Monday, January 30, 2012

One Week to Go: Halpern Award

Deadline for applications for the Halpern Award: February 13. Scroll down for information.

This is a great opportunity to for undergraduates interested in Jewish Studies.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Feb 2: Horst Lange lecture

LECTURE
Professor Horst Lange
University of Central Arkansas
Thursday, February 2, 5:00-6:00pm
602 Cathedral of Learning (Humanities Center)
On the Complexities of Religious Discourse in the
Eighteenth Century: The Case of Goethe
Reception to follow
Professor Lange, who has advanced degrees from the Universities of Virginia and Tübingen, has published extensively at the intersection of literature with both philosophy and religious studies. His monograph on Kant’s metaphysics of experience reconstructs the transcendental deduction as a version of Wittgenstein’s private language argument. In addition to a series of recent articles on the semiotics of divine intentions in Goethe; Goethe and Spinoza; and sexuality and Christianity in Goethe’s Classicism, Professor Lange is working on two monographs. The first will try to overturn the standard reading of Goethe’s Werther as a document of sentimental literature by analyzing it against the background of a proper understanding of Spinoza’s Ethics. The second, which reconstructs Goethe’s thinking about religion in a heretical way, is the topic of this lecture.
Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Humanities Center, the Departments of German and Religious Studies, the Programs in Cultural Studies, West European Studies, and Jewish Studies, and the Group on Eighteenth Century Studies
Questions? Contact the Department of German at 412-624-5909 or grmndept@pitt.edu

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Another Summer Yiddish Program--ths one in Tel Aviv

The Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer Program at = Tel Aviv University
=20
THE NAOMI PRAWER KADAR INTERNATIONAL YIDDISH SUMMER PROGRAM at TEL AVIV = UNIVERSITY will take place from June 25 to July 19, 2012. In previous = years, the summer program hosted between 100 and 120 students from more = than fifteen countries, making it the largest Yiddish summer program in = the world. The program will once again offer intensive Yiddish = instruction at five levels, from beginners to advanced. As students of = TAU International, the Tel Aviv University School for Overseas Students = whose credentials are recognized by universities world-wide, = participants will receive 80 hours of language and literature = instruction (four credits) with highly qualified and experienced = teachers in small classes.

Language instruction will be supplemented by an afternoon program of = lectures, conversation workshops, films, and tours, and by evening = cultural and social events.
Located minutes away from both the center of Tel Aviv and its beaches, = TAU is the largest university in Israel, with significant resources in = Jewish Studies, among them the Diaspora Museum and the Margulies Yiddish = Book Collection. Students can enjoy Tel Aviv's diverse attractions: = museums, cafes, Bauhaus architecture, the beach and the promenade, the = old harbor, summer festivals, and clubs in this Mediterranean city "that = never sleeps."
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Naomi Foundation, substantial = scholarships are available for full time students.
The costs of the program are:
* $ 1450 tuition
* $ 60 registration fee
* $ 600 for housing (double occupancy).
Please register online at: =
www.international.tau.ac.il
Closing Date for Applications: April 15, 2012.
For additional information, please contact:
North America: Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer = Program/Tel Aviv University/Office of Academic Affairs/39 Broadway, = Suite 1510/ New York, NY 10006/Tel: 1-800-665-9829 naomiyiddish@post.tau.ac.il

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Islamic Studies Undergraduate Research Symposium

Islamic Studies
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Call for Papers
Students will present their research with others from
30 colleges and universities in the tri-state area on topics related to Islamic studies within
the arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences and professional disciplines.
Papers may pertain to people, politics and policy
or religion, culture and society,….in historical or contemporary contexts.
Think outside the box!
Papers are eligible for cash prizes up to $500.00
April 14, 2012 at Washington and Jefferson College, 8:30am – 3:00pm
The symposium will include student competition, breakfast, lunch and
Keynote address
Email your paper along with cover-page (download at www.cerisnet.org) to
Ms. Elaine Linn, Assistant Director, Global Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh, at ceris@pobox.com
Paper submission deadline: March 31, 2012
Visit www.cerisnet.org for judging criteria, cover-page, symposium schedule, and useful links.
Sponsored by the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies

