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Fresh Ways of Thinking About Jews and Gender Worldwide

The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute develops fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide by producing and promoting scholarly research, artistic projects and public engagement.

The world's only academic center of its kind, the HBI provides research resources and programs for scholars, students and the public. The Institute publishes books and a journal, convenes international conferences and local programming, and offers competitive grant and internship programs.

We invite you to explore our website and experience the impact of the HBI.

Jeanne Williamson, 2014 Artist-in-Residence, Under Color

Monday, 03/17/2014 - Friday, 04/11/2014:

Artist Jeanne Williamson's Residency at HBI

Monday, 04/14/2014 - Thursday, 05/22/2014:
Chuppot exhibition on display

April 23, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Opening Reception

Wednesday, April 30, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Artist’s Workshop
Williamson will lead a workshop in printing on fabric.  Drop in at any time during the session to engage in a hands-on experience.  

Wednesday, May 7
Gallery talk by Williamson, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
“A Sheltering Place: Tradition and Innovation in the Chuppah/Jewish Wedding Canopy,” Penina Adelman, 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 15, 2:30 p.m.
“A Chuppah – Beyond the Four Poles,” Lior Kagan

All events will be held at the WSRC and are free and open to the public.

Fishman earns national Jewish studies honor

By Bill Schaller
April 14, 2014

Sylvia Barack Fishman, the chair of the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department, the Joseph and Esther Foster Professor of Contemporary Jewish Life, and co-director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis University, is 2014 recipient of the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry’s Marshall Sklare Award.

The association bestows the award annually to a senior scholar who has made a significant contribution to the social scientific study of Jewry, primarily through publication of a body of research in books and articles or published work related to public policy.

Fishman will receive the honor and present the Marshall Sklare Memorial Lecture at the Association for Jewish Studies annual conference in Baltimore this December.

“Professor Marshall Sklare taught me about the social scientific study of American Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness, as we worked together at Brandeis University,” said Fishman. “He was more than my mentor, and later my colleague–he was the scholar who showed me that one could care passionately about the subjects of one's study, and still gather and analyze data dispassionately.

Read the full article on Brandeis Now.

What our former scholars say about their HBI experience:

Haim Sperber, Israel, Helen Gartner Hammer Scholar-in-Residence, summer 2013

"My stay at the HBI as the Helen Gartner Hammer Scholar-in-Residence was most fruitful for my research. It provided me with using the important resources at Brandeis but as important was meeting with Brandeis scholars. I have now a different perspective. I hope I have contributed to HBI at least partially from what I received." 

Carlotta Ferrara degli Uberti, Italy, Helen Gartner Hammer Scholar-in-Residence, fall 2013

"Here, I found a different atmosphere than in Italy, with dialogue and feedback from scholars involved in Jewish studies departments. The setting changes the way you look at these problems. In Italy, these issues are set in the context of Italian history, but here I was able to research in the context of Jewish studies, Jewish perspectives and how it fits into the gender, culture, religion and law setting.

Orian Zakai, Israel/US, Helen Gartner Hammer Scholar-in-Residence, fall 2013

"Besides the wonderful space, I had really fascinating dialogues with other scholars. Specifically the group really had a sense of collegiality and support with interesting feminist conversations. Our topics are different, but we talked over dinner about issues and it was really great to meet the other scholars. I love that this is a space for women."

Yarden Fanta-Vagenshtein, Ethiopia/Israel/US, Helen Gartner Hammer Scholar-in-Residence, fall 2013

“My time as a Scholar-in-Residence at HBI has been beneficial and influential intellectually and socially. I meant to be here one or two days a week and found myself coming every day. The facilities and work atmosphere are remarkably beneficial. The library resources have been very helpful and rich for me. I also met amazing people and will keep in touch with them personally and professionally. Finally, it is a great privilege to work with HBI’s knowledgeable and helpful staff.”

Tamar Biala, Israel/US, Helen Gartner Hammer Scholar-in-Residence, fall 2013

“I really want to come back and work in HBI. It was so good for me. I completed so much work. Now that my semester at HBI is done, I would like to thank you again for that wonderful opportunity to work intensively on editing Dirshuni, volume 2, that is so precious to me and I hope with time for others too. I hope that this attempt to create Kitvei Kodesh (holy scriptures) by women will make it possible for Jewish women to feel that they have the strength, the right—and the obligation—to continue writing the Torah.”

HBI in the News

HBI co-director Sylvia Barack Fishman's honor as 2014 recipient of the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry’s Marshall Sklare Award is reported in Brandeis Now.

Phi Beta Kappa's online magazine The Key Reporter reviews HBI author Laura Silver's Knish: The Search of the Jewish Soul Food.

Author of HBI's upcoming book Knish: The Search of the Jewish Soul Food, Laura Silver's article "Seeking Mrs. Stahl's" is published on Drexel University's The Smart Set.

2014 HBI Artist-in-Residence Jeanne Williamson is profiled as part of the World of Threads Festival's "Weekly Fibre Artist Interviews."

Former HBI Scholar-in-Residence Tova Mirvis's most recent book Visible City is reviewed in the New York Times.

2013 HBI Artist-in-Residence Yishay Garbasz is included in The Huffington Post's "10 Transgender Artists Who Are Changing the Landscape of Contemporary Art."

Former HBI scholar Lilly Rivlin's film Esther Broner: A Weave of Women is reviewed in the Jewish Week's article "Feminist Seder Pioneer Esther Broner is Subject of New Documentary."

Shulamit Reinharz, HBI Founding Director, is quoted in The Brandeis Hoot's "WSRC scholars and students discuss reproductive rights."

Dr. Keren McGinity, former HBI scholar-in-residence and member of the Academic Advisory Council on Jewish women and intermarriage, is quoted in the Forward's "Jewish Woman Is New Face of Intermarriage, Pew Study Data Reveals."

Elana Sztokman, co-author of Educating in the Divine Image: Gender Issues in Orthodox Jewish Day Schools, was interviewed in Vox Tablet's episode "Talmud for Boys, Challah-Making for Girls—Gender Imbalance in Orthodox Day Schools."

National Jewish Book Award winner Melissa R. Klapper interviewed in the Sisterhood's "Untold Story of Jewish Feminist Pioneers."

The Jewish Advocate covered our National Jewish Book Award winners in "Gender issues, feminism booked for glory."