The Hillel Foundation for Jewish Life at Stony Brook University in partnership with The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) will be hosting the second annual Jewish University for a Day on Sunday, April 21, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Charles B. Wang Center. The event will offer the community an opportunity to learn alongside some of the brightest minds from both the University and JTS.
One of the day’s highlights will include, “The Role of Jews in American Political Life,” a conversation between Congressman Steve Israel and Professor Jim Klurfeld, from Stony Brook University School of Journalism, who is also former editor of Newsday’s editorial page. A Q&A with the audience will follow the talk.
Stony Brook Journalism Assistant Professor Ilana Ozernoy will explore the legacy of her father’s historic battle as a prominent Soviet refusenik and how it led her to confront her own religious identity while covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Evonne-Kaplan Liss, a clinical associate professor in preventive medicine and pediatrics who is also affiliated faculty in the School of Journalism, will be moderating a discussion with four prominent female Jewish doctors affiliated with Stony Brook Medicine, as they examine how gender and Judaism have affected their career paths in the medical field. Other Stony Brook faculty program features include “Jews, Lincoln and the Civil War,” and “Varieties of Jewish Scientific Experience.”
Leading scholars from JTS will be presenting on topics including “Jews and American Theater,” prophecy in the Bible, as well as the right to privacy as it pertains to Jewish law. JTS’ David Kraemer notes, “where do rights to your own privacy end and a community’s rights to monitor your activities begin? Jewish teachings, emerging from a traditional communitarian perspective, might be expected to minimize our right to privacy, but the reality is not so simple. We will together consider what our community has the right to know and what only God has the right to know.”
A special track will be offered for high school students that will include vital information about the college admissions process, obtaining financial aid and Jewish life in higher education. In addition, Stony Brook faculty and student leaders will present a workshop on college leadership skills.
“The collaboration between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Stony Brook University Hillel brings together the very best in Jewish scholarship that two great educational institutions have to offer,” said Stony Brook Hillel President Evelyn Bromet.
“Featuring both JTS and Stony Brook faculty, this marvelous adult Jewish learning event allows participants to choose from a wide range of topics to learn about during the day,” said Moshe Margolin, senior director, The Institute for Jewish Learning at JTS. “There is something for everyone — from the beginner to the advanced learner — and the event is both intellectually stimulating and fun.”
In addition to these compelling presentations, participants will receive a light breakfast, a full lunch and a live music performance by The Stony Brook Klezmer Orchestra.
Registration for Jewish University for a Day is $36 in advance and $50 at the door. The program is $30 for seniors, $18 for high school students and free for all Stony Brook University matriculating students. Click here to register.
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