News
The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia is honored to offer the Samuel and Evelyn Linden Scholarships to allow both undergraduate and graduate students at the University to engage in advanced research, study, fieldwork, and project organization to help understand and promote dialogue, peace, and justice among Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians. The mission of the scholarship is to nourish scholarly excellence combined with citizenship, social responsibility, and work towards intercultural understanding.
Successful applications will propose a course of study, a research project, or a creative program that is at home both inside and outside of academia, involves real-life communities, and exposes the applicant to rigorous learning as well as to human encounter.
Scholarships, which range from $3,000-$3,500, may be used towards study and research in any field, encouraging a wide range of methods and approaches.
Applicants to the Linden Scholarship must submit a current CV, a written proposal of no more than three pages explaining their project and its expected relevance for Jewish-Arab and Palestinian relations, and at least one letter of recommendation from an academic advisor who can speak to the scholarly merit of the project and the student’s ability to carry it out.
Applications and letters of recommendation are due February 1, 2018, and should be sent electronically to Gabriel Finder, Director of Jewish Studies, at gf6n@virginia.edu.
Recipients will be notified by March 1, 2018 and must apply for and secure exemption from the current State Department Travel Warning by March 15, 2018. Exemptions will be handled by the International Studies Office (ISO) at the University of Virginia.
Scholarships may be used for any part of the summer 2018 or the academic year 2018-2019. Recipients will be expected to present their research in a lecture at a special reception open to both academic and non-academic communities and to do outreach on their own to share their experiences in appropriate venues, such as high schools, synagogues, university Hillels, Muslim student organizations, or community centers of all faiths. Past and present recipients will form a cohort of young scholars engaging in scholarship and social responsibility.
Some projects that previous Linden scholars have undertaken include:
Working with Windows: Channels for Communication, which empowers Palestinian and Jewish
youth to work against discrimination by giving them skills needed to become activists in their
own communities. Another scholar observed and interviewed Jews and Arabs/Palestinians in
Israel to learn about their current perceptions of each other. She focused specifically on signs of
fear and lack of empathy that they exhibit toward each other, as well as points of commonality
and signs of understanding. A third created an after-school program for Arab students, and
toured the West Bank with “Breaking the Silence,” an organization of ex-Israeli soldiers who
publicize the treatment of Arabs in the West Bank. And another scholar volunteered in Project
Harmony Israel, an integrated Arab-Jewish English day camp for middle school children in
Jerusalem. She showed the campers how to build and tend a community garden. She also
facilitated educational programs about energy and global resources, food and health, and
caring for the camp and the earth.
A Statement from the Faculty of the University of Virginia’s Jewish Studies Program
We, the faculty affiliated with the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia, condemn in the strongest possible terms the antisemitic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic intimidation, hate speech, and violence promoted and perpetrated by neo-Nazis and self-proclaimed white supremacists on August 11 and 12, 2017, in Charlottesville and on the grounds of the University of Virginia. We deeply mourn the tragic deaths of Heather Heyer, who dedicated her life to the creation of a just society, and Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke M. M. Bates of the Virginia State Police, who were acting to contain these groups and protect those who oppose their odious views and acts of violence.
We who teach and study Jewish civilization, history, and culture, are acutely aware of the dangerous ramifications—both for democratic societies and for innocent individuals and communities—of the ideas and actions of the hate-inspired groups that besieged Charlottesville. In light of these acts of violence and horrific expressions of ignorance, intolerance, and hatred, we rededicate ourselves as educators to fostering learning environments in which all students—regardless of skin color, place of birth, faith, gender, sexual orientation, political views, or heritage—feel welcome and able to engage in civil and productive discourse in a spirit of mutual respect.
Manuela Achilles
Elizabeth Alexander
Gerard Alexander
Jessica Andruss
Asher Biemann
Gabriel Finder
Blaire French
Jennifer Geddes
Robert Geraci
Zvi Gilboa
Jeffrey Grossman
Martien Halvorson-Taylor
Michelle Kisliuk
Daniel Lefkowitz
James Loeffler
Charles Mathewes
William McDonald
Peter Ochs
Vanessa Ochs
Caroline Rody
Joel Rubin
Gregory Schmidt-Goering
Assistant Professor in Modern Hebrew, General Faculty — University of Virginia
The Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures (MESALC) at the University of Virginia invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor, General Faculty (tenure-ineligible) in Modern Hebrew. This is a three-year, renewable appointment. The appointment begins with the fall term 2018 with an anticipated start date of July 25, 2018.
The successful applicant will have native or near-native fluency in Israeli Hebrew, demonstrated excellence in teaching Modern Hebrew at an American university, experience developing academic programs, and the ability to contribute to the University’s Jewish Studies, Global Studies, and Digital Humanities programs. This position also requires a record of innovation and sophistication in second-language pedagogy that integrates texts derived from the Israeli electronic mediascape while developing students’ transnational literacies alongside language skills. Teaching responsibilities include first- and second-year language classes in Modern Israeli Hebrew, as well as advanced Hebrew Language courses that focus on conversational skills, media Hebrew, or topics in Israeli literature, film or culture. This position carries a teaching load of three courses per semester. A Ph.D. in Hebrew language, literature, or linguistics; second language pedagogy; or a related field is required by date of appointment.
To apply, candidates must submit a Candidate Profile on-line through Jobs@UVA (https://jobs.virginia.edu), and electronically attach the following: CV, cover letter, statement of (language) teaching philosophy, a sample of relevant course syllabi (attach as Writing Sample 1), and a representative sample of course evaluations as evidence of teaching effectiveness (attach as Writing Sample 2); search on posting number 0621351. Please include in the CV the name and contact information for three people who would be willing to write confidential letters of recommendation on your behalf.
Review of applications will begin October 1, 2017 and will continue until the position is filled.
Please direct any questions about the position to: Daniel Lefkowitz at dl2h@virginia.edu.
Questions regarding the on-line application process should be directed to: Cameron Clayton, 434-982-2665, rcc8k@virginia.edu.
The University will perform background checks on all new faculty hires prior to making a final offer of employment.
The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.