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Holy Land Archaeology Course

Holy Land Archaeology Course Blog Duke students travel to Israel-Palestine in this course entitled “Holy Land Archaeology” on the major archaeological sites of the region and the political and religious issues that emerge from or surround their excavation. In this blog students post about their experiences, course of study, and impressions of the Holy Land. read more about Holy Land Archaeology Course »

A Conversation with Eric and Carol Meyers: Ambassadors for Peace - An Interfaith Journey to Turkey

Duke Professors Eric and Carol Meyers visit Istanbul with the Diwan Society of North Carolina in the summer of 2009. In this interview they talk about the special place that Turkey holds as a link between East and West, as well as a religious community of Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Drawing on their years of experience, they speak about the significance of interfaith discourse, and the bridge between historic and modern Turkey as an ecumenical community. read more about A Conversation with Eric and Carol Meyers: Ambassadors for Peace - An Interfaith Journey to Turkey »

Publication of the Marshall T. Meyer Digital Collection

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Rabbis and Imams discuss halacha and shariah.

Abraham and Isaac — or, as some would have it, Ibrahim and Ishmael — took center stage when some of America’s most prominent Modern Orthodox rabbis and Muslim imams discussed their respective legal systems and foundational texts, and their implications for Jewish-Muslim relations today.   The October 30 seminar “Ancient Texting” brought together 15 rabbis expert in Halacha, or traditional Jewish law, and 15 imams steeped in shariah, traditional Muslim law, for a recent daylong seminar at Manhattan’s historic Temple… read more about Rabbis and Imams discuss halacha and shariah. »

Shalom Goldman: Teaching With Sacred Stories

Durham, NC - In the beginning, Shalom Goldman didn't have much of a future.Goldman began studying comparative religions while a University of Wisconsin undergrad in the early 1970s, a time when that field was considered less than a growth market.Religion was an internal thing then, a relationship between you and your God, not something discussed as loudly or publicly as it is today. Things have changed."When I started to study this, it was interesting to maybe 200 people in the world," says Goldman, a new addition to… read more about Shalom Goldman: Teaching With Sacred Stories »

Lecture promotes Jewish unity in US, Israel

After more than a century since the founding of Zionism, the Jewish political movement continues to wrestle with the future of Israel, a leading scholar said.Arnold Eisen, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, discussed his vision for Zionism in the 21st century and the importance of honest conversation between diaspora and Israeli Jews in a lecture Tuesday. The event was sponsored by the Rudnick Endowment.“The Jewish people need new Zionist dreams,” Eisen said. “2011 is not 1896.”Israeli Jews should… read more about Lecture promotes Jewish unity in US, Israel »

Spring 2012 Courses Now Open

Spring Courses are now online!  Register on ACES for what promises to be an extremely exciting semester! Shalom Goldman is teaching an exciting new course on Zionism for Spring 2012. Sign up now for this class, and read an excerpt from his book, "Zeal for Zionism," here: http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/2171/excerpt:_the_christian_roots_of_zionismLaura Lieber is teaching courses on Jewish Ethics, as well as Magic, Mysticism and Folklore in the Jewish Tradition!  Learn about medieval Zombie Stories… read more about Spring 2012 Courses Now Open »

Panelists evaluate Turkey as a model for democracy

As old regimes in the Arab world dissolve, a new voice is asserting itself on contentious regional issues. Now the world’s 15th largest economy, Turkey is quickly becoming a powerful voice in Middle Eastern politics.To address the changing political landscape of northern Africa and the Middle East, the Sanford School of Public Policy held a discussion Tuesday with two journalists who follow Middle Eastern politics, focusing especially on Turkey and Israel. In a panel titled “Israel-Turkey and the Greater Middle East… read more about Panelists evaluate Turkey as a model for democracy »

"I Have No Right to Be Silent" exhibit opened October 4 at the Duke Divinity School, York Room.

Rabbi Marshall Meyer was an ordinary man whose extraordinary convictions, faith, and impetuous personality impelled him to become one of the most important human rights activists during Argentina's Dirty War (1976-1983). Marshall is remembered for what he did, namely his human rights work and social justice activism. But his legacy is made that much greater by his ability to articulate why we are all responsible for speaking out against injustice. This exhibit is not only a commemoration of the… read more about "I Have No Right to Be Silent" exhibit opened October 4 at the Duke Divinity School, York Room. »

September 11 seminar with Prof. Kenneth B. Moss

The Jewish Studies Seminar will meet on September 11 at 3PM. Our guest will be Professor Kenneth B. Moss, Felix Posen Associate Professor of Modern Jewish History, Department of History and Chair, the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Program in Jewish Studies, The Johns Hopkins University.   He will lead a discussion of  "Unchosen Peoplehood: Spoiled Identity, Political [...] read more about September 11 seminar with Prof. Kenneth B. Moss »

2011 – 2012 Jewish Studies Seminar Schedule

Sept. 11 – Kenneth Moss (Johns Hopkins Univ.) “Unchosen Peoplehood: Spoiled Identity, Political Extrusion, and the National Horizon of Polish Jews, 1918-1939″ Nov. 13 – Julie Mell (NCSU) “The Jewish Serfdom That Never Was: Jews and the Origins of English Representative Government” Dec. 4 – Omar Kamil (Dubnov Institute, Leipzig) “Arab Approaches to Jewish History: [...] read more about 2011 – 2012 Jewish Studies Seminar Schedule »

Seminar Sept. 11 with Prof. Kenneth B. Moss

The Jewish Studies Seminar will meet on September 11 at 3PM. Our guest will be Professor Kenneth B. Moss, Felix Posen Associate Professor of Modern Jewish History, Department of History and Chair, the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Program in Jewish Studies, The Johns Hopkins University.   He will lead a discussion of  ”Unchosen Peoplehood: Spoiled Identity, Political [...] read more about Seminar Sept. 11 with Prof. Kenneth B. Moss »

European Jewish Émigrés and the Shaping of Postwar Culture

Conference in the Memory of Lilian Furst (1931-2009) Former Marcel Bataillon Professor of Comparative Literature (UNC-Chapel Hill) *** RSVP to Sandi Payne Greene  payne@email.unc.edu ~~~~~~~~~~ 1 PM  Opening – Madeline Levine (UNC):  Lilian Furst and Postwar European Jewish Intellectuals - East & West 1:15 PM – A clip from Lilian Furst’s video testimony at the Shoah Foundation [...] read more about European Jewish Émigrés and the Shaping of Postwar Culture »

Next seminar January 30 with Prof. Alexander (Ari) Joskowicz

The next meeting of the Jewish Studies Seminar is Sunday, January 30, 2011.  Our guest will be Alexander (Ari) Joskowicz, Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies, European Studies and History at Vanderbilt University. He will lead a discussion of “Antisemitism, Anti-Catholicism, and Anticlericalism: An Entangled History.” paper available  JSS – Joskowicz read more about Next seminar January 30 with Prof. Alexander (Ari) Joskowicz »