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Judaic Studies Newsletter
Fall 2001 | No. 1
Dr. Feingold to Speak on the American Jewish Experience
Dr. Henry L. Feingold, Professor of History and Director, Jewish Resource Center, Baruch College, CUNY, will be the second speaker in the UCF Judaic Studies Distinguished Lecturers Series this Fall semester. He will speak on "The American Jewish Experience - From Commandment to Persuasion: Is American Jewry in Crisis" on Monday, November 5, 2001, at 7:30PM, in the UCF Visual Arts Building Auditorium. Dr. Feingold will also conduct a seminar on "American Jewry and the Holocaust: Did American Jewry Do Enough During the Holocaust" on Tuesday, November 6, 2001, at 10AM, in Phillips Hall, Room 213.
Dr. Feingold is one of America's distinguished scholars specializing in the American Holocaust witness role and the reaction of American Jewry to the Holocaust. In this area, his most important books are The Politics of Rescue: The Roosevelt Administration and the Holocaust, 1938-1945 (1971) and, more recently, Bearing Witness, How America and Its Jews Responded to the Holocaust (1995). He is also recognized as one of the foremost experts on American Jewry. His works include Zion in America: The Jewish Experience from Colonial Times to the Present (1974); A Midrash on the History of American Jewry (1982); A Time for Searching: Entering the Mainstream, 1920-1945 (1992); and Lest Memory Cease, Finding Meaning in the American Jewish Past (1996). He is also the General Editor of the five volume series published by Johns Hopkins University, The Jewish People in America (1992).
Dr. Feingold has served in offices of numerous organizations including the American Jewish Historical Society, The American Jewish Congress, The United States Holocaust Memorial Council, and The Museum of Jewish Heritage. He is currently Director of the Jewish Resource Center at Baruch College and Professor of History at Baruch College and The Graduate Center, CUNY.
These activities are sponsored by the Judaic Studies Program at UCF with the cooperation of the Honors College, Liberal Studies and the Office of International Studies. This lecture is open to the public and is free of charge. Permits for parking should be secured through the Campus Visitors Booth prior to both lecture and seminar. Funded by grants from Friends of Judaic Studies.
For further information, please contact Dr. Moshe Pelli, Director, Judaic Studies, UCF at (407) 823-5039 or 823-5129.
Prof. Schiffman Spoke on the Dead Sea Scrolls
 Dr. Lawrence H. Schiffman, Chairman of New York University's Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, was the first speaker in the UCF Judaic Studies Distinguished Lecturers Series this Fall semester. He spoke on "The Dead Sea Scrolls at 2001: The Contribution of the Now Published Qumran Texts to the History of Judaism and the Background of Christianity" on Monday, October 22, 2001, at 7:30PM, in the UCF Visual Arts Building Auditorium. Dr. Schiffman also conducted a seminar on "The Recently Published Letters of the Rebel Leader Simeon Bar Kosiba (Bar Kokhba) as Evidence for the Course of the Bar Kokhba Revolt" on Tuesday, October 23, 2001, at 10AM, in Phillips Hall, Room 213.
Dr. Schiffman is also a member of the University's Center for Near Eastern Studies and Ancient Studies. He serves as President of the Association for Jewish Studies. He is a specialist in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaism in Late Antiquity, the history of Jewish Law, and Talmudic literature. During the academic year 1989/90 he was a Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
In his rich academic career Dr. Schiffman has published some 150 articles as well as numerous books. Some of his recent publications include Halakhah, Halikhah u-Meshihiyut be-Khat Midbar Yehudah (Law, Custom, and Messianism in the Dead Sea Sect) (Merkaz Shazar, 1993); and From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism (Ktav, 1991). Texts and Traditions: A Source Reader for the Study of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism (Ktav, 1998); Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls (J. P. S., 1994; Doubleday paperback, 1995); Hebrew and Aramaic Magical Texts from the Cairo Genizah (Sheffield, 1992). Dr. Schiffman was featured in the PBS Nova series documentary, "Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls," as well as three BBC documentaries on the scrolls, the McNeil-Lehrer program, and a Discovery special. He appears regularly in the popular educational series, "Mysteries of the Bible," on the Arts and Entertainment channel.