New Yiddish Club Forming

have you always wanted to learn Yiddish? are you interested in Yiddish culture? are you a fan of klezmer music? Now is your chance! Come to the upcoming meeting of the Yiddish culture club at the coffee tree roasters in shadyside at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1. RSVP to Sara (sarah@hilleljuc.org) by Monday if possible.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Reminder: Halpern Award

If you have any academic activity planned for summer 2012 or AY 2012-2013 that involves Jewish Studies, you should apply for this scholarship:

University of Pittsburgh, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
PROGRAM IN JEWISH STUDIES

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:

ETHEL M. HALPERN AWARD IN JEWISH STUDIES
for Undergraduate Jewish Studies students at the University of Pittsburgh
funded by the Ethel M. Halpern Endowed Fund for Students.

APPLICATIONS DUE: Monday February 13, 2012, 4 pm.

Undergraduate students are invited to apply for funding for any of the following purposes:
• travel or living expenses associated with a study abroad experience involving Jewish studies;
• travel or living expenses associated with participation in a summer language program in Hebrew, Yiddish, or another language relevant to Jewish studies;
• travel or living expenses associated with participation in an unpaid internship program connected to Jewish studies;
• travel expenses related to other study or research in Jewish studies;
• purchase of books or other materials related to research in Jewish studies.

Awards of up to $1000 each will be made for projects in the Summer of 2012 or during Academic Year 2012-2013.
Halpern Awards may be held in conjunction with other University and external funding in cases where the project costs exceed $1000.

The following application materials must be received in the Jewish Studies office, 2604 Cathedral of Learning, by 4 pm, Monday February 13, 2012: IN HARD COPY

• a statement of purpose explaining the proposed activities and how the activities will further the student’s undergraduate studies;
• a budget of anticipated expenses, including a list of other aid applied for, and a statement of the amount (up to $1000) requested from the Halpern Fund
• an official transcript from Pitt and any previous undergraduate institutions;
• a letter of recommendation from a faculty member familiar with the student’s work

Eligibility:
• Full-time undergraduates in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
• Have completed or be currently enrolled in at least one Jewish studies class (including Hebrew language) at the University of Pittsburgh.

For any questions about the award, please contact:
Adam Shear, Director, Jewish Studies, ashear@pitt.edu.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Scholarship available for Hebrew study

If you are planning to take Hebrew 3, 4, 5 next year, and interested in JEwish studies/Israel studies/Global studies, READ THIS NOW:



The application for Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) for both graduates and undergraduates is now open. Applications are available for both Academic Year as well as Summer.

About FLAS Fellowships

The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of higher education to assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies or with the international aspects of professional or fields of study.

The goals of the fellowship program are:
To assist in the development of knowledge, resources, and trained personnel for modern foreign language and area or international studies.
To foster foreign language acquisition and fluency.
To develop a domestic pool of international experts to meet national needs.

What are the benefits for Pitt Students?
Graduate academic year FLAS Fellows will receive full tuition and a $18,000 stipend
Undergraduate academic year FLAS Fellows will receive full tuition and a $5000 stipend
Summer FLAS fellows will receive $5000 toward tuition and a $2500 Stipend

What are the fellowship requirements?
Academic Year Fellows: The successful applicant must enroll each semester of Fellowship year in a FLAS-approved language and in full-time study in either area studies or professional studies related to the world area where the FLAS language is spoken here at the University of Pittsburgh. Undergraduates must enroll each semester in a language course at the intermediate level or higher.

Summer Fellows: The successful application must enroll in a formal domestic or overseas program of intensive language study during the summer. Students at the beginning (graduate only) and intermediate Levels are expected to attend domestic or overseas programs offering a minimum of 140 contact hours of instruction.

