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Release
Lecture Focuses on 350
Years of American Jewry
UAlbany Center for Jewish Studies and
the Colonie Jewish Community Association launch
their annual program with an April 7 lecture
by Center Director Mark A. Raider
Contact:
Catherine Herman (518) 437-4980
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 24, 2005) -- The Center
for Jewish Studies at UAlbany and the Colonie
Jewish Community Association will present Mark
A. Raider, chair of the Judaic Studies Department
and director of Center, lecturing on "Reflections
on 350 Years of the Jewish People in America" The
lecture, the initial presentation of an annual
educational program, will be held Thursday,
April 7, 7:30 p.m., at the William K. Sanford
Town Library in Loudonville. Light, kosher
refreshments will be served. The event is free
and open to the public. All facilities are
wheelchair accessible.
The Center for Jewish Studies and Colonie
Jewish Community Association collaboration
was created to promote greater understanding
of Jewish heritage and community in the Capital
Region.
Raider explained, “The American Jewish
experience - now marking its 350th anniversary
year - is a kaleidoscope of social, religious,
cultural, economic, and political forces. Like
other American ethnic groups, the experience
of the Jews is rooted in two great historical
traditions: one, its own, dating back to the
Jewish people’s origins in biblical times;
the other, that of the New World, dating back
to the colonization of North America in the
17th century.”
This lecture will explore how American Jewish
life and culture developed and changed over
time, from the colonial period to the present.
It will highlight broad themes and major topics
in the American Jewish experience, and investigate
critical historical junctures including the
American Revolution, the Civil War era, World
Wars I and II, the rise of Zionism and the
creation of the State of Israel, and the impact
of the Holocaust on American Jews.
The annual educational program highlights
topics about Jewish life and culture, and is
organized by the UAlbany Center for Jewish
Studies. The program underscores the Center's
goal of promoting a deeper understanding of
the social, religious and historical dimensions
of Jewish life through educational lectures
and activities. By including topics such as
Jewish art, music and culture, the program
seeks to attract a broad range of participants
of all ages and backgrounds - from both the
University community and greater Capital region.
Moreover, the program provides for an academic
forum for individuals who are interested in
enriching their knowledge about Jewish culture,
thus, also supporting the core mission of the
University - to educate and advance knowledge
in society. “This is a wonderful demonstration
of the new private-public partnership championed
by the Advisory Board. We hope that others
will follow the example set by our Colonie
friends,” said Peter Elitzer, president
of Peter Harris Clothing and head of the Advisory
Board’s development committee.
For more information on the lecture, contact
Yoel Hirschfeld (518) 437-3613.
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