Elie Hirschfeld’s Recent Gift to Brown University
As Professor David C. Jacobson now succeeds Saul Olyan as director of The Brown University program in Judaic Studies, Elie Hirschfeld’s gift in support of the educational mission of the program continues to yield impact.
The Elie Hirschfeld ’71 House continues to serve as the center for the university’s scholarship on Jewish history, literature, politics, language, and religions. The position of Hirschfeld Senior Lecturer in Judaic Studies, also funded by the Elie Hirschfeld gift to Brown, is currently held by Katharina Galor.
In addition, the Elie Hirschfeld Hebrew Award will be funded by a recent gift. This award is given to the graduating senior who has most excelled in Hebrew studies, with preference given to a student who began their Hebrew studies at Brown at the elementary level and completed the full six semesters offered.
Further new upcoming projects funded by Elie Hirschfeld’s most recent donation will greatly enhance the education of students at Brown who concentrate in Judaic Studies or take elective courses.
When the Covid crisis will pass and students can safely travel again, a class trips program will be launched to enrich courses. Ideas in the works include a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., corresponding to Professor Adam Teller’s “History of the Holocaust” course, and a trip to the Lower East Side of New York, to accompany a course Professor Rachel Rojanski teaches on Yiddish culture and language.
Professor Jacobson is currently working to launch a series of Zoom meetings for an Israeli-Palestinian Conflict course next semester. This further development of Zoom interaction between course students to include scholars, experts, or academics at other universities will offer an opportunity to greatly expand the scope of these students’ studies. Additional courses will launch similar programs in the coming months.
Also funded by Elie Hirschfeld: extracurricular activities for students concentrating in Judaic Studies, taking Judaic courses, or expressing an interest in Judaic Studies. These may include films, guest speakers, and informal get togethers with faculty members.
Hebrew Week events, including a series of activities related to Hebrew that are fun and educational, encourages interest in language learning at Brown.
Informal get togethers between professors and their students, which are held either at the faculty member’s home or at Hirschfeld House, include refreshments courtesy of Elie Hirschfeld.
Finally, the Elie Hirschfeld donation has funded the patio furniture for outdoor teaching, events, and informal get togethers of students and faculty members. With Covid has come a greater consciousness of the advantages of meeting outdoors. The Hirschfeld House patio overlooks a beautiful backyard providing an ideal setting during the fall and spring.
