The Chais Center for Jewish Studies in Russian is a joint venture of the Institute of Jewish Studies and the International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization (both of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) created with the key support of the Chais Family Foundation. The main aim of the Chais Center is the initiation and development of Jewish studies in Russian at the highest academic level in both the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and Israel. The Chais Center unites Israeli scholars - senior and junior, Hebrew-, English- and Russian-speaking - working in close cooperation with the academic staff of the preeminent universities in the FSU.

 

 

 

 

 

PURPOSES AND METHODS

The natural development of Jewish studies in the FSU was interrupted for almost a century, together with other aspects of Jewish life suppressed under the Soviet regime. The meager remainder that was allowed to develop was cut off from world academic life and resources. The outcome was the low status of Jewish culture in the Russian intellectual community on the one hand, and under-evaluation of Russian scholarly abilities and achievements abroad, on the other. With the liberalization in recent years of academic life in the FSU, the growing demand for Jewish education, research and publications in both Jewish and academic communities could not be satisfied by local resources.

At the same time, in Israel we enjoy a unique situation arising from the mass immigration from the FSU. Since 1990 (the climax of aliyah), a new generation of young scholars has been trained in Israel who combine Israeli education in different fields of Jewish studies and knowledge of the Russian language and academic traditions. This group becomes a living bridge and a mediator between Israeli scholarship and the academic community in the FSU.

On this foundation, and following the resurgence of Jewish studies in the FSU, the efforts of three key groups have been united for this purpose: senior Israeli scholars - well-known and outstanding specialists in their fields; Russian-speaking Israeli scholars; and local academic staff in the FSU. The Israeli faculty at the university centers of Jewish studies in the FSU (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem), in close cooperation with their colleagues in the FSU (Jewish University of Moscow, Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies, Minsk State University), take an active part in teaching, and in the preparation of the academic programs and publications of the Chais Center.

The activity of the Chais Center consists of three closely interlaced components - education, research and publications. The main objectives of the Chais Center are:
- Encouraging Jewish and Israeli studies at the most prestigious universities of the FSU with the support of faculty from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem;     
- Training teachers for Jewish education in the FSU within the framework of the centers of Jewish studies at the universities of the FSU, and supplying academic support for other Jewish teacher training programs;         
- Supporting scholars and advanced students from the FSU who are involved in the diverse fields of Jewish studies by undertaking joint educational projects and international conferences, and by assistance in the publication of original research;
- Conducting research seminars on Jewish studies in Russian in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for advanced students, new-immigrant scholars and visiting scholars from the FSU, and supporting the publishing of original research in Russian;
- Participating in the process of social and cultural absorption of new immigrants in Israel by organizing lectures and seminars on Jewish history and culture in Russian for a broad audience;     
- Translating and publishing fundamental studies and basic literature on Jewish history and culture intended both for the student and for the lay audience; publication of Russian-language international journals for Jewish studies and education.

The purposes of the Chais Center are much broader than purely academic. Special emphasis is placed on the training of future teachers and formulation of new educational programs for elementary and high-schools. Cooperating with the most prestigious academic institutions, we work towards enhancing the status of Jewish culture in the FSU. One of the by-products of our work which should not be overlooked may be defined as the "community forming" factor. In the FSU, our activities unite a large number of scholars, students and young professionals, who otherwise were not involved in Jewish life. The Chais Center with its partners (Center "Sefer", Jewish University of Moscow, St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies) creates common fields of both intellectual and social interests for them, related to Jewish studies and to the newly-established academic institutions and programs in the FSU. At the same time, in Israel, our programs promote the integration of new-immigrant scholars into the Israeli academic community and - through our programs of lectures and publications - better familiarity of the larger Russian-speaking audience with Jewish culture, thereby furthering rapprochement of different communities in Israeli society.

STRUCTURE

 

Institutions

Activities

Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAFF

Administration:

Prof. Yom Tov Assis
Head, Institute of Jewish Studies; Academic Chairman, International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization

Prof. Israel Bartal
Israeli Head, Center for Jewish Studies and Civilization (Moscow State University)

Prof. Haggai Ben-Shammai
Israeli Head, Center for the Studies of Bible and Hebrew (St. Petersburg State University)

Zeev Elkin
Special Deputy for the FSU, International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization

Dr. Alexander Kulik
Director, Chais Center for Jewish Studies in Russian

Ilia Lurie
Academic Secretary, Chais Center for Jewish Studies in Russian

 

Lecturers (2000-2001):

Hebrew Bible

• Dr. Serge Ruzer
• Arie Olman

Jewish History

• Prof. Yom Tov Assis
• Prof. Israel Bartal
• Dr. Michael Beizer
• Golda Ahiezer
• Zeev Elkin
• Menashe Goldelman
• Semion Goldin
• Hillel Kazovski
• Ilia Lurie
• Moshe Navon
• Daniel Romanovski
  