UCF Judaic Studies-Honors College Luncheon
Students, faculty and community people met Dr. L. Schiffman after his Tuesday October 23, 2001, seminar for an informal lunch. Dr. Schiffman spoke about the state of Dead Sea Scrolls research and his own scholarly activities. A question and answer discussion ensued.
(from left to right) Dr. Kurt Koerting, former instructor of German and a student in the Judaic Studies Program, Jill Painter, Director of Honors Student Affairs, the Honors College, Allyn M. Stearman, Dean of the College, Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, Dr. Moshe Pelli, and Morris Rashy, a community student in the Judaic Studies Program.
UCF Judaic Studies Certificate Awarded
Morris Rashy, a community student in the Judaic Studies
Program at UCF, is awarded a certificate for completing 15
credit hours in Judaic Studies. The certificate was awarded
at the October 22, 2001, public lecture of Dr. Schiffman.
Dr. Moshe Pelli (left), Director of UCF Judaic Studies Program, presents the certificate to Mr. Rashy (right).
Prof. Pelli's New Book Explores Literature of Hebrew Enlightenment
 Prof. Moshe Pelli has just published a new book, his second this year, in Israel. The book, based on Pelli's original research on Hebrew Haskalah (Enlightenment) literature, is the first critical writing in Hebrew scholarship on major literary genres in early Hebrew literature. The book is titled Dor Hame'asfim Beshaar Hahaskalah [The Me'asfim Generation at the Dawn of Haskalah]: The Literary Contribution of the Writers of Hame'asef [known as Me'asfim], the First Hebrew Periodical 1783-1811.
The book assesses the literary production of early Hebrew Maskilim, the proponents of Enlightenment, in Germany, who contributed to the first Hebrew literary journal Hame'asef. The chapters in the book are devoted to the following literary genres: poetry, prose, the epigram, the fable, and biography. These genres are delineated, analyzed and evaluated while their sub-groups within each category are also discussed.
Special attention is given to the external impact of European literature of the Eighteenth century on the revived Hebrew literature. Similarly, the internal influence of traditional Hebrew literature on Hebrew Haskalah is discussed as well. In addition, a special chapter dwells on the phenomenon of the revival of Hebrew language, which the author traces to the early Haskalah.
Earlier this year Prof. Pelli published his book The Gate to Haskalah, which includes a monograph and an annotated, computerized index on the first Hebrew journal, Hame'asef.
Hame'asef was the literary journal and the ideological organ of Hebrew Enlightenment in Germany and was published from 1783 to 1811.
The book presents the scholar and the student of the period and its literature with a comprehensive view of the achievements of Hebrew Enlightenment literature in Germany. It evaluates the contribution of various authors to Haskalah literature and assesses the contents and the quality of diversified literary genres employed by the authors and editors of Hame'asef.
Hebrew Enlightenment - Turning Point in Jewish History
Hebrew Haskalah marks a turning point in the history of the Jewish people, its culture and letters in modern times. It began in Germany in the 1780s as a group of enterprising young Hebrew writers undertook upon themselves a new and daring mission: to revive the Jewish people by reviving the Hebrew language and Jewish culture. As part of their plan, they began to publish a modern, up-to-date monthly journal in the Hebrew language named Hame'asef (The Gatherer).
The periodical was more than just a literary journal patterned after contemporary German literary publications. The journal became the ideological mouthpiece of a literary and cultural movement that began a concerted effort to affect a cultural revolution among Jews in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. It also served as an organ that published the literary works produced by its circle of writers. Through their literary endeavor, these writers ushered in the modern times in Jewish history and started the modern trends in Hebrew letters. The journal Hame'asef reflects one of the most important periods in modern Jewish History, marking the beginning of the transition of European Jews into modern times. Some of the first works of literature in modern Hebrew letters were first published in Hame'asef, or else were discussed and reviewed in that journal. Major literary genres that were prevalent in European literatures at the time were first introduced to Hebrew literature in Hame'asef. In addition to original works, the journal printed translations into Hebrew of poetry and prose from European languages.
