Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies Year In Review
Revel Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
Year in Review 2022 – 2023
WWWYEAR IN REVIEW | BERNARD REVEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES | SCHOLARSHIP • TORAH • WISDOM • THOUGHT
This letter would have been unapologetically celebratory had it been written in the summer. But of course, while we at the Bernard Revel Graduate school are proud of the increasing diversity of our student body, we are all here to study Judaism together at a Jewish institution. And that means that for all of us, October 7th casts its shadow over everything we do. We all pray for the safe return of all the hostages, for the IDF soldiers—including current Revel students –protecting the state, and for all of Israel. As I wrote in my initial response to the events of October 7th, we at Revel will proudly continue to teach and study the traditions and texts that form the bedrock of our values and that sowed the seeds of the Zionist dream that Israel is fighting to protect. With that said, it remains important to nonetheless celebrate our suc- cesses. Our school continues to grow, with official student numbers having almost doubled in the last five years:*
School
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Bernard Revel
67
77
97
116
130
One key element driving this growth is the creation of innovative programs to appeal to new student constituencies. Last year, we welcomed our first intake of South Korean students. This year we are excited to have partnered with the Philos Project in the creation of a Hebraic Studies program designed for Christian students, a focus of which is our MA in Jewish Studies. We welcomed our first cohort of eight students in Summer 2023, and the program has been running very successfully to the enormous benefit of both the students and Revel more generally. Revel continues to pride itself on its faculty and their scholarship, about which you can read in the pages that follow. We recently brought that scholarship into the public sphere in the shape of a very successful December conference in partnership with the YU museum—Maimonides: Now and Then—an account of which you will also find in these pages, together with the link to a video of the full conference. On a sadder note, it would be remiss of me not to mention the untimely passing of Daniel Tsadik, Associate Professor of Sephardic and Iranian Studies at Revel from 2008-2020. Daniel, who arrived at Revel a year after I did, was our friend, colleague, and in my case, teacher—I took courses in Arabic with him during his time here. Daniel was a wonderful scholar, whose book The Jews of Iran and Rabbinic Literature: New Perspectives , won the (Israel) Prime Minister Prize in 2020. More importantly, he was among the kindest and humblest of people, and we will miss him deeply. יהי זיכרו ברוך In a more personal vein, this has been a challenging year with the loss of my father, David Rynhold, late in the summer. Dad was beloved to all who knew him and was my greatest inspiration in every way, not least in his attitude to Judaism. He used to find it difficult to understand those who experienced religion as a straitjacket. While it goes without saying that it isn’t always easy, dad used to say that he experienced Judaism like his favorite suit—something you’re comfortable in and proud to wear. Words to live by. None of the things that we celebrate in our Year in Review would be possible without the backing of you, our Revel friends and supporters, and we hope that we can rely on your continued support, both moral and material, as we seek to take the Bernard Revel Graduate School to ever greater heights. With all best wishes,
Daniel Rynhold, PhD Dr. Mordecai D. Katz Dean
*Note that these official university numbers only include credit bearing students. The total Revel student body including auditors, and undergraduate students talking Revel courses for credit take the total to 175.
