Education
Gratz College Launches America’s First Master’s Degree in Antisemitism Studies
PHILADELPHIA, February 22, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Gratz College is launching the first Master of Arts degree program in Antisemitism Studies in the United States in Fall 2024. This ground-breaking program will help fill the vacuum of knowledge about antisemitism across Jewish, non-Jewish, and governmental organizations responsible for generating policy to combat prejudice at a time of unprecedented Jew hatred.
It will:
• Provide an academic home for those seeking to develop both a deep theoretical and practical understanding of antisemitism;
• Help generate new and impactful research on the factors that contribute to growing antisemitism and test interventions that can successfully combat it; and
• Arm educators and practitioners with the most effective antisemitism pedagogy and programming.
Through degree concentrations in teaching, advocacy and research, graduates of this program will be uniquely qualified for prominent careers in education, think tanks, government relations, public policy, and community organizations (Jewish and non-Jewish).
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is eager to see this program take shape:
“We’re seeing a dangerous rise in antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry across our country – and it’s more important than ever that Pennsylvanians be equipped with a thorough knowledge of our shared history and the skills to discern fact from fiction. Gratz College is already renowned for its Holocaust and Genocide Studies programs, and I am encouraged the College is expanding upon that work with a new Master’s degree in Antisemitism Studies. I wish the faculty, staff, and especially the inaugural class of Antisemitism Studies students, great success in their work.”
The program is directed by Dr. Ayal Feinberg, antisemitism studies expert and Director of the Center for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights at Gratz College. The program boasts a distinguished interdisciplinary faculty from academia and leading public advocacy organizations. Despite its infancy, the degree has been endorsed by nearly one hundred scholars and public policy experts from around the world. Professor of Political Science at Kalamazoo College R. Amy Elman asserts, “With an emphasis on operationalizing knowledge, informed teaching and ethical advocacy, Gratz’s innovative graduate program fulfills a deep need in countering antisemitism.”
Gratz’s Antisemitism Studies program is also establishing ground-breaking partnerships with the world’s most prominent Jewish organizations and programs to combat antisemitism in the classroom, on campus, and in professional workspaces. In the first such partnership, Gratz and The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History have joined forces to launch the National Education Fellowship on Antisemitism. The aim of this fellowship is to generate and assess paradigm-shifting middle and high school curriculum to reduce Jew-hatred and prejudice more broadly.
As an early adopter of online education, a 128-year history of Jewish learning, and home to the world’s largest graduate program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Gratz is uniquely qualified to take on this necessary and overdue program.
On March 4, 2024, the master’s degree program will kick-off with a series of public lectures, including by scholars serving as affiliate faculty for the program. On April 2, 2024, Dr. Avinoam Patt, inaugural director of NYU’s Center for Study of Antisemitism and the Maurice Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies, will deliver a keynote lecture, titled, "Awake My People": Jewish Responses to Antisemitism in the Modern Period.” Additional talks will take place before the program officially begins in August.
Prospective students eager to start may apply now and take courses as early as March 2024 with electives in Antisemitism Studies already developed as a preview to the program.
Gratz College is grateful to the Isidore and Penny Myers Foundation for generously supporting the launch of the Antisemitism Studies program. Jay Myers, Board Chair, shared: “The Isidore and Penny Myers Foundation, a family foundation guided by Jewish American values, sees great worth in educating future generations about the roots of Antisemitism, and by doing so, working to combat it. This degree program will create scholars who can devote their talent to meet this challenge. Our Foundation is proud to support this work and by so doing, meet our obligation to help repair the world.”
Contact: lcohen@gratz.edu for more information.
Contact Information:Lori Cohen
Director of Marketing and Design
lcohen@gratz.edu
215-635-7300 x182
Original Source: Gratz College Launches America's First Master's Degree in Antisemitism Studies
Latest Fit News
Lingoda Survey Shows How Setting Realistic Goals Helps Conquer New Year’s Resolutions
NEW YORK, January 11, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Lingoda, one of the top global online language schools, has unveiled insights from a recent survey shedding light on the ambitions and challenges faced by 2,000 adults in the United States as they embark on their 2024 resolutions. The survey explores the most common New Year's aspirations, revealing weight loss, lifestyle improvements, and language learning as the top three wish list.
Survey Highlights:
- Common Resolutions: Weight loss, exercise, diet improvement, and language learning were identified as the top resolutions for 2024.
-
Blockers to Success:
- 60% cited a lack of motivation.
- 54% struggled due to setting unrealistic goals.
- 57% revealed external factors like work and family commitments affected resolution outcomes.
- Confidence in Realistic Goals: 51% believe that with specific and realistic goals, they could overcome obstacles and adhere to their resolutions.
Sticking to Resolutions: The Challenge
Despite best intentions, the survey uncovered the difficulties of maintaining momentum throughout the year. A significant 60% confessed that motivation tends to wane, while 54% attributed struggles to setting unrealistic goals. External disruptions, such as work-related tasks and family commitments, also played a role for 57%.
Turning Resolutions into Reality: Three Practical Tips
- Be Specific: Break down goals into smaller, achievable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Rely on Discipline, Not Motivation: Create a routine, allocate dedicated time, and maintain consistency in efforts. Recognize that progress may not always be linear.
- Find Your Tribe and Celebrate Successes: Belonging to a supportive community aids in overcoming challenges. Share experiences and celebrate achievements to reinforce intentions.
Methodology:
The study was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Lingoda, collecting quantitative data from 2,000 US adults aged 18 and older between December 14-18, 2023. Participants were questioned about their resolutions, perceived blockers, and factors that could ease the fulfillment of their goals.
ABOUT LINGODA
Lingoda is one of the top online language schools. Founded in Berlin, Germany in 2013, we provide convenient and accessible online language courses in German, English, Business English, French and Spanish to over 100,000 students worldwide. With almost 550,000 classes available per year and accessible 24/7, our mission is to build bridges around the world through language learning.
Visit Lingoda.com to learn more.
Contact Information:Susanne Börensen
International PR Manager
press@lingoda.com
Original Source: Lingoda Survey Shows How Setting Realistic Goals Helps Conquer New Year's Resolutions