Jewish Literature

• Prof. Avigdor Shinan
• Dr. Alexander Kulik
• Reuven Kiperwasser
• Zoia Kopelman
  

Jewish Thought

• Prof. Haggai Ben-Shamai
• Prof. Moshe Idel
• Uri Gershovich
• Michael Schneider

Jewish Art

• Boris Haimovich
• Hillel Kazovski
• Ilia Rodov

Jewish Education

• Dr. Mark Silverman
• Ilia Dvorkin
• Ilia Lurie
• Zoya Kopelman
• Vasilisa Shklovski-Kordi
  
  

Hebrew

• Dr.Yohanan Breuer
• Tanya Notarius
• Qeren Dubnov
• Arie Olman
• Michael Ryzhik
  
  

Yiddish

• Prof Wolf Moskovich
• Hanan Bordin
  
  

State of Israel

• Dr. Zeev Hanin
• Alek Epstein
• Dmitri Romanov

UNIVERSITY TEACHING

There are currently three joint programs in the FSU.

Center for Jewish Studies and Civilization (CJSC) in the Institute of African and Asian Studies at the Moscow State University, established as a joint project with the Moscow State University and the Jewish University of Moscow.

Center for Bible and Hebrew Studies in St. Petersburg, established jointly with the St. Petersburg State University and the St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies.

Jewish Studies Program at the International Institute of Humanities in Minsk, established in cooperation with the Belorussian State University.

In each of these programs, the course of study is planned in close cooperation with the local university, and instruction is carried out both by visiting Israeli lecturers and local faculty.

 

Center for Jewish Studies and Civilization (CJSC), Institute of African and Asian Studies, Moscow State University

The CJSC was founded as a joint venture of the Institute of Asian-African Studies of Moscow State University, the Institute of Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Jewish University in Moscow. The main focus of the Center is to train the new generation of scholars and educators in all fields of Jewish studies. The project enjoys the support of the Russian Jewish Congress, the Israeli Government, the Chais Family Foundation, the Mayers Foundation, the Pincus Foundation, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

The CJSC operates under the academic direction of two distinguished professors, one from the FSU and one from Israel: Prof. Arkady Kovelman (Moscow) and Prof. Israel Bartal (Jerusalem) and

The CJSC offers study programs for the B.A. (4 years), M.A. (2 years) and Ph.D. (3 years) degrees. Moscow State University grants degrees in the following specializations: Jewish history, Jewish languages and literature (Hebrew, Yiddish language and literature, Bible and semitology, Jewish literature), and social sciences (policy and economy of the State of Israel; demography, sociology and cultural anthropology of the Jewish Diaspora).

One of the goals for the upcoming year is to strengthen academic cooperation with other faculties of the Moscow State University, in order to expand the available courses of specialization in Jewish studies and to allow students of general studies to take some Jewish studies courses. Important steps in that direction have already been taken and a number of courses have been given for the students of the faculties of History and Philosophy. Within this framework, courses have been given on Jewish thought and on Jewish history (with emphasis on the history of East-European Jewry).

The CJSC in Moscow has grown steadily since its establishment, and can now proudly claim an enrollment of some 100 B.A. students (including the students of the Jewish University in Moscow), as well as 11 M.A. students and 7 Ph.D. students. It was in the fall semester of the year 2000 that for the first time the Center simultaneously had first-, second-, and third-year B.A. students. Since lecturers from Israel in most cases teach courses for students from the second year up, this meant their even greater involvement than in previous years.

Israeli lecturers teach at all levels, delivering both basic and specialized courses, and conducting seminars for more advanced students. They travel to Moscow and teach in rotations lasting several months. In the past year, twenty visiting Israeli lecturers taught 37 courses in the following fields: Hebrew language and literature, Jewish Diaspora languages, modern Israel studies, Jewish thought, and Jewish history.

Each of the three institutions involved in the CJSC makes its own unique contribution to the academic process. The Moscow State University offers a high level of general education and an excellent location; it awards a prestigious diploma and attracts the best students. The Jewish University in Moscow brings the best local scholars of Jewish studies and significant support of the local Jewish community. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers its academic staff, takes active part in the formulation of the curriculum, and ties the CJSC to world scholarship.

Today, the CJSC is a leading institution for Jewish studies in the FSU, the heart and initiator of diverse educational and community programs. It attracts students from the various parts of the FSU, and thus prepares the ground for the development of Jewish education in other regions. Its example inspires other universities of the region and serves as a model for the development of Jewish studies throughout the FSU. Additional new centers have already been established according to this prototype with local modifications (e.g., the Center for Jewish Studies at the Latvian State University).