What languages can one study with a Global Studies FLAS Fellowship?
Arabic ( Modern Standard), Chinese, Hebrew (modern), Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu

Who is eligible to apply?
Any Pitt student is eligible to receive a fellowship if he or she:
- Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States
- Is accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a program that combines modern foreign language training with international studies or with the international aspects of professional or other fields of study.
- Shows potential for high academic achievement based on grade point average and class ranking.

Graduate FLAS applications are due to our office on February 15. Each department may nominate up to 4 candidates. Applications must come from the department and not from the individual student.

Summer 2012 applications for both graduate and undergraduate students are due February 15. Students may apply directly to the Global Studies office.

Undergraduate FLAS applications are due on March 1. Students may apply directly to the Global Studies office.

For more details on how to apply check the (FLAS website):http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/flas_grad.html or contact me, Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu

HALPERN AWARD FOR JEWISH STUDIES

PROGRAM IN JEWISH STUDIES

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:

ETHEL M. HALPERN AWARD IN JEWISH STUDIES
for Undergraduate Jewish Studies students at the University of Pittsburgh
funded by the Ethel M. Halpern Endowed Fund for Students.

APPLICATIONS DUE: Monday February 13, 2012, 4 pm.

Undergraduate students are invited to apply for funding for any of the following purposes:
• travel or living expenses associated with a study abroad experience involving Jewish studies;
• travel or living expenses associated with participation in a summer language program in Hebrew, Yiddish, or another language relevant to Jewish studies;
• travel or living expenses associated with participation in an unpaid internship program connected to Jewish studies;
• travel expenses related to other study or research in Jewish studies;
• purchase of books or other materials related to research in Jewish studies.

Awards of up to $1000 each will be made for projects in the Summer of 2012 or during Academic Year 2012-2013.
Halpern Awards may be held in conjunction with other University and external funding in cases where the project costs exceed $1000.

The following application materials must be received in the Jewish Studies office, 2604 Cathedral of Learning, by 4 pm, Monday February 13, 2012: IN HARD COPY

• a statement of purpose explaining the proposed activities and how the activities will further the student’s undergraduate studies;
• a budget of anticipated expenses, including a list of other aid applied for, and a statement of the amount (up to $1000) requested from the Halpern Fund
• an official transcript from Pitt and any previous undergraduate institutions;
• a letter of recommendation from a faculty member familiar with the student’s work

Eligibility:
• Full-time undergraduates in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
• Have completed or be currently enrolled in at least one Jewish studies class (including Hebrew language) at the University of Pittsburgh.

For any questions about the award, please contact:
Adam Shear, Director, Jewish Studies, ashear@pitt.edu.

Nationality Room Scholarships for Summer 2012

2012 Summer Study Abroad Scholarships for Global Studies
The Nationality Rooms Summer Study Abroad Scholarship Program was established to provide University of Pittsburgh graduate and undergraduate students with the opportunity to add an international dimension to their education. The purpose of these awards is to give an in-depth immersion experience of another culture for at least five weeks. The scholarships are the result of the committees’ fund-raising throughout the year. Scholarships are sometimes given in memory of an individual, or by a donor whose belief in the benefits of study abroad remains constant. The scholarships available for 2012 are listed on the web site (www.ucis.pitt.edu/natrooms).

Eligibility
Undergraduates must:
• Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Be current full-time University of Pittsburgh students
• Have 60-90 credits by April 2011 (current sophomores or juniors)
• Have a QPA of not less than 3.00
• Have been registered and present on a University of Pittsburgh campus as a full-time student for two (2) terms prior to the study abroad and be returning to a University of Pittsburgh campus as a full-time student for a minimum of two (2) terms immediately after study abroad
• Propose a career-related, credit-worthy study program of at least five (5) weeks

