The mission of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute is contained in one brief sentence: to develop fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide by producing and promoting scholarly research and artistic projects. Among our primary goals is to advance the fields of Women’s/Gender Studies and Judaic Studies by introducing both to each other, while supporting the work of individual scholars in these areas. In doing so, we broaden contemporary understandings of Jewish women’s lives, history, roles and experiences.
As a visitor to our site, you can read about the many ways in which we work toward our goals.
- Our publishing program, with its focus on Jewish women’s studies, is one of a kind. The Brandeis Series on Jewish Women, an ongoing series of books we publish through the University Press of New England, just released its twentieth title. We publish Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women’s Studies and Gender Issues, in partnership with the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and Indiana University Press. In addition to publishing scholarly and academic texts, we also publish a variety of popular texts, including our warmly-received JGirl’s Guide, and our popular annual calendar that explores a previously unexamined aspect of Jewish women’s history.
- Each year we offer programs on the campus of Brandeis University, around Greater Boston, and across North America. We also co-sponsor programs overseas. In the fall, we “reimagine Sukkot,” at a special program in partnership with Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters and Sh’ma: the Journal of Jewish Responsibility. We hold author-based study groups in various parts of the United States. We convene a major annual conference on key topics in the fields of Jewish women’s and gender studies. Most years we also host an art exhibition at the Brandeis Women’s Studies Center, highlighting the creativity of Jewish women artists.
- For scholars and students, HBI provides funding, programs and other support. Our research awards, now in their sixth year, provide scholars around the world with much-needed funding. Undergraduates have the opportunity to spend the summer at HBI as part of the Lily Safra Internship Program. Scholars, artists and professionals join the Brandeis University as scholars-in-residence and research associates.
If you have read this far, you probably realize that the HBI is unique. Because it is the first such center in existence, we are young and experimental. We’re happy you found us – we warmly invite you to take part in our work!
Shulamit Reinharz
Founding Director |
Sylvia Barack Fishman
Co-Director |
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