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Featured Student
 Rick Gaines
Rick Gaines is a senior, graduating this spring with a major in Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology. Very active in CU's Chabad he also serves on the Jewish Studies Advisory Board and is one of the first students to be completing a Jewish Studies internship this semester at University Hospital. Goals after graduation include medical school after a summer trip to Israel.
Rick finds the intellectual aspects of reading Jewish ethics, from the Jewish Medical perspective to Pirkei Avos, not just stimulating, but extremely applicable to today's world and the future. This area of study has influenced how he hopes to practice medicine as well as the person he aspires to become.
When asked about the Program in Jewish Studies Rick shares, "even in semesters like this current one, when I cannot fit any non-science classes into my schedule, it is phenomenal to be able to attend the programming Jewish Studies Program puts on for CU's student community. My favorite this year has been "Smashing the Idols."
Rick continues, "to have so many phenomenal people diving into Jewish history and discussing aspects of Judaism through the medium of people like Spinoza, Abraham the patriarch, and Rabbi Abraham Kook was amazing. Events like this allow me to confidently say, the Jewish Studies Program is one of the great aspects of the University Of Colorado because it enables students to delve into rich cultures and histories and add exposure to the liberal arts - even for pre-medical students like me!"
Help us continue to enrich and help fulfill goals of students like Rick.
To make an on-line donation to the Program in Jewish Studies, visit www.cufund.org |
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Kol Mevaser - The Voice of Jewish Studies at CU-Boulder!
On Facebook? Join our Facebook Page - Jewish Studies - University of Colorado at Boulder.
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Faculty Updates...
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Robby Adler Peckerar, assistant professor of Jewish Literature and Culture, will be a featured speaker as part of CU's 26th Annual Holocaust Awareness Week on Monday, March 8 at 2:30 PM in the University Memorial Center Room 235. Professor Adler Peckerar will be speaking about Abraham Sutskever who was a Vilna ghetto survivor, Soviet writer and leading Yiddish poet. A complete schedule for Holocaust Awareness Week can be found at www.colorado.edu/jewishstudies.
Paul Shankman, professor of Anthropology and previous director of the Program in Jewish Studies, will be discussing his recent book "The Trashing of Margaret Mead" at the Boulder JCC on Thursday, May 13 at Noon. In 1928 Margaret Mead published "Coming of Age in Samoa," a fascinating study of the lives of adolescent girls that transformed the anthropologist into an academic celebrity. In 1983, Derek Freeman published a scathing critique of Mead's Samoan research, arguing that Mead had been "hoaxed" by Samoans whose innocent lies she took at face value. In "The Trashing of Margaret Mead," Shankman explores the many dimensions of the controversy, including the personal relationships, professional rivalries and larger than life personalities that drove it. For more information email Kathryn Bernheimer at kathryn@boulderjcc.org or call 303.998.1021. Read more about Professor Shankman's book at www.coloradanmagazine.org
David Shneer recently presented a lecture at the University of Colorado at Denver's medical center entitled "Bearing Witness: Photography of the Holocaust." The lecture is based on his recent book project, "Through Soviet Jewish Eyes: Photography, War and the Holocaust" which looks at the lives and works of two dozen photojournalists who were the first people to document the Holocaust as liberators. Read more in CU's Coloradan magazine www.coloradanmagazine.org. He also recently published "Picturing Grief: Soviet Holocaust Photography at the Intersection of History and Memory" in The American Historical Review, the leading professional historical journal.
This weekend David will be at the Jewish Book Week in London giving a workshop on "Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible" and serving on a panel about queer Jewish Culture. He will also be giving talks at Leo Baeck College, Cambridge University, and University College London. For more information visit www.jewishbookweek.com.
Davide Stimilli, associate professor of German & Comparative Literature and Jewish Studies, welcomes Dr. Claudia Wedepohl from the Warburg Institute in London for two special events. On Wednesday, March 3 she will present a lunch seminar, "Aby Warburg's Mnemosyne Atlas: The Story of an Unfinished Project" from 12:30-2:30 PM in VAC 330W. On Thursday, March 4 she will present "Recognizing the Essence of Cultural Tradition: Aby Warburg and America." These lectures are sponsored by the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, the Department of Art and Art History and the ASC Dean's Fund for Excellence. For more information visit http://gsll.colorado.edu.
Carlos Zarur, adjunct instructor in Anthropology and Jewish Studies, will be presenting "Seeking the Hidden Jews: An Exploration of the Crypto Jews through art, food, film and discussion" at the Boulder JCC on Sunday, March 7 from 5-9 PM. The evening includes an art exhibit by artist Beatriz Pestana-Osuna and a screening of the film "The Hidden Star." Carlos will lead an after-film discussion. For more information or to register, visit www.boulderjcc.org
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Scholarship Funds for the Global Seminar to Venice...
