Penalty Defense Unit of the Kansas Board of Indigents’ Defense Services), and Donna Schneweis (chairperson of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty) for a discussion of the ethics and consequences of incarceration and state execution. This event is part of the LJCC's 2024 series, "Dying Well," and is made possible, in part, by the Melvin Landsberg Fund for Adult Education and co-sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program. To learn more visit: https://ljcc.shulcloud.com/event/what-judaism-says-about-the-death-penalty--the-carceral-state.html
Jewish Studies Sufganiyot Social
Tuesday, December 10th, 11AM
Jewish Studies suite, 4017 Wescoe
Come visit with members of the professional community, make connections, make friends and have a nosh! This will be a catered event with parve dairy and of course, jelly donuts! We can’t wait to wrap up the year with this informal and lively gathering! We hope to see you there!