The State of Jewish Learning in America

A Colloquium Marking the 350th Anniversary of Jewish Settlement in America

CO-SPONSORED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND BALTIMORE HEBREW UNIVERSITY

Thomas Jefferson Building
Room LJ 119
Tuesday, November 9, 2004

This event is free and open to the public.

Agenda

10:00 am Welcome

Session One: 10:15 - 11:45 am

The Academic Study of Judaism: Jewish Studies in American Universities, Hebrew Colleges and Seminaries

Chair: Rela Mintz Geffen,
President Baltimore Hebrew University

Judith Baskin
Knight Professor of Humanities
Director, Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies
University of Oregon

David Gordis
President, Professor of Rabbinics
Hebrew College, Boston, Massachusetts

Stephen Garfinkel
Dean of the Graduate School
Dean of Academic Affairs
Assistant Professor of Bible
Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Lunch 11:45 - 1:30

Session Two 1:30 - 4:30

Jewish Libraries and Archives in America

Chair: Menahem Schmelzer
Senior Distinguished Scholar
John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress

Pearl Berger
Dean of Libraries
Yeshiva University

An Ancient Tongue in a New Land: Hebrew Learning in America

Chair: Arthur Lesley
Associate Professor of Hebrew Literature
Baltimore Hebrew University

Alan Mintz
Chana Kekst Professor of Hebrew Literature
Chair, Department of Hebrew Language
Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Coffee Break 3:15 - 3:45

Popular Jewish Culture in America

Chair: Peggy K. Pearlstein
Area Specialist, Hebraic Section
Library of Congress

Jenna W. Joselit
Visiting Professor
Department of History
Princeton University

Baltimore Hebrew University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Ministry of Education of the State of Israel.