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Professor Adler Peckerar is leading a Maymester global seminar through the Study Abroad office entitled "Venice: The Cradle of European Jewish Culture." Explore the development of Jewish culture in la citta degli ebrei (the city of Jews). The trip includes presentations by Italian and visiting scholars on a variety of subjects related to European Jewish culture. Enjoy on-site lectures at major cultural and historical sites in and around Venice. Venture outside of Venice with overnight excursions to Piedmont and Trieste. Questions? Contact Professor Adler Peckerar at adler.peckerar@colorado.edu. **APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 8**
There are scholarship funds available for students pursuing a Certificate in Jewish Studies. Contact the Program in Jewish Studies at 303.492.7143 for more information or email Jamie.Polliard@colorado.edu. |
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MoVeRs in March...
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Seismic Shifts: Modern Jewish Ideologies and Movements with Professor William Safran
Thursdays @ 7 PM throughout March beginning March 4, 2010
Boulder JCC
3800 Kalmia Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
Cost: $15 for drop-in or $50 for all four classes
Join CU Professor William Safran for a four-week class that will examine radical new developments in Jewish thought from the 17th through the 20th centuries, including Messianism and Hassidism, Haskalah and Reform Judaism, Bundism and Secular Yiddishism, Zionism, anti-Zionism, and post-Zionism. Pre-registration is required for this class. Visit www.jewishmovers.org for details and descriptions. Classes cover the following topics:
March 4: Despair & Hope: Messianism and Hassidism
March 11: Jews & Modernity: Haskalah and Reform Judaism
March 18: The Promise of Socialism: Bundism and Secular Yiddishism
March 25: Jewish Nationalism and Its Challenges: Zionism, anti-Zionism, and post-Zionism
 "Everything is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism"with author and scholar Jay Michaelson
Monday, March 8 @ 7 PM
Boulder JCC
3800 Kalmia Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
Presented by Menorah: Arts, Culture and Education at the Boulder JCC and co-sponsored by Soul Food and the Program in Jewish Studies at CU-Boulder
Cost: $8 at the door, free for students with valid ID
Join author and scholar Jay Michaelson for a discussion of his recent book, "Everything is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism." This exploration of the radical, yet ancient, idea that everything and everyone is God will transform how you understand your life and the nature of religion itself. While God is conventionally viewed as an entity separate from us, there are some Jews- Kabbalists, Hasidism, and their modern-day heirs- who assert that God is not separate from us at all. In this nondual view, everyone and everything manifests God. For centuries a closely guarded secret of Kabbalah, nondual Judaism is a radical reorientation of religious life that is increasingly influencing mainstream Judaism today.
Writer and scholar Jay Michaelson presents a wide-ranging and compelling explanation of nondual Judaism: what it is, its traditional and contemporary sources, its historical roots and philosophical significance, how it compares to nondual Buddhism and Hinduism, and how it is lived in practice. He explains what this mystical nondual view means in our daily ego-centered lives, for our communities, and for the future of Judaism.
Ten Reasons Why Gay Rights is a Religious Issue with author, scholar and activist Jay Michaelson
 Tuesday, March 9 @ 7PM
University of Denver
Sturm Hall, Room 286
(Corner of Asbury & Race)
2000 E. Asbury Street
Denver, CO 80210
Free but RSVP's appreciated as space is limited. Visit www.jewishmovers.org
Presented by Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity and co-sponsored by The Program in Jewish Studies at CU, DU's Center for Multicultural Excellence, Hillel at DU, Judaism Your Way and DU's Queer Straight Alliance.
The Christian Right has succeeded in characterizing opposition to rights as a religious issue-- but what about gay rights? Unlike African-American civil rights (but like feminism), few supporters of gay rights have made their case in religious terms: that is, why gay rights is a moral cause. Yet in the wake of several same-sex marriage defeats, characterizing gay rights as purely a secular issue of civil liberties is a tactical and philosophical mistake. In fact, there are several reasons why, if one is religious, one should be for equality for sexual minorities. Author, scholar and activist, Jay Michaelson will guide us through a discussion of at least ten of them.
Missed a MoVeRs event? Listen to it on-line! Selected lectures from MoVeRs: Jewish Mavericks, Visionaries & Rebels are available via audio podcasts and limited video presentations on the website at www.jewishmovers.org under the Past Events tab (www.jewishmovers.org/past-events).
The fifteen collaborating organizations who worked to make MoVeRs possible are Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, ADL, Congregation Bonai Shalom, Boulder JCC, Hadassah, Congregation Har HaShem, Hillel - University of Colorado, Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity, Limmud Colorado, Menorah, Nevei Kodesh, Pardes Levavot, Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado, Soul Food and Tuv Ha'aretz.
MoVeRs is made possible by support from Rose Community Foundation, the Goldberger Fund for Jewish Culture and the SCFD.
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CU's 26th Annual Holocaust Awareness Week... |
Join the students and staff of CU's Hillel as they present the 26th annual Holocaust Awareness Week which begins Monday, March 8.
