 |
|
|
  It
has been an intense and challenging two years since the Jewish Studies
Program began in October 1999. Our goal is to serve the intellectual life
of the university by providing a wide range of classes in Jewish Studies
and hiring and retaining first rate faculty. Our intent is also to fulfill
the mission of a public university by providing enlightenment and entertainment
through a stimulating community outreach program. One of the strengths
of the Jewish Studies Program has been the involvement and participation
of the Greater Long Beach Jewish community. The rewards of seeing the results
of these efforts is a continuing source of energy and inspiration.
A 19-unit inter-disciplinary minor, which includes courses in Comparative Literature, Geography, Hebrew, History, Political Science and Religious Studies, was recently approved by the CSULB Academic Senate. We are in the process of becoming a part of the California State University consortial major in Jewish Studies, along with California State University campuses at Chico, San Diego, and San Francisco. Students will be able to take courses at CSULB and complete the major through classes offered on-line by the other three campuses. The California State Universiity Chancellor's office has already approved the major. In addition to the existing courses, new courses are being developed. The Literature of the Holocaust, to be taught by Professor Carl Fisher of the Comparative Literature Department, is currently in the campus approval process. The Religious Studies Department and the Jewish Studies Program are pleased to announce a tenure-track position in Post-Biblical Judaism to be housed in the Religious Studies Department beginning in the fall semester 2002. The scholar/teacher hired for this position will play an important role in the Jewish Studies Program. Along with the University of Judaism, we are planning a conference on Sephardic Judaism for November 2002 that will take place on both campuses. The conference will include academic commentary, as well as music and literature. The Library, headed by Dean Roman Kochan, has been exceptionally generous in providing funds for the Jewish Studies book collection. I am particularly appreciative of the generosity of the Zamost family for their support that allowed the Library to purchase important Jewish texts. Mary Ann Solac, Development Director for the Library, has lauded this important contribution. Nationwide, Jewish Studies encompasses a growing interdisciplinary field. At CSULB, it has flourished because of the interest and support of the university, from the departmental level, to the College of Liberal Arts, to the central administration. In particular, I want to recognize the support from Dee Abrahamse, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; Frank Fata, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; Sharon Sievers, Chair of the Department of History; and Peter Lowentrout, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. Locally, the suggestion for a Jewish Studies Program came from Michael Rassler, Executive Director of the Long Beach and West Orange County Jewish Federation. With the support of the Federation and the Alpert Jewish Community Center, we were able to bring a series of four intellectually stimulating speakers each semester to the Alpert Jewish Community Center. The large audiences that attended these lectures came away enriched and enlightened. I would like to extend a special thanks to the members of the Jewish Studies Community Advisory Board, who have given the Program valuable advice and insights, as well as financial contributions. These board members include Jean Blakey, Edie Brodsky, Erika Hillinger, Rabbi Wolli Kaelter, Rabbi Howard Laibson, Gene Lentzner, Dr. Holli Levitsky, Dr. Jim Linden, Amy Lipeles, Rabbi Yitzhok Newman, Michael Rassler, Gerda Seifer, Wayne Slavitt, Arlene Solomon, Mort Stuhlbarg, Ann Witenstein and Tess Wohlstatter. |
![[ CSULB Home Page ]](cslb.gif){kind=small}
