Welcome to the Spring 2024 Semester

Welcome to the Spring 2024 Semester!

Dear students, staff, faculty, friends, and families:

We are excited for the start of the Spring 2024 semester, a time filled with new opportunities. We hope your winter break was restful and you are looking forward to your courses and campus activities. From event updates to recognition of additional Fall 2023 award winners, to upcoming funding opportunities - we have much to share with you in this edition of our newsletter.

We continue to welcome new students to the program. Please join us in welcoming the most recent additions to the Jewish Studies minor: Brandon Brown and Ethan Klinock.

Invite your friends to join our community! We offer a BA (major) and a minor in Jewish Studies. As an interdisciplinary study, our major and minor complements many degrees at KU, is a valuable addition to your education, and prepares you for your journey beyond undergraduate studies.

Scholarships and Awards

Thanks to the Danciger Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, we are proud to announce additional recipients of the Fall 2023 Danciger Awards. Two students from our First Year Seminar course, JWSH 177, have produced research projects that are now published online as part of the podcast series: Introduction to Israel's Social Groups. This year the awards go to: Sadie Lange and Natalee Thompson.

In the Spring, we will again have scholarships available for you: 

  • The Danciger Award for the Study of the Hebrew Language will be determined based on excellence in the Hebrew classroom. Students do not need to take additional actions to be considered. Come study Hebrew with us!
  • The Danciger Research Award in Jewish Studies is presented to students who research topics in Jewish studies and present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. This year, the symposium takes place April 15-19, 2024. The deadline to register is pending but will be shared with students through the Jewish Studies Instagram account, in the office, and in future newsletters. Interested students should be in touch with any of the Jewish Studies professors to receive mentorship and support in the application. Some of the previous award winners presented final papers from their Jewish Studies courses and were considered for the award. To learn more, please visit the Center for Undergraduate Research.
  • The David and Sharyn Katzman Fellowship: This award is given to a graduating senior with a BA in Jewish Studies, chosen by the faculty. This fellowship was established in 2020 to honor a Jewish Studies Major who exhibits academic excellence.
  • The Danciger Undergraduate Service Award in Jewish Studies is given to a student chosen by the faculty who is involved in service related to Jewish Studies.
  • The Danciger Need-based Award: FAFSA-eligible students who would like to be considered for the Danciger Need-based Award should contact jewishstudies@ku.edu. You can consult with Tyra Kalman in person as well in room 4017B Wescoe.
  • The Harvey Bodker Fellowship for Study Abroad in Israel was created by Mr. Harvey Bodker in honor of the memory of Rabbi Morris Margolies, senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom and longtime professor of Jewish Studies at KU. This fund is used to provide direct financial support for KU degree-seeking students studying abroad in Israel in the department of Jewish Studies at the University of Kansas. Support may include, but is not limited to, travel expenses, passport fees, and visa applications. For more information email jewishstudies@ku.edu.

Spring Course Update

All Spring courses are up and running. We are offering a variety of exciting topics this semester and cross-listing with partnering departments. To view our current list of course click here. In total, we have 17 courses in addition to independent studies and the Jewish Studies Seminar (senior capstone). In addition to serving our Jewish Studies majors and minors, the courses we offer this semester serve an increased number of students from across campus. If your desired course is already full, please contact us for advice on the best solution.

Upcoming Events

We will kick off the semester with an Open House & Tu BiShvat celebration. Please join us in the Jewish Studies suite, 4017 Wescoe on Wednesday, January 24th, between 11:30 and 1:30PM for Topper’s pizza and fruit pies from Ladybird Diner. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with your fellow students and Jewish Studies staff and faculty. In February, students can look forward to a dinner, film screening, and discussion with our faculty experts. This event is organized with KU Hillel and more details are coming soon.

For students, staff, faculty, and the community, we have several co-sponsored events featuring our faculty and visiting scholars. In February, we will partner with the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation and the Religious Studies Department to host Dr. Rachel B. Gross who will present “A Pickle Problem: The Deli Revival and American Jewish Religion”. Stay tuned for our full list of events this Spring, including a Purim party and the highlight of the semester: “Jews in the Americas: A Hybrid Interdisciplinary Conference” hosted by Jewish Studies and The Center for Global and International Studies.

Study Abroad Opportunities

We are happy to announce that the Graz International Summer School Seggau (GUSEGG) 2024 is open for enrollment. The 2024 topic is “Disruptive Imagination and Resistance in Europe and the Americas: STATE – SOCIETY – RELIGION”. The summer school will take place from June 30 - July 13, 2024, at Seggau Castle, Leibnitz, Austria. This is a two-week summer opportunity where students can earn 6ECTS credits for participation. It includes lectures, seminars, and evening events, and discussion and networking opportunities with international lecturers and students. This is an all-inclusive package. Consider enrolling today to improve your academic and creative writing skills. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2024, and scholarships are available. For more information visit: https://european-university.uni-graz.at/en/news/detail/article/apply-now-graz-international-summer-school-seggau-gusegg-2024/

The Israel Institute is providing $1,200 in 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. 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. Credit earned at Israeli universities can be transferred to your KU transcript, with prior consultation with the Jewish Studies Program. Apply by March 6th for Summer placement. Visit https://israelinstitute.org/program/siis/ to learn more.  

An additional opportunity to study abroad in Israel in summer 2024 is being developed in cooperation with UC Berkeley. We will announce the details soon.

Please note that international travel with funding and support from KU requires pre-approval by KU Study Abroad based on KU policies and the US State Department recommendations on safety of travel.

We wish you the best of luck with your coursework and we hope you enjoy your Spring classes, activities, and events. Stay safe and stay healthy and thank you for your continued support!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,
Dr. Rami Zeedan
Associate Professor of Israel Studies
Acting Director of the Jewish Studies Program