YEAR IN REVIEW | BERNARD REVEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES | SCHOLARSHIP • TORAH • WISDOM • THOUGHT
As we reflect on the milestones of the past year, I am pleased to share with you a few of the highlights of a year of growth and success at BRGS PhD program. One of the standout features of our academic year was our PhD lunch series, where students had the chance to study with distinguished scholars, including Professors Elliot R. Wolfson, Anne Albert, and Shalem Yahalom. We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our students who participated in the speaker series at the Jewish Center of the Upper West Side. Miriam Zami, Binyamin Goldstein, and Jennifer Seligman presented their research, showcasing the depth of scholarship emerging from our PhD program. Finally, we extend a mazal tov to Dr. Yosef Yanetz on the successful completion of his doctorate and are confident that Dr. Yanetz will continue to make significant contributions to the field of Jewish Studies in the years to come. In my new capacity as Director of External Programming, I am excited
to provide an overview of two new programs at BRGS: the “Hebraic Scholars Program for Christians” and a Certificate Program geared towards South Korean students. The “Hebraic Scholars Program for Christians,” which is a partnership between BRGS and the Philos Project, provides a unique pathway to a MA degree for Christian students interested in Jewish Studies. Our first cohort of students is now in their third semester of the program and their enthusiasm and commitment to Jewish studies scholarship has greatly enhanced our graduate school. Our Certificate Program for South Korean students, which was conceived by BRGS-graduate Dr. Jeong Mun Heo, who is now a Lecturer at BRGS and the guiding force behind the program, has already begun to attract a cohort of talented students. This program promotes a unique cultural exchange, unavailable anywhere else, and underscores the global appeal of our curriculum. The past year has been one of growth and success, which we are looking forward to building on in the year to come. With best wishes,
Jonathan V. Dauber, PhD Associate Professor of Jewish Mysticism Director of the PhD Program Director of External Programming
YEAR IN REVIEW | BERNARD REVEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES | SCHOLARSHIP • TORAH • WISDOM • THOUGHT
MARCH 16 2023 A Black Jewish Messiah: The Travels of David Reuveini Presented by Prof. Alan Verskin, Professor and Samuel J. Zacks Chair of Jewish History, University of Toronto, with Prof. Ronnie Perelis and Prof. Francesca Bergoli, Associate Professor of History at Queens College and CUNY Graduate Center
JULY 17 2023 The Samaritans—A Biblical People Film Screening Presented by Prof. Steven Fine at Yeshiva University in Israel
Daniel Rynhold, PhD, Dr. Mordecai D. Katz Dean
Events
DECEMBER 17 2023 Maimonides Now & Then: A public conference, sponsored by Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies in collaboration with the Yeshiva University Museum Chaired by Prof. Ronnie Perelis, Prof. David Berger, and Prof. David Shatz WATCH HERE
JAN 3 2023 More Talmud, Less Democracy? What to Expect from Israel’s New Government Presented by Prof. Jonathan Rynhold, Head of Department, Political Studies, Bar Ilan University
READ MORE
FEBRUARY 23 2023
On Religion and Reason: Discussing A Guide for the Jewish Undecided Presented by Prof. Daniel Rynhold and Prof. Rabbi Samuel Lebens, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Haifa
YEAR IN REVIEW | BERNARD REVEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES | SCHOLARSHIP • TORAH • WISDOM • THOUGHT
The Philos Project
KARINA SOUSA
EMILY TALENTO
From: Long Island, New York “Having the privilege of learning from the living legends Rabbi Schacter, Rabbi Cohen, Dr. Koller, and Dr. Angel for Hebrew, and Dr. Mermelstein is something that I do not take lightly. All of these men are insanely accomplished and yet some of the most humble people I have ever met. Dr. Mermelstein’s class on Paul, a 1st
From: Brazil, living in Northen Mozambique “It’s been another old dream of mine to deeper study the Hebrew Bible. Studying at Revel has been above and beyond anything I expected. The excellent professors, the range of courses offered, and the exchange between the students in the class have been incredibly enriching. The opportunity to learn Biblical Hebrew is
Century Jew immediately stands out to me as exceeding all that I hoped this program to be. I had previously learned about the Old Testament from a Jewish perspective but never in my life did I think I would get to interact with the texts of the New Testament from a Jewish perspective. ... Dr. Mermelstein did an amazing job of facilitating these conversations and not only educating Christians on what Jews believe but also educating the Jewish students on what we as Christians believe. I just admired that so much. ... I am beyond proud to be a Revel student and I am so excited to continue learning during Spring semester’s classes.”
definitely one of the highlights for me. The courses on Jewish Bible Interpretation, and Paul: Profile of a First Century Jew have been a true learning curve, feels like it has given me a new pair of lenses through which see the Word of God. Another particularly impactful course due to our present days was History and Nature of Antisemitism. Studying here has been both culturally and spiritually impactful. I’m just so grateful I get to be a student here. My hope and prayer is to translate and pass on all this new knowledge and experience that I’m accessing through this Master’s Program to my community both here and in Brazil. I’m very thankful to the Philos Project, Yeshiva University, and all the staff and professors who are daily making it happen.” READ MORE
Faculty Publications
NAOMI GRUNHAUS Kapah, Y. (Ed.). (2022). Perush Rabi Yosef Hayun ‘al sefer Yirmeyahu , Herzog. Editorial board: Naomi Grunhaus, Martin Lockshin, and Yosef Ofer.
JOSEPH L. ANGEL (2022). The songs of the sage: (4Q510, 4Q511) (Vol. 2 of Dead Sea Scrolls editions). Brill. READ MORE
JEFFREY GUROCK
(2023). Marty Glickman: The Life of an American Jewish Sports Legend . NYU Press.