Graduate students must:
• Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Be current full-time University of Pittsburgh students and in good academic standing
• Have been registered and present on a University of Pittsburgh campus as a full-time student for two (2) terms prior to the study abroad and be returning to a University of Pittsburgh campus as full-time students for a minimum of two (2) terms immediately after study abroad
• Propose a career-related, credit-worthy study program of at least five (5) weeks. NOTE: The Nationality Rooms Summer Study Abroad Scholarship Program does not fund intensive language study at the graduate level
Application
The eight-page application form requests general information about the student (name, address, major, etc.) and requires information on the study program or research project, the number of credits earned for this work, two essays, and two references, one of which must be from a University of Pittsburgh faculty member. Applicants must submit a non-returnable photocopy of Pages 1 and 2 of the application at least 24 hours prior to an Information Session presented by the scholarship advisor. (The student retains the original to submit with the Final Application.) Pages one and two may be obtained at the Nationality Rooms Program office in 1209 Cathedral of Learning, or at the scholarship website: www.ucis.pitt.edu/natrooms. The sessions are scheduled from January 4 through January 20, 2012. Students are required to submit two (2) complete sets of their application for each award for which they wish to be considered by the January deadline. A complete application includes:
• Pages one through six
• Attachments (e.g., print-out of essays, independent research outline, study program description)
• For undergraduates only, an unofficial University of Pittsburgh transcript
References – Pages 7 and 8 are delivered to the Nationality Rooms Program office and are photocopied and attached to the complete application. Please stop in at the Nationality Rooms Program office, 1209 Cathedral of Learning, for further information. Email questions can be addressed to Eileen Kiley, Scholarship Advisor (kiley@pitt.edu).

Honors College Summer Research Awards

University Honors College 2012 Summer Research Abroad Awards
The University Honors College (UHC) 2012 Summer Research Abroad Awards are intended to support undergraduate scholarship abroad under the direction of a faculty mentor. Up to ten $5,000 awards, administered by the UHC, are available to provide students with funding to support international travel for a minimum of five weeks to conduct an original research project during the summer. Although travel with the cooperating faculty member is possible, students may conduct their research abroad without the cooperating faculty member’s presence at the research site. Students are not limited to working with University of Pittsburgh faculty members; for example, the research project may be pursued in a faculty member’s lab at an institution outside of the United States.
Deadlines and Eligibility
Applications are due February 1, 2012
Applications will be accepted from any University of Pittsburgh undergraduate who:
• has a 3.25 cumulative GPA
• has submitted a program application to Pitt’s Study Abroad Office or, if the research project is not part of a formal program, is working with the Study Abroad Office regarding the administrative details associated with travel abroad (more information can be found on the Study Abroad website www.abroad.pitt.edu)
• has a faculty sponsor within the project’s discipline who will be responsible for the oversight of the project
Application Requirements
Applications will be judged on the merits of the proposed research project and degree of support from the cooperating faculty mentor. Complete application instructions are available on the Honors College website at:
www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/opportunities/research-abroad-award.html

MA in Jewish Studies, Tel Aviv University: Scholarships Available

From: Emilie Levy [mailto:majes@post.tau.ac.il]
Sent: Mon 1/16/2012 1:35 AM
Subject: RE: scholarships offered by the MA program in Jewish Studies at Tel Aviv University

Scholarships: International MA in Jewish Studies (in English), Tel Aviv University, 2012-2013

The international MA in Jewish Studies at Tel Aviv University (in =
English)
invites applicants for two merit based scholarships of US $5,000 each to qualified international students for the 2012-2013 academic year.
=20
This new one year MA offers a series of intimate encounters with the classical texts of Jewish culture, from biblical to modern times. Its intellectual home is in the department of Hebrew Culture Studies at Tel = Aviv University, the single largest integrated Jewish Studies department in = the
world.=20
Courses are taught by a team of dedicated lecturers, with world-class expertise in their respective fields and committed to teaching = excellence.
Courses are text-centered, with primary texts in Hebrew (with = translations), and secondary reading and teaching in English, and students acquire the skills and tools that constitute the foundation of Jewish text study = Areas covered include Bible, Hebrew language, rabbinic exegesis and Midrash, Talmudic and Christian texts compared, Jewish mysticism, medieval = philosophy and kabbalah, ancient Jewish magic, and modern Jewish thought Tel Aviv's location provides excellent opportunities for on-site study.
Students can, e.g., enhance their understanding of 1st CE texts through = a series of guided excursions to archeological digs and other key = locations in the Galilee, the Judean Desert and Jerusalem.=20 Candidates must complete the program application, by March 15th.=20 Scholarships will be awarded by an academic committee.
To find out more about the program, and to apply for scholarships, = please visit our website:
http://humanities.tau.ac.il/jewish_studies/ or contact Emilie Levy:
majes@post.tau.ac.il