The Literary Contribution of Hebrew Writers
The journal was the first project undertaken by the Maskilim in their plan to revive the Hebrew language and Jewish culture, a topic which is discussed in detail in the chapter on the Hebrew language. Several literary genres that were prevalent in European literatures at the time were introduced into Hebrew literature through this journal.
The introductory chapter assess the contribution of the journal in establishing a center for the cultivation of Hebrew literature. Mainly serving the group of writers living in Germany, it also catered to those living elsewhere in Europe.
In chapter one, the author examines the phenomenology of poetry in Hame'asef, which was the most popular section in the journal, delineating its various sub-genres, and attempting to assess its poetic merits.
Chapter two undertakes, for the first time in Haskalah criticism, to delineate, analyze, and explain the phenomena of prose narratives in Hame'asef. Out of over one-thousand different items published in the ten volumes of Hame'asef, there were eighteen entries identified as prose narrative, including four idylls in prose.
The fable, the subject of another chapter, was one of the most widespread genres in 18th-century European Enlightenment literature as well as in Hebrew Haskalah. Hame'asef published fifty-five fables in its ten volumes, which turned out to be the third most popular genre of literature in the journal.
The Epigram - to Promote Haskalah's Ideas and Ideology
Like the fable, the epigram - the subject of yet another chapter - was one of the most prevalent genres found in Hame'asef. There were ninety-four epigrams published in the journal. The author examines the complex and diversified definitions of the epigram in European literatures in the centuries preceding the Enlightenment, followed by the 18th-century German concept of the epigram. Some epigrams were intended to promote Haskalah's ideas and ideology, or to advocate the supremacy of wisdom. Other motto-epigrams appear to send universal messages to humanity or to the readers.
Hebrew biography, the subject of another chapter, was intended to present exemplary figures in historical and contemporary Judaism to be emulated by the youths. This chapter is devoted to the biography of Maimonides, the great medieval Jewish philosopher and codifier, who left his mark on the young Maskilim.
The last chapter analyzes and discusses the attitude of the Maskilim toward the Hebrew language and the linguistic efforts of the editors and the writers of Hame'asef to rejuvenate the language.
Judaic Studies ListServ
Our program has created a ListServ of UCF faculty and staff interested in Judaic Studies and in Jewish related activities. We have announced several community activities initiated by the JCC, Holocaust Memorial Center and others.
This ListServ serves UCF faculty and staff for exchange of ideas and news. It will also serve as a conduit to and from the community.
JSU/Hillel and Community Events
Read Hebrew America
During the month of November thousands of Jewish young adults will gather in thousands of locations across North America to learn to read Hebrew, the language of our people.
The five free hour and a half lessons are available for beginning and intermediate students. For more information and to register, please contact Tamar at tamar@flahillel.org.
Thursday, Nov. 1, 6:30 pm, UCF MOD2 102B
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 6:30 pm, UCF CNH 204
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 6:30 pm, UCF CNH 204
Monday, Nov. 19, 6:30 pm, UCF MOD2 102B
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 6:30 pm, UCF CNH 204
SAFAM Concert
Saturday, December 1, 8:00 pm
Temple Israel
Come listen to diverse musical styles with humor, sensitivity, vocal harmonies and instrumental treatments. Student tickets are $18 each. For more information and carpools, please contact Josh Sherwin at joshsherwin@hotmail.com.
Congratulations to the New JSU/Hillel Student Board:
President: Rachel Feinman
Vice President: Leia Rosenberg
Secretary: David Kaplan
Treasurer: Jay Feldman
To Join, call Wendi Harris
(407) 758-4802
Study In Israel for UCF Credit
Judaic Studies has announced A Study in Israel Program co-sponsored with the Honors College, The Office of International Studies and the Liberal Studies Program. UCF Students will be able to enroll in Israeli Universities for a semester, a year or summer program, and transfer credits to their respective departments. Dr. Pelli has visited various schools and programs for overseas students at major Israeli universities and met with their respective rectors and directors.
Students will get counseling from the Judaic Studies Program and the Office of International Studies. Once fulfilling all course requirements, students will be able to transfer credits to UCF.
For information and a brochure, call Judaic Studies office at (407) 823-5129 or write to:
Judaic Studies Program
Office of Interdisciplinary Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
Orlando, Florida 32816-1992
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