Professor Jeffrey Gurock
YEAR IN REVIEW | BERNARD REVEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES | SCHOLARSHIP • TORAH • WISDOM • THOUGHT
Of Note
SHALOM E. HOLTZ (2022). A different kind of horror in Jeremiah’s prophecy to the Philistines (Jeremiah 47). Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies , 10(3), 286–292. READ MORE Holtz, S. E. (2022). Review of Making A case: The practical roots of Biblical law, by S. J. Milstein. Journal of Religion , 102(4), 581–583. READ MORE Holtz, S. E. (2022). Neo-Babylonian dispute documents in the British Museum [Review of the book by M. Sandowicz]. Archiv für Orientforschung , 55, 194–196 EPHRAIM KANARFOGEL Kanarfogel, E., & Berkovitz, J. (2022). Law and spirituality in Jewish history: On the contribution of Isadore (Yitzhak) Twersky [Review of the book Yitzhak [Isadore] Twersky, Ke-Ma ayan ha-Mitgabber: Halakhah ve-Ruah bi-Yezirat Hakhmei Yemei ha-Benayim , by C. Horowitz (Ed.)]. Jewish History , 36(1-2), 171-188. READ MORE Differing perceptions of church garments and worship implements in the writings and thought of the Tosafists. In E. Baumgarten, E. Hollender, K. Kogman-Appel, & E. Shoham-Steiner (Eds.), Perception and awareness: Artefacts and imageries in Medieval European Jewish cultures (pp. 109-122). Brepols.
DEAN DANIEL RYNHOLD AND PROF. RONNIE PERELIS
Dean Daniel Rynhold and Prof. Ronnie Perelis participated in a historic Yeshiva University conference with colleagues at Mohammed Bin Zayed University of the Humanities on “Interacting Philosophies, Shared Friendships” at the Cross- roads of Civilization Museum in the United Arab Emirates.
PROF. JEFFREY GUROCK Prof. Jeffrey Gurock discussed his recent book, Marty Glickman: The Life of an American Jewish Sports Legend , with Prof. Beth Wenger of the American Jewish Historical Society. WATCH HERE
READ MORE
DANIEL RYNHOLD Joys, Oys, and the Pursuit of Happiness. In Erica Brown and Shira Weiss (Eds.), An Ode to Joy: Judaism and Happiness in the Thought of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and Beyond (pp. 175-182). Palgrave Macmillan
DR. YAEL LANDMAN
Revel alumna Dr. Yael Landman was selected as a winner of the Manfred Lautenschlaeger award for Theological Promise for 2024, on the basis of her first book, Legal Writing, Legal Practice: The Biblical Bailment Law and Divine Justice
SHANA STRAUCH SCHICK
(2021). Intention in Talmudic Law: Between Thought and Deed. Brill.
READ MORE
READ MORE
YEAR IN REVIEW | BERNARD REVEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES | SCHOLARSHIP • TORAH • WISDOM • THOUGHT
Congratulations to our new PhD graduate
RABBI GIDON ROTHSTEIN
Revel alumnus Rabbi Gidon Rothstein spoke about his recent book, The Judaism of the Poskim: Responsa and the Nature of Orthodox Judaism , at a YU Library Book Talk.
RABBI DR. YOSEF YANETZ
Yosef Yanetz, Pisqeu Maharih by Rabbi Hezekiah of Magdeburg: Its Unique Role in Tosafist Literature and its Subsequent Halakhic Influence (Heb.) .
RABBI DR. YAAKOV JAFFE Revel Alumnus Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Jaffe published a new book, Isaiah and his Contemporaries . READ MORE
RABBI DR. YOSIE LEVINE
Revel Alumnus Rabbi Dr. Yosie Levine authored an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, When Theodore Herzl Met the Pope .
READ MORE
Revel Doctoral Candidates Binyamin Goldstein, Miriam Zami, and Jennifer Seligman, presented a series of lectures, “Jewish Encounters with Other Cultures,” at The Jewish Center.
Professor Ronnie Perelis
RABBI DR. TZVI SINENSKY
Revel alumnus, Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky was designated as a Sacks Scholar. READ MORE
MA students at the Revel Year End Reception
Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies Furst Hall, 500 West 185th Street New York, NY 10033
yu.edu/revel 646.592.4270
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