Friday, January 6, 2012

Considering Graduate School?

consider this scholarship opportunity:

http://foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/beinecke/index.html

For more information, contact

Judy Zang
Director of National Scholarships
University Honors College
1229 Cathedral of Learning
412-624-3697 • jaz36@pitt.edu

Pitt can nominate one junior for this fellowship. Deadline is February 24.

Open Jewish Studies Courses

Space Available in

JS 0014 Hebrew 2 M-F 10-10:50 (5 credits) (requires Hebrew 1 or the equivalent)

JS 0026 Hebrew 4 MWF 11-11:50 (requires Hebrew 3 or the equivalent)

JS 1065 Biblical Hebrew TH 11-12:15 (no prerequisite)

JS 1222 Jewish Mysticism MW 3-4:15 (no prerequisite)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Mark your calendars: Spring events

MORE DETAILS (AND MORE EVENTS) TO COME:

Thursday, February 2, 2012, 5 pm, 602 CL: We will co-sponsor a lecture by Horst Lange (University of Central Arkansas), "On the Complexities of Religious Discourse in the Eighteenth Century: The Case of Goethe.” (German, Humanities Center, Religious Studies)

March-April 2012: During JFilm’s Jewish/Israeli Film Festival, we will once again sponsor the “Film Schmooze” post-screening film discussions with members of our faculty and other scholars. Our sponsorship of JFilm is through our Giant Eagle Foundation Endowment for Community Outreach.

Thursday, March 29, 2012, 7 pm, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium: We will co-sponsor a screening and discussion of the documentary film, “A Suitcase Full of Chocolate: The life of the pianist Sofia Cosma, (1914-2011)” with the film’s producer Lincoln Mayorga and Professor Beverly Harris-Schenz (German).

Thursday, April 11, 2012: Fradle Freidenreich, whose book, Passionate Pioneers: The Story of Yiddish Secular Education in North America, 1910-19, was published last year, will speak at Rodef Shalom Congregation. We will co-sponsor this talk with the Rauh Jewish Archives, Rodef Shalom, and Congregation Dor Hadash, through our Giant Eagle Foundation Endowment for Community Outreach.
Monday, April 23, 2012: Conference: “The Holocaust and the Middle Ages: Medieval Anti-Judaism in the Crucible of Modern Thought,” organized by Hannah Johnson (English) and Nina Caputo (University of Florida). Details TBA.

Work-Study Job Opportunity

Torah Study Positions
For Work Study Students or Volunteers

The Aleph Institute is a not-for-profit Jewish educational, religious and humanitarian organization serving incarcerated Jewish men and women and their families. Our guiding principle is “no one alone, no one forgotten." Among our many programs is our Torah Study Correspondence Course. We have about 300 students in state and federal prisons and county jails across the United States.
We need Faculty and Administrative staff who will:

• Administer our correspondence course
• Maintain and update student records electronically
• Answer correspondence from students and prison chaplains
• Grade exams, add encouraging notes and suggestions
• Research and answer questions from students by mail
• Interact with prison chaplains by telephone & email to resolve problems
• Help with many details of running a correspondence course

Interested candidates should possess excellent interpersonal and writing skills and the desire to help less fortunate people grow. We serve a very diverse students population of Jews from many countries and cultures around the world. Staff members must be proficient in Word and have a working knowledge of Excel and Publisher or be willing to learn. We need people with knowledge of social media and web communications. Although prison inmates have only limited access to email and the web we try to use electronic data technology to speed our service and reduce our costs.

Interested students should contact Richard Goldstein rgoldstein@alephne.org or 412-421-0111 x115