Please scroll down to learn more about current HBI projects and events. From challenging stereotypes of Jewish women through our annual calendar project to advancing gender equality by working through conflicts between women's rights and religious law, we invite you to explore our website and experience the impact of the HBI.
This residency provides artists the opportunity to be in residence at Brandeis University while working on a significant artistic project in the field of Jewish women's and gender studies, and to produce an exhibit for the Kniznick Gallery at the Women's Studies Research Center (WSRC) at Brandeis University. The residency will be 3 - 4 weeks in length, and will take place in February. The exhibit will immediately follow and be on view for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Application deadline: August 24, 2009, and a decision will be made by October 1, 2009
The HBI is now accepting proposals for our annual Research Awards Program. The HBI Research Awards program provides grants for research and artistic projects that support our mission of developing fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender.
Proposal deadline: September 15, 2009.
Click here for complete program details and application guidelines.
HBI Welcomes Lily Safra Interns!
The Hadassah Brandeis Institute welcomes the arrival of 8 student interns on June 8th, 2009. The Lily Safra Internship Program, funded by the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation, provides students the opportunity to explore the fields of Jewish women's and gender studies with scholars and staff at the HBI.
The Safra Interns, who come from all over the world and include 2 Brandeis students, will work closely with HBI and Brandeis staff and scholars on new and established research projects. Examples of work include assisting Dr. Lisa Fishbayn with the editing of the first book in the Brandeis Series on Gender, Culture, Religion and Law, and researching primary materials on Radical Feminism and Jewish Women with HBI Scholar-In-Residence Joyce Antler.
For more information about the program, click here.
Past Events
Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Roundtable on
Gender and Jewish Thought
Keynote Lecture: Daniel Boyarin
Title: "A Love Surpassing Women: The Homme-eroticism of Torah Study"
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute hosted philosopher and historian Daniel Boyarin at the Brandeis University campus for an evening of discussion on gender and Jewish thought. In his lecture, "A Love Surpassing Women: The Homme-eroticism of Torah Study," Boyarin explained the tension between male-male friendship (havruta) and female-male relationships among Jews. This division began in ancient Greece and persisted for several centuries. Rabbinic Judaism, with its emphasis on the distinction between the responsibilities of Jewish men and women, is a direct response to this social division.
Roundtable on Gender and Jewish Thought
Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Location: Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, Epstein Building, Brandeis University, 515 South St., Waltham, MA
The "Gender and Jewish Thought" conference brought together leading scholars of Jewish thought (including Rabbinics, Exegesis, and Philosophy) to discuss the field's engagement with gender studies. Scholars discussed methods of applying gender theory to the study of Jewish texts, the fruit that the critical engagement between gender and Jewish studies has yielded, and possibilities for further research.
This program was sponsored by the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute and Bar Ilan University.
Check out the current issue of 614 the HBI E-Zine!
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism
Last January, a Jewish Agency report announced that there was a total of 250 anti-Semitic acts around the world—a harrowing increase from the 80 cases recorded during January 2008. When we read this, we felt deeply disturbed and helpless. What do we do with this information? How do we process it? One thing is for sure: We have to talk about it. In this issue you'll find everything from an essay on why the world cares so much about the conflict in the tiny country of Israel, to how American Jews are handling the rage.
Read on.
Established at Brandeis University in 1997 with major funding from Hadassah, our work
is further made possible through the generous support of individuals and foundations.
Your contributions make it possible for HBI to continue our innovative programs impacting
scholars, artists, and the community.