Two more centers have been created in cooperation with the Chais Center: the Center for Bible and Hebrew Studies at St. Petersburg State University (heads: Prof. Igor Tantlevski of St. Petersburg and Prof. Haggai Ben-Shammai of Jerusalem), and the Program of Jewish Studies in the International Institute of Humanities at the Belorussian State University (Israeli coordinator: Ilia Rodov).

 

Center for Bible and Hebrew Studies, St. Petersburg State University

The Center for Bible and Hebrew Studies was recently established at St. Petersburg State University, in cooperation with that university and with the St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies (formerly the Jewish University of St. Petersburg). The Russian academic director of the Center is Prof. Igor Tantlevski, and the Hebrew University's Prof. Haggai Ben-Shammai has been appointed as Israeli academic director. An initial group of 11 students (and a group of students of the St. Peterburg Institute of Jewish Studies) has registered to study at the Center.

Graduates of the five-year course of study at the Center will receive an M.A. degree. The Center offers two main fields of specialization, Bible Studies and Medieval Studies, taking advantage of the expertise of the local faculty in the field of Bible Studies, and access to the vast holdings of medieval Jewish manuscripts available in St. Petersburg.

Jewish Studies Program, International Institute of Humanities, Belarus' State University (Minsk)

The program of Jewish studies in Minsk is a joint project with the International Institute of Humanities (IIH, founded in 1999) at the Belorussian State University in Minsk.

The Jewish Studies program at the International Institute of Humanities in Minsk began as a pilot program in the 1999-2000 academic year.

Jewish studies in the IIH are composed of three-year basic courses in Jewish Studies in its five departments, and two-year advanced courses in Jewish Studies in two of the departments (Department of Cultural Studies and Department of Foreign Languages).

Currently, the IIH consists of four departments in general disciplines and one department focusing on Jewish culture. There are 15 to 20 first-year students in each of the general departments enrolled in the program, and 10 specializing in Jewish culture. Approximately 35 second-year students are registered in the program.

TEACHER TRAINING

Project Head: Dr. Mark Silverman

Project Coordinator: Ilia Dvorkin

In cooperation with the Melton Center for Jewish Education (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), the Chais Center is developing a special program in Jewish education to be established at the CJSC (instituted in the 1999-2000 academic year; supported by the Mayers Foundation, the Pincus Foundation, Russian Jewish Congress, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee). The main goal of this program is to train the new generation of educators and teachers in various Jewish disciplines for elementary and high schools, to fulfill the needs of the renewed Jewish community of the FSU. The students participating in this program are required to study pedagogical courses in addition to their main curriculum and acquire a diploma that allows them to teach at Jewish schools in the FSU. General education disciplines are taught by the staff of the CJSC and the Faculty of Education of the Moscow State University; Jewish education - by faculty from the Chais Center and Melton Center for Jewish Education.

Some students in this program already teach at schools in Moscow. It is anticipated that a significant number of students from communities outside of Moscow will return to the their home towns to take up positions as teachers in Jewish schools. Meanwhile, in Moscow, the Chais Center participates in educational projects targeting new audiences. These projects include specialization in Jewish studies at the Lyceum for Oriental Studies (high school under the auspices of the Moscow State University); extra-curricular Jewish studies at elite schools; seminars for high school students, etc.

In cooperation with other organizations, the Chais Center also participates in the preparation of programs for Jewish schools and the organization of seminars for teachers in Jewish schools.

A new journal (Evreiskoe Obrazovanie) on Jewish education will be published by the Chais Center in cooperation with the St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies (supported by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee).

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

The Chais Center for Jewish Studies in Russian supports advanced study programs for students in Israel and the FSU, including:       
- summer and winter schools in Jewish studies in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kharkov;
- the "Eshnav" program for students from the FSU at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem;
- support for the library resources of the Moscow Academic Library of Jewish Studies, including compiling the lists and supplying 1000 books per year;
- photocopying articles ordered by students and researchers from the FSU.

These programs are organized in cooperation with the Association of Students of Jewish Studies in Russia and "Sefer"- the Moscow Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization, and with the support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

ACADEMIC COURSES AND ADULT EDUCATION IN ISRAEL
Project Coordinator: Semion Goldin

One of the primary activities of the Chais Center is the preparation of lectures on a high academic level in various fields of Jewish studies for a broad Russian-speaking audience.

Within the framework of the present project, the Chais Center, in cooperation with the Rothberg International School, opens approximately eight Russian-language courses on Jewish civilization annually. These courses are an integral part of the academic curriculum and accessible to Russian-speaking students of the Hebrew University and to a lay audience.

The Chais Center, in cooperation with various academic, governmental and public institutions, is currently preparing an educational program on Jewish culture in Russian for the general public, in Israeli cities with a considerable Russian-speaking population. Among them are courses on "History of Jerusalem", "Russian Jewry and Israeli Culture", etc. (in cooperation with Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi. To date courses have been opened in Jerusalem, Haifa, Ashdod, and Rishon Lezion.) The project is supported by the Israeli Government and municipal authorities.

PUBLICATIONS

Bibliotheca Judaica Series
Editors: Alexander Kulik, Ilia Lurie

The publishing program of the Center is based on cooperation with "Gishrey Tarbut" Association. The objective of this program is to enrich the basic library on Jewish history and culture in Russian which is available today to Russian-speaking scholars, students, and a lay audience of readers. The main focus of the project is the translation of fundamental research in the fields mentioned above. In addition, the Center aims to publish original research in Russian in Jewish studies. The Academic Committee, comprising outstanding specialists in their fields, determines the program of publications that contains both classic and current works, with special consideration for research on Russian and East-European Jewry. The program was made possible primarily by the support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Recent publications:

M. Beizer, The Jews of Leningrad: National Life and Sovietization, 1917-1939.
E. J. Bickerman, The Jews in the Greek Age.
O. Budnitsky (ed.), The Jews and Russian Revolution. Materials and Research.
D. Eliashevich, The State Policy and the Jewish Press in Russia (1797-1917).
R. Genzeleva, Paths of Jewish Self-Consciousness.
V. Hiterer, The Documents Collected by the Jewish Commission for History and Archeography at the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.
J. D. Klier, Russia Gathers Her Jews. The Origin of Jewish Questions in Russia, 1722-1825.
V. Khodasevich, From the Hebrew Poetry.
S. Pletneva, Essays on Khazarian Archeology.
L. Poliakov, The History of Anti-Semitism.
L. Schiffman, From the Text to Tradition: History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism.
M. Schneider, More Nevukhim by Maimonides: Translation and Commentary.
M. Stern, Greek and Latin Authors on Jews and Judaism. Vol. 1-2.
I. Tantlevski, Books of Enoch.
E. Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible.
J. Weinberg, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible.

Publication program for 2000-2001:

M. Hirshman, A Rivalry of Genius: Jewish and Christian Biblical Interpretation in Late Antiquity.
I. M. Gafni, The Jews of Babylonia in the Talmudic Era: Social and Cultural History.
S. D. Goitein, Jews and Arabs: Their Contacts through the Ages.
Jewish Art: Collection of Articles.
M. Polishchuk, Jewish Social Institutions in Novorossia 1881-1904.
C. Sirat, A History of Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages.
M. Stern, Greek and Latin Authors on Jews and Judaism. Vol. 3.
M. Weiss, The Bible From Within: The Method of Total Interpretation.

 

International Journal for Jewish Studies in Russian
(Vestnik Evreiskogo Universiteta)

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Editors: Israel Bartal (Editor-in-Chief, Jerusalem), Michael Beizer (Jerusalem), Oleg Budnitsky (Moscow), Dmiti Frolov (Moscow), Arkady Kovelman (Chairman of Editorial Board, Moscow), Serge Ruzer (Jerusalem).

Secretaries: Alexander Liberman (Moscow), Ilia Lurie (Jerusalem), Maksim Zaveriaev (Moscow).

Vestnik is a joint academic venture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Jewish University of Moscow, the Moscow State University and in cooperation with "Gishrey Tarbut" Association. It is a periodic journal of Jewish Studies in Russian which publishes original and translated articles by Russian, Israeli and other scholars on different subjects of Jewish history and culture. The journal also contains publications and translations of historical documents and academic chronicle. The editors' purpose is to create a forum for a wide and free exchange of opinions, which would be useful to every historian, philologist, sociologist or philosopher dealing with Jewish subjects. The publishing is supported by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Russian Jewish Congress.

International Journal on Jewish Education (Evreiskoe Obrazovanie)

Editors-in-Chief: Ilia Dvorkin, Vladimir Sobkin

Editor: Katia Eliashevich

Secretaries: Vasilisa Shklovski-Kordi, Polina Monakhovski

The Chais Center publishes the journal on Jewish education in cooperation with the St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies (supported by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee).

RESEARCH

The Chais Center encourages research in Russian. This is the fourth year that the Chais Center is conducting a monthly research seminar in Russian. The seminar is intended for advanced students, new-immigrant scholars and visiting scholars from the FSU. Some lectures given at the seminar are published in Vestnik. The Chais Center also supports congresses and, in cooperation with "Gesharim" publishing house ("Gishrey Tarbut" Association), publishes original research in Russian (see Publications).

The Chais Center hopes to secure resources to support individual and group research in Russian, especially in the fields of Judaeo-Slavica and the history of East European Jewry.