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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B&W Quality Growers Reviews the Benefits of Watercress, the CDC’s Most Nutrient-Dense Food
FELLSMERE, Fla., August 29, 2023 (Newswire.com) - With many illnesses on the rise, consumers are uncovering natural methods to boost immune support, and eating watercress is one of the best ways to strengthen your immune system, says B&W Quality Growers. The immune system comprises the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and skin that work together to keep toxins from entering the body. A strong immune system prevents and fights off illnesses by producing, maintaining, and repairing the body's cells and can be stimulated by watercress, according to the National Institute of Health.
Watercress contains over 50 essential nutrients and is the only food to obtain a perfect score from both the CDC and ANDI. Its high levels of fiber, magnesium, and potassium aid the thymus, responsible for white cell production, in fighting off infections. White blood cells are the body's immune cells, flowing through the bloodstream to fight off foreign invaders to keep the body healthy.
But just as important as cell production, the immune system also works to maintain the cells it produces. The spleen monitors white and red blood cell levels in the body and bone marrow releases these blood cells when they are mature and required. The calcium and carotenoids, potent antioxidants, found in watercress support these organs by lowering oxidative stress and ultimately, the risk of cell damage and chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Additionally, watercress is rich in folate and Vitamins C and E, some of the primary nutrients in aiding the largest part of the immune system and the body's first line of defense, the skin. Vitamin E protects the skin from free radical damage caused by lifestyle factors such as the sun, smoking, and pollution, amongst other toxins. At the same time, folate is a vital nutrient for DNA repair. Vitamin C helps heal injuries through cell and tissue repair, and it supports collagen production, which provides strength and structure to the middle layer of the skin to allow new cells to grow.
A strong immune system can prevent and treat illnesses and infections. Incorporating watercress into your diet is a natural way to strengthen the immune system and raw consumption is the best way to absorb the nutrients from this power-packed superfood. Because of watercress's high Vitamin K content - 106% of your daily recommended dosage - always consult your physician before regularly changing your health routine.
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Contact Information:Ruth Bozeman
Director of Marketing
ruthbozeman@watercress.com
Original Source: B&W Quality Growers Reviews the Benefits of Watercress, the CDC's Most Nutrient-Dense Food
