Welcoming a New Year: A Note from the Director
Sept. 1, 2021
By Lisa Fishbayn Joffe
This week, we begin another year of new and unexpected challenges. While we may be disappointed that we again need to adapt our plans to the exigencies of COVID-19, there is no denying the exhilaration many of us feel to be back on campus in person and together virtually through our many new online forums.
HBI remains committed to our mission of supporting and sharing research at the intersection of Jewish Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies from a broad inter-disciplinary perspective. This term, we will welcome a new cohort of in-person, hybrid and virtual scholars in residence: Marla Brettschneider on Jewish feminist political thought, Ayelet Brinn on gender, mass culture and the rise of the American Yiddish press, Julia Phillips Cohen on Middle Eastern and North African women's work in the modern era, Adam Ferziger on the phenomenon of women's daf yomi study, Noya Rimalt on abortion policy in Israel, and Orly Nathan on the impact of Marcia Freedman on Israeli feminism. They will all share their work in the institute seminar.
Last year, we held 40 online events, attended by 4,000 people from around the world. Highlights of our public programs this fall include the launch of the Sandra Seltzer Silberman Conversations Series, HBI Research Associate Tamar Biala and Yael Kanarek speaking on the HerTorah Project and HBI Research Award Recipient Judy Batalion discussing her new book , "The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos." Stay tuned for details of a special opportunity to meet with Batalion for the Friends of HBI.
All of this work is made possible by financial support from donors and friends. Contributions fund research positions, research awards, student internships and public programs. I want to thank all of those whose generosity has made this possible and I would like to recognize our Friends of HBI who have made sustaining annual gifts of $180. If you would like to be part of this effort, please consider making a fall gift to HBI here or becoming a Friend of HBI.
Wishing you a year of good health, warm relationships and meaningful engagement with stimulating new ideas.
Lisa Fishbayn Joffe is the Shulamit Reinharz Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute.