Jewish Studies September Newsletter

August Recap

We are now fully immersed in the Fall semester! For those new to Jewish Studies, welcome! We are happy you are here. Have you adjusted to your class schedule? Enjoying everything KU has to offer? Over the upcoming weeks, please take time to stroll Jayhawk Boulevard and appreciate the changing leaves on our gorgeous campus and stop by the Jewish Studies office (4017 Wescoe) for a snack, or a cup of coffee or tea. We love seeing you studying in the offices or just hanging out. Please remember - if you are a Jewish Studies major, minor, or Hebrew student, your KUID will work in the card reader and allow you access to the suite, otherwise ring the bell to be let in.

What's Happening in Jewish Studies

On September 4th we opened our doors to students, staff, faculty, and friends for our biannual open house. What made this event particularly special was the number of students outside of Jewish Studies who stopped by to say hello and show allyship. We were touched by your curiosity and your support, and we hope you will consider taking classes with us in the future or participate in any of our events.

Jewish Studies is growing! Each semester we add new majors and minors to the Program. Please welcome Jewish Studies minor Nate Rosenberg. Alyson Weinberg, Eric Fischer, and Kit Strane, former minors, are now seeking BAs in Jewish Studies! Currently the Program has seven BAs and 28 minors!  

Please congratulate Bree Katz, student representative for Jewish Studies and the newest member of the Jewish Studies faculty committee! Bree will act as a liaison between the faculty committee and the Jewish Studies students. If you have suggestions for how the Program could improve, have ideas for events, or general comments for us to better serve you, please feel free to email Bree.  

Please welcome Leah Combs, Jewish Studies student hourly! Leah is the newest member of the Jewish Studies staff. Leah is in her second year at KU and is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business and is on the accelerated pre-law track. We are so happy to have her! Make sure you say hi and introduce yourself next time you are in the Jewish Studies office.

Please congratulate Dr. Rami Zeedan on his recent publication in the journal Societies titled "Social Identity and Voting Behavior in a Deeply Divided Society: The Case of Israel". 

Congratulations to Dominique Stringer, MA student in Museum Studies, who is one of the 2024-25 KU Digital Humanities Fellows. Working with Tyra Kalman and Dr. Rami Zeedan, she developed Homemaking: Building the Jewish Community in Kansas hosted by KU Hillel in April 2024 as part of the Jews in the Americas Conference. As a Fellow, she will develop an online archive documenting the migration story of Kansas Jews, currently housed on the Jewish Studies website.

Events: Engaging with Our Community

Next week, September 21st through 28th, is Jewish Studies Welcome Week filled with fun, food, and prizes!

• Saturday, September 21, 11AM-1PM, picnic and hike with KU Hillel and Jewish Studies at the Prairie Park Nature Center.
• Monday, September 23, 10-11AM, Kef with Kovaeem (Hebrew Headbandz) with Hebrew 110 students and Hebrew student mentors in the Jewish Studies suite, 4017 Wescoe.  
• Tuesday, September 24, 1-2PM, Jewpardy: Jewish Diversity with First-Year Seminar class JWSH 177 in the Jewish Studies suite, 4017 Wescoe.
• Thursday, September 26, 11-12PM, Jewpardy: Jewish Diversity with First-Year Seminar class JWSH 176 in the Jewish Studies suite, 4017 Wescoe.
• Saturday, September 28, 2PM, Indecent performance and talk-back with cast and crew, Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall. Students of Jewish Studies First-Year Seminar course JWSH 176 and all Jewish Studies students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend. For your complimentary ticket email Tyra or stop by her office, 4017B Wescoe.

Fall Awards

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of the Danciger Fund, we are please to offer awards based on merit and need again this Fall.

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!

The Danciger Research Awards in Jewish Studies ($300 each)  
Students who present research related to Jewish Studies at the Fall Undergraduate Research Showcase hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships are considered for this award. Interested students should be in touch with any Jewish Studies professor to receive mentorship and support in the application.

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.      

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 October: Save the Dates

October is filled to the brim with the High Holidays! Please be aware that while the Jewish Studies office will be open for non-observant members of our students, staff, and faculty, many classes taught by observant instructors will not be held. A reminder of the no-work days: 

• October 2-4 Rosh Hashanah
• October 11th Erev Yom Kippur
• October 17th and 18th Sukkot
• October 23rd – 25th Hol HaMoed, Shmini Atzeret, Simchat Torah

If you are missing classes because of the holidays, please refer to the KU Policy on excused absences. It is up to you to inform your professors ahead of time that you will miss classes. If your professor needs documentation of Jewish holidays, you can refer them to Chabad’s website.

Because we are celebrating the High Holidays for most of the month, the events are sparse but still fun! On October 18th, we will be tabling at Crimson and Blue Day Majors Fair in the Burge Union. If you would like to volunteer, please email Tyra. We would love to have your help letting perspective students know why Jewish Studies is so important and valuable.  

On October 28th Roman Ruiz from the University Career Center will be in the office to help you traverse your future post-graduation. This event is open to all. Whether you are a first-year student or planning to graduate in the Spring, come by the office, have a nosh, and learn about how the Career Center can support you in launching the next phase of your life. It is never too early to plan for your future.