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Jewish Culture & Society News

Read article: Sefardita: A Journey from Anthropology to Fiction
Sefardita: A Journey from Anthropology to Fiction
THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2024 Ruth Behar 4:00pm Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum 600 South Gregory, Urbana View on Map   EVENT DESCRIPTION In this presentation, Ruth Behar will discuss her recent turn from anthropology to writing coming-of-age...
Read article: Ben Lerner
Ben Lerner
This event, part of the Greenfield Lynch Lecture Series, will take place April 4, 2024 at 5:30 PM in Levis Faculty Center 210.   Ben Lerner is the author of eight books of poetry and prose as well as several collaborations with visual artists. His new book of poetry, The Lights, was just...
Read article: Jews in Arabia: From the Great Revolt to the Rise of Islam
Jews in Arabia: From the Great Revolt to the Rise of Islam
This lecture will take place Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 4:00-5:30 PM in Levis Faculty Center 422.   The least known Jewish community in the ancient world is the network of Jews who populated the Arabian Peninsula during the years between the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. and the...
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Ellie Spitz

Alumni spotlight: Ellie Spitz

Ellie Spitz graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Highest Honors in Human Development and Family Studies and dual minors in Sociology and Jewish Culture and Society in 2011. They then graduated from Washington University in St Louis as a Master of Social Work, where they worked for LGBT* Student Involvement and Leadership. Ellie was a recipient of the 2010 Ronald Filler Scholarship, 2013 James M. Holobaugh award, 2017 Samuel A Goldsmith award, and in 2019 was named one of the 36 under 36 by OyChicago. Ellie spent seven years scaling Mishkan Chicago into a nationally...

JS 495 course flyer

Jewish Life in Central Illinois

Treasure Found! Those of you who love going through your grandparents’ old drawers or boxes up in the attic--join me on this adventure! In this hands-on history class, we will become detectives and storytellers as we sift through, catalogue, and sort documents and photos that have never been worked on before.

JS 495 Spring 2024

CLCV 220 flyer

Wars and Conflicts in the Middle East from Antiