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
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25 French MPs and 4 Animal Welfare Associations Jointly Promote ‘International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats’
PARIS, FRANCE, June 25, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Recently, 25 members of the French National Assembly sent a joint open letter to President Emmanuel Macron, urging the promotion of legislation in France to ban the consumption of dogs and cats. They called for the signing of the "International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats" advocated by the World Dog Alliance, supporting the global movement to ban the eating of dogs and cats and collaborating with countries worldwide to put an end to the issue of dog and cat meat.
The joint letter was led by Member of Parliament Corinne Vignon. Corinne Vignon spent 10 years in Costa Rica managing an ecotourism complex and developing a national marine park, an experience that led her to commit to protecting animals. She then became involved in French politics at a local level. She was first elected as a Member of Parliament in June 2017, and was re-elected in June 2022. In December 2022, Corinne Vignon became the Head of the Animal Welfare Research Group of the National Assembly.
Thanks to her leadership and endorsement, the open letter gathered the support of heavyweight MPs, including former Minister Joël Giraud, as well as the four most influential animal welfare organizations in France. This collaboration between MPs and animal welfare organizations demonstrates a unified effort to address the issue at both the legislative and grassroots levels.
The joint efforts of the World Dog Alliance and local animal welfare organizations in France have yielded positive results. The recent joint letter signed by 25 French MPs reflects the growing recognition of the need to address the cruel practice of eating dogs and cats. The MPs are urging President Macron to take action by supporting the "International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats." This convention, proposed by the World Dog Alliance, aims to establish a global consensus on ending the consumption of these animals and collaborating with other countries to tackle the issue.
The involvement of influential MPs, such as Corinne Vignon and Joël Giraud, in this joint initiative adds weight to the cause. Corinne Vignon, in particular, has a strong track record of advocating for animal welfare and has previously supported bills to protect animals and strengthen sanctions against abusers. Her leadership and dedication make her a valuable ally for the World Dog Alliance in rallying support within the National Assembly.
The World Dog Alliance continues to work tirelessly to advance the cause of animal welfare and promote the ban on eating dogs and cats worldwide. With the support of passionate individuals, organizations, and lawmakers, progress is being made to end this practice and protect the lives of these vulnerable animals.
Within a span of less than six months, the anti-dog and cat meat movement in France has made significant strides. France has become the first country, post-pandemic, to successfully garner support through a joint letter signed by 25 MPs, representing various political parties. This achievement is remarkable in the history of animal welfare in France and reflects a consensus among political parties to drive the implementation of the "International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats."
While France is just one stop in the European campaign of the World Dog Alliance, activities in Germany and Norway are also progressing rapidly. As a leading country in the European Union, France's support will have a substantial impact on other EU member states, potentially creating a ripple effect and sparking a new wave of dog and cat meat bans across the continent.
The World Dog Alliance, in collaboration with its partners and supporters, will continue to work tirelessly to promote animal welfare, raise awareness about the issue of consuming dogs and cats, and advocate for the universal adoption of the "International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats." Together, we can strive for a world where the inhumane practice of consuming these beloved animals is eradicated.
Contact Information:Him Lo
Director of Legal Affairs
himlo@largehorse.com.hk
(852) 25196366
Related Files
French letter.pdf
Original Source: 25 French MPs and 4 Animal Welfare Associations Jointly Promote 'International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats'
