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
Biz Markie’s Emergency Food Pantry: A Lifeline for the Community
HARLEM, N.Y., July 27, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Harlem Dowling-West Side Center for Children and Family Services and Biz Markie's Just A Friend Foundation proudly announce a groundbreaking collaboration to establish Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry, a vital resource aimed at alleviating food insecurity in the community. The food pantry will be open to the public every Friday, providing needed support to individuals and families facing hardships. The partnership between two esteemed organizations, renowned for their commitment to empowering communities and enhancing lives, marks a significant step in addressing the urgent needs of those affected by food insecurity in the greater New York area.
**About Harlem Dowling-West Side Center for Children and Family Services**
Harlem Dowling-West Side Center for Children and Family Services has been a pillar of hope and support for vulnerable children, families, and individuals since its establishment in 1836. Through a wide range of programs and services, the organization aims to build stronger communities, foster resilience, and create opportunities for growth and success.
**About Biz Markie's Just A Friend Foundation**
Biz Markie's Just A Friend Foundation, inspired by the late rapper and humanitarian, Biz Markie, continues his legacy of giving back to communities. The foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals through initiatives that address hunger, education, and health disparities.
*Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry: A Lifeline for the Community*
2139 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd, New York, NY 10027
Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry is set to open its doors on Friday, 8/11, the same day the late icon's biopic/documentary, All Up In The Biz is being released on Showtime. The pantry will operate every Friday from 12 p.m.-2 p.m., serving as a reliable source of nutritious food for those facing economic hardship.
"We believe that no one should go hungry, and through Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry, we aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors," stated Karen Dixon, the Executive Director of Harlem Dowling-West Side Center for Children and Family Services.
"This collaboration with Harlem Dowling-West Side Center is an extension of Biz Markie's vision to bring communities together, and we are honored to be part of this endeavor," said Tara Hall, Executive Director of Biz Markie's Just A Friend Foundation.
**How to Get Involved**
The success of Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry relies on the support of caring individuals and organizations. To join in the effort to combat food insecurity, community members can contribute by volunteering their time or making donations to help sustain the pantry's operations.
For volunteer opportunities or to make a contribution, please visit our website.
**Media Contact**
For media inquiries, interviews, or more information about Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry, please contact:
press@bizmarkiesjustafriend.org
*Follow Harlem Dowling-West Side Center and Biz Markie's Just A Friend Foundation on social media:*
https://www.harlemdowling.org
https://instagram.com/harlemdowling_westsidecenter
https://instagram.com/just.a.friend.foundation
https://www.bizmarkiesjustafriend.org/emergency-food-pantry
Contact Information:Tara Hall
Executive Director
tara@bizmarkiesjustafriend.org
240-619-8480
Original Source: Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry: A Lifeline for the Community