This year's theme explores stories of resistance and heroism through
the eyes of Holocaust survivors, camp liberators, authors and
educators. For a complete schedule of events visit www.colorado.edu/jewishstudies and download the pdf schedule of events. Detailed information is also available at www.jewishmovers.org. All events are held in the UMC and are free and open to the public. Highlights include:
Monday, March 8
11:00 AM Concentration camp liberator Sid Shafner, UMC 235
1:00 PM Walter Plywaski, Holocaust survivor, UMC 235
2:30 PM Lecture on Abraham Sutskever with CU Professor Robby Adler Peckerar, UMC 235
Abraham Sutskever is a Vilna ghetto survivor, Soviet writer and leading Yiddish poet.
7:00 PM Berel Lang, Professor of Philosophy and Holocaust Studies from Wesleyan University, UMC 235
Tuesday, March 9
11:00 AM Maria Krenz, Holocaust survivor, UMC 235
1:00 PM Film "Good Evening Mr. Wallenberg",
UMC 235
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who risked his own life to save thousands of Jews in Hungary.
3:00 PM George Kondor, Holocaust survivor saved by Raoul Wallenberg, UMC 235
"Hitler's Jewish Soldiers" tells the stories of Jewish soldiers who were part of the Nazi military regime.
Wednesday, March 10
11:00 AM Doris Small, Holocaust survivor, UMC 235
1:00 PM Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Kutner, Holocaust
survivors, UMC 235
2:30 PM Stephen Feinberg, Director of International
Holocaust Education at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., UMC 235
Stephen Feinberg will be addressing issues of Holocaust education internationally and the political challenges and issues of memory in different parts of the world.
7:00 PM Film "Blessed is the Match:The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh," UMC 235
This
film follows the story of a brave young poet, Hannah Senesh, captured
after parachuting into Hungary. Followed by Q&A and discussions
with director Roberta Grossman.
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Thursday, March 11
11:00 AM Ella Mandel, Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz, UMC 235
1:00 PM Eric Cahn, Holocaust survivor, UMC 235
2:00 PM Closing Ceremonies, UMC Atrium |
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Yiddish Reading Group Meets Monthly...
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The Yiddish Reading Group continues meeting one Thursday every month throughout the semester. All meetings are held at CU-Boulder's University Memorial Center (UMC). Readings that will be discussed as follows:
March 18 @ 6 PM in UMC 415-417
Lamed Shapiro: "At Sea"
April 22 @ 6 PM in UMC 415-417
Lamed Shapiro: At Sea" (continued)
May 13 @ 6 PM in UMC 381
A.J. Heschel: Poetry from "The Ineffable Name of God: Man"
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Events On Campus & Around Town...
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Interested in a trip to Israel this summer? Mayanot Taglit is hosting a Birthright trip to Israel May 31- June 9. Registration is open. Contact Rick Gaines at rick.gaines@colorado.edu for information on funding opportunities.
Students for Israel welcome Dr. Tawfik Hamid to the CU-Boulder campus on Thursday, March 4 at 6 PM in Math 100. Dr. Hamid is an Islamic thinker and reformer and will be speaking about the importance of education in combating radical Islam. For more information read the article in the Boulder Daily Camera.
Storahtelling Mile Hi Mavens will be leading a Storahtelling
in Boulder at Congregation Bonai Shalom (1527 Cherryvale Road) on Saturday, March 6 at 4 PM. Parashat Vayechel-Pekudei will come to life through a fresh fusion of Hebrew chanting, dramatized English translation, music and interactive commentary. Storahtelling
makes ancient stores and tradtions accessible for new generations,
advancing Judaic literacy and raising social consciousness. Founded by
Amichai Lau-Lavie in 1999, Storahtelling has grown into an
international network of educators and artists, invigorating Jewish
identity through dynamic educational programs and performances for
multigenerational audiences worldwide. For information visit www.bonaishalom.org.
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Boulder Branch of Progressive Democrats for America and the Colorado CD-2 Chapter present Breaking the Silence: Israeli Soldiers Speak Out on the Moral Costs of Occupation on Sunday, March 7 at 7:30 PM at the Boulder Friends Meeting House (1825 Upland Ave., Boulder). Tickets are $5 at the door. Dana Golan, executive director of Breaking the Silence and a former lieutenant in the Israeli Defense Force will discuss experiences of female soldiers who have served in the Occupied Territories. For information contact Rabbi Tirzah Firestone at 303.443.0774 or Margery Goldman at 303.447.0779.
The Jewish Genealogical Society welcomes Matthew Kaplan, research specialist for the DNA Shoah Project on Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 PM at Temple Emanuel (51 Grape Street, Denver). The DNA Shoah Project works to reunite families and ancestors separated in the Holocaust. For more information contact Ellen Kowit at 720.221.6858 or info@jgsco.org
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