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The Adam Cherrick Lectures in Jewish Studies
The Adam Cherrick Fund in Jewish Studies was established in 1989 by Jordan and Lorraine Cherrick of St. Louis, Missouri, in memory of their son. Its purpose is to advance Jewish Studies at Washington University. Since its inception, the Adam Cherrick Fund has benefited both the University community and St. Louis at large by bringing world-renowned scholars to speak on campus.
The 2008 Adam Cherrick Lecture in Jewish Studies
Not 'Who is a Jew?' but 'What is a Jew?'
Historical Perspectives on Jewish Identity
David Goodblatt
Professor of History, Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies
University of California, San Diego
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
7:00 PM
Whitaker Hall, Auditorium
Many people are familiar with the debate on the question “Who is a Jew?” This is a contentious issue both in Israel (with regard to the Law of Return) and in the US (with regard to the Reform movement's position on patrilineal descent). The broader question, “What is a Jew?” has been the subject of ongoing debate for several centuries. At issue is the nature of Jewish identity—is being Jewish religious or racial or ethnic or national? History cannot tell us what the answer should be. It can inform us about the character of Jewish identity in the past.
Kosher reception to follow.
Previous Lectures:
Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert
“Making a Home in the Diaspora:
Judaism and the Neighborhood”
Stanford University
2007
Menachem Kellner
“Must a Jew Believe Anything”
University of Haifa, Israel
2006
Derek Penslar
“Broadcasting Power, Transmitting Culture:
Radio and the Making of Modern Israel”
University of Toronto
2005
Susan Niditch
"War and Reconciliation in the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinic Interpretations "
Amherst College
2004
Kenneth Seeskin
"Can God Be Known? A Maimonidean Perplexity?"
(In memory of Professor Steven S. Schwarzschild)
Northwestern University
2003
Leonard Fein
"Jewish Experiences of America:
Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?"
Founding editor, Moment Magazine
2002
Jeffrey Gurock
"American Orthodoxy's Era of Non-Observance"
Yeshiva University
2001
Martin Jaffee
"Writing, Orality, and Revelation in Second Temple Judaism"
University of Washington-Seattle
2000
Fred Lazin
"Challenges of Absorption: Russians and Ethiopians in Israel"
Ben Gurion University, Seer Sheva
1999
David Berger
"The Lubavitcher Rebbe as Messiah:
Implications for Judaism and the Messianic Idea"
Brooklyn College
1997
Pnina Lahav
"Between Zionism and Judaism: Israeli Identity and Diaspora Jewry"
Boston University
1996
David Novak
"Spinoza's Philosophical Deconstruction of Judaism"
University of Virginia
1995
Haym Soloveitchick
"Transformations in Contemporary Orthodox Judaism"
Yeshiva University
1993
Washington
University in St. Louis; Program in Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Studies;
Campus Box 1121; One Brookings Drive; St. Louis, MO 63130-4899