Janice Fernheimer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Title: Hora-dancing in Harlem: Hatzaad Harishon, Zionism, and the Rhetoric of Black Jewish Identity. Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Time: 5:00 pm Location: Golding Builiding, Room107, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA In this talk, HBI Scholar-in-Residence Janice Fernheimer will discuss Hatzaad Harishon, a biracial non-profit organization that promoted unity among New York City's black and white Jewish populations by emphasizing Zionism and identification with Israel. Fernheimer will show how the group's nationally recognized black Jewish youth dance troupe and itswhite Jewish leader, Sybil Kaufman, exemplify both the organization's successes and challenges in advocating for a more inclusive, diverse concept of Jewish identity.

The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute develops fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide by producing and promoting scholarly research and artistic projects. All HBI lectures are free and open to the public.