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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2000)
New York scholar heads Judaic Studies program ■ Because of a generous donation, students interested in Jewish culture are given more opportunity to learn By Brooke Ross Oregon Daily Emerald The year-old Judaic Studies de partment welcomes a new director this fall. Judith Baskin, a prominent Judaic Studies scholar, has accept ed the head position of the Univer sity’s Harold Schnitzer Family Pro gram in Judaic Studies. “It’s an honor to be a part of the program,” she said. Baskin is interested in Judaic Studies and has spent several years teaching it. She is the author of “Jewish Women in Historical Per spective,” currently in its second edition. The book is used to teach students throughout North Ameri ca and Israel. Before coming to the University, she taught at the State University of New York at Albany for 12 years. Baskin knows it will be different teaching in Eugene because there is less of a Jewish population in Ore gon than there is in New York. An other significant difference from her previous teaching experience is Courtesy Photo Judith Baskin directs the new Judaic Stud ies program, funded by a donation. that SUNY’s program was state supported, while the University’s program is funded through a pri vate endowment. The University’s program was es tablished in 1999 when Harold, Ar lene and Jordan Schnitzer gave the University $1.5 million from the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation.“I think the Judaic Studies program offers students a richer opportunity to study in a va riety of ways,” said Joe Stone, dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Stone said he feels that the Juda ic Studies program offers new choices for students, such as study ing modern and biblical Hebrew. Before the program’s graduating seniors think about caps and gowns, they must complete a sen ior project, which is focused on a Judaic Studies topic of their choos ing. Other classes within the major program include an internship and a thesis project. Baskin will be teaching Judaic Studies 201, Foun dations of Jewish Thought, this fall. One challenge in the program is that the University does not have its own Judaic Studies faculty, Baskin said. One of her goals for the Judaic Studies program is to work more with other University depart ments. There are several courses outside the department that can be used for the Judaic Studies major, Baskin said. German 399, Modern Yiddish Literature, is just one of the classes that tie in with the major. The class gives a history of Eastern Europe and the Holocaust, which is reflect ed in Judaic Studies, said Jonathan Skolnik, assistant professor of Ger manic languages and literatures. Judaic Studies majors should find this class helpful because it of fers a history about the origins of Jewish culture. “I think the class will offer stu dents a window to east Jewish cul ture of the 19th and 20th cen turies,” Skolnik said. Baskin feels that keeping close connections with the community, University faculty and other col leges throughout the state is key to the program’s success. Baskin has already met with Judaic Studies representatives from other Oregon universities. Over the summer, Baskin met in Salem with associates from Willamette University, Reed Col lege, Portland State University, Pa cific University and Lewis and Clark College. Baskin, who served as a speaker at the meeting, feels that one good way for Oregon Judaic Studies de partments to work together is by sharing guest speakers who travel to the state. Other ideas she has in clude fund raising and workshops. The group hopes to meet once every year to share ideas, but for now Baskin is keeping contact es tablished through e-mail. Currently, the Yale graduate serves as the vice president of the National Association of Judaic Studies, of which she has been a member for 24 years. She enjoys her involvement in the NAJS and feels that the experience also helps her in the classroom. “Lowest Prices, Guaranteed” Any Questions Just Call 343-SAVE (7283) mmm 166 W. 6th St. (across from the Wild Duck) Av#M»Ha#4 Otaltr Student Groups, flflwertise your upcoming events in the Oregon Daily Emerald. Special student rates. Call 346-3712 Careful ...you might just find what you’re looking for. Oregon Daily Emerald Classifieds
