2023 Boston University Jewish Studies Research Forum (BUJS)

March 1, 2023, 9:26 am

≫ Next: Hamantaschen Study Break

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The Boston University Jewish Studies Research Forum (BUJS Forum) aims to facilitate advanced research in Jewish studies or Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies. On March 1, 2023, the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies was honored to host Professor Myriam Bienenstock, a renowned scholar from France, who delivered a lecture titled "A Controversy on Ethical Culture: Hermann Cohen and Felix Adler''.

"A Controversy on Ethical Culture: Hermann Cohen and Felix Adler" with Professor Myriam Bienenstock

In her talk, Professor Bienenstock delved into the history of the German Society for Ethical Culture, which was founded in Berlin in 1892 and modeled after the Ethical Culture Society created by American philosopher and social reformer Felix Adler in New York in 1876. The society had won the support of prominent figures, including the German-Jewish philosopher Hermann Cohen, who later withdrew his support. Professor Bienenstock argued that Cohen remained a staunch defender of the universalistic ethical convictions advocated by Ethical Culture societies but contended that they had to be defended by law to avoid becoming marginalized and relapsing into the very 'confessionalism' of the sectarian and 'religious' communities they wanted to eradicate. This argument remains highly relevant in the realm of education, particularly in the ongoing debate about how ethics should be taught in schools. 

About the Speaker: Myriam Bienenstock is a renowned expert in Practical Philosophy of German Idealism and Jewish Thought. Born and educated in France, she is currently an Emeritus Professor at the University of Tours and has published extensively on Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, and Emmanuel Levinas. To learn more about Professor Bienenstock, please visit her website at http://mbienenstock.free.fr/.

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Hamantaschen Study Break

March 2, 2023, 9:29 am

≫ Next: “Arendt, Israel, and the Contemporary Relevance of the Eichmann Controversy” with Professor Michael Weinman

≪ Previous: 2023 Boston University Jewish Studies Research Forum (BUJS)

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The Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies hosted a fun and delicious Hamantaschen Study Break on Thursday, March 2nd. An array of hamantaschen was provided for students to enjoy while studying or taking a break from their busy days. The event aimed to bring together Jewish and HGHRS studies students by providing them with a space to socialize and connect. 

“Arendt, Israel, and the Contemporary Relevance of the Eichmann Controversy” with Professor Michael Weinman

March 16, 2023, 10:31 am

≫ Next: Student Lunches

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The Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies hosted a book talk featuring renowned Professor Michael Weinman on March 16th. Professor Weinman discussed his recently released book, Hannah Arendt and Politics, which argues that Arendt’s thinking about Zionism and the modern state of Israel has everything to do with the furious and sometimes demonizing reception Eichmann in Jerusalem and its author faced upon initial publication.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous co-sponsorship of the Jewish Cultural Endowment, the Institute on Culture, Religion, & World Affairs, the Graduate Program of Religion Student Association, and the Department of Religion.

About the Speaker: Michael Weinman is a Professor of Philosophy at Bard College Berlin and a Visiting Professor at the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University. He is the author of five books, including The Emergence of Illiberalism and The Parthenon and Liberal Education.

Student Lunches

March 30, 2023, 10:36 am

≫ Next: Yitzhak Rabin Lecture Featuring Professor Pnina Lahav

≪ Previous: “Arendt, Israel, and the Contemporary Relevance of the Eichmann Controversy” with Professor Michael Weinman

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During the Spring 2023 semester, the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies hosted two student lunches to provide a place for BU students to discuss topics related to Jewish and Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights studies. These student lunches were student-focused and student-led and were facilitated by a faculty member who provided input when needed. 

“Balancing Identities: Jewish in America”

In the spirit of connection and conversation, the Center hosted a student lunch on February 2, 2023. This was the first in a series of lunches designed to provide a student-led, student-focused space to discuss topics related to Jewish and Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights studies. This first lunch centered on the theme of "Balancing Identities: Jewish in America."

“Jews in the Media: Representation Matters”

On Thursday, March 30, the Center hosted its second student lunch, focusing on  "Jews in the Media: Representation Matters." The lunch offered BU students an opportunity to discuss an important topic while connecting in a relaxed environment. In addition to enjoying refreshments, students were welcome to stay and study or engage in conversations with their classmates.

Yitzhak Rabin Lecture Featuring Professor Pnina Lahav

April 25, 2023, 10:33 am

≫ Next: 2023 End of Year Celebration

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The Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies was pleased to host this year’s Yitzhak Rabin Lecture on April 25th featuring Professor Pnina Lahav. Lahav, a Professor of Law, Emerita, and a member of the Center, delivered a talk titled "The Only Woman in the Room: Writing the Life of Golda Meir." 

"The Only Woman in the Room: Writing the Life of Golda Meir" with Professor Pnina Lahav 

In her lecture, Professor Lahav explored the life of Golda Meir, Israel's fourth prime minister, in the context of the twentieth century through a gender lens. She discussed how Golda Meir overcame gender bias to achieve her goals and become a trusted leader. Professor Lahav also delved into the misogyny in Israeli culture that made it difficult for women to hold positions of power and explained why Israelis ultimately turned against Golda Meir in 1973. 

The program began with a welcome video from Dalia Rabin, daughter of Yitzhak Rabin and a notable politician herself. Bat-Sheva Margalit Stern, Ph.D., an expert in 20th-century Jewish women, served as the respondent, while Professor Nahum Karlinsky moderated the discussion.

A livestream option was made available for those unable to attend the lecture in person, and the lecture’s recording is now available on our YouTube channel. 

The Yitzhak Rabin Lecture Series at Boston University is generously supported by Mr. Jonathan Krivine (CAS ’72).

About the Speaker: Pnina Lahav is a Professor of Law, Emerita, and a member of the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies at Boston University. Her fields of expertise are constitutional law, first amendment law, and legal history. Most recently, she has received the Israel Studies Award for Lifetime Achievement (2017) and Prime Minister Golda Meir for Society and Leadership Award (2021). Recently, Lahav has focused her attention on the status and history of women, and her biography of Golda Meir, Israel's fourth prime minister, presents Golda Meir's life in the context of the twentieth century through the gender lens. This biography, titled The Only Woman in the Room: Golda Meir and Her Path to Power (Princeton University Press: 2022), is a part of the 2022-2023 book picks of the Jewish Women's Archive.

2023 End of Year Celebration

May 3, 2023, 10:38 am

≫ Next: Director Nancy Harrowitz on Inside Higher Ed

≪ Previous: Yitzhak Rabin Lecture Featuring Professor Pnina Lahav

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This year’s End of Year Celebration took place on May 3rd at the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. The event honored and presented awards to the exceptional graduating students in Jewish Studies, Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies, and Hebrew. The undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members in attendance were treated to a delightful array of food and drinks, creating a festive atmosphere.

Director Nancy Harrowitz on Inside Higher Ed

December 14, 2023, 9:23 am

≫ Next: Deeana Klepper Interviewed for Humanists at Work

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Read Inside Higher Ed's article featuring an interview with Professor Nancy Harrowitz, Director of the Elie Wiesel Center.

Photograph from the recent Capitol Hill hearing on university responses to antisemitism, from Inside Higher Ed. Photo credit to Kevin Dietsch.

Deeana Klepper Interviewed for Humanists at Work

February 12, 2024, 9:25 am

≫ Next: Professor Harrowitz’s Interview on the ‘Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away’ Exhibit

≪ Previous: Director Nancy Harrowitz on Inside Higher Ed

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Deeana Klepper, Professor of Religion and History, was recently interviewed about her new book, Pastoral Care and Community in Late Medieval Germany: Albert of Diessen’s Mirror of Priests. She discusses her inspiration and research for the book and the importance of history in contemporary conversations. Read the full interview and learn more about her research here.

 

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Professor Harrowitz’s Interview on the ‘Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away’ Exhibit

April 10, 2024, 3:57 pm

≫ Next: BU Today Interviews EWCJS Director Nancy Harrowitz on “Auschwitz” Exhibit

≪ Previous: Deeana Klepper Interviewed for Humanists at Work

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Read Professor Nancy Harrowitz's interview with The Christian Science Monitor about the powerful "Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away" exhibit, currently on display in Boston. Professor Harrowitz, Director of the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies at Boston University, discusses how this exhibit actively fights against Holocaust denial by presenting physical evidence and survivor testimonies. The exhibit's 700 artifacts from the Nazis' largest concentration camp aim to address the concerning rise in antisemitism and the 1 in 5 young Americans who deny the Holocaust. Visit the exhibit at The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza through the summer.

BU Today Interviews EWCJS Director Nancy Harrowitz on “Auschwitz” Exhibit

April 19, 2024, 11:46 am

≪ Previous: Professor Harrowitz’s Interview on the ‘Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away’ Exhibit

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Visitors examine some of the more than 700 artifacts on display.

Nancy Harrowitz, Director of the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies, recently visited the traveling exhibition "Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away," currently on display in Boston through September 2. The exhibit, which includes over 700 artifacts from the Nazis' largest concentration camp, aims to address the concerning rise in antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

In an interview with BU Today, Professor Harrowitz shared her impressions of the exhibit. She noted the somber and respectful mood among the large crowds in attendance. "There was a hush in the rooms that was particularly noticeable considering how many people were in attendance," Harrowitz said.

The exhibit's greatest strength, according to Harrowitz, is the sheer number of physical objects and artifacts in a relatively small space. Iconic items like the barbed wire towers from the camp made a chilling impression. "To see them in person, so to speak, was chilling, even frightening. It brought past visual experiences to the immediate present," she explained.

Harrowitz emphasized the importance of the exhibit's timing, given the rise in antisemitism today. She observed that attendees were deeply absorbed in the experience, reading every panel and examining each artifact with great focus. "I had a couple of conversations with other attendees, who referenced the growing antisemitism of our time," she noted.

Professor Harrowitz hopes visitors leave with a better understanding of the consequences of dehumanization, bigotry, and hate, as well as the conditions that led to the Holocaust. "It's a very important exhibition and well worth seeing. It also provides a potent reminder of the importance of the past in understanding our present," Harrowitz said.

"Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away" is on view at the Castle at Park Plaza in Boston through September 2. The exhibit is recommended for ages 12 and up. Visit the exhibition website for more information and to purchase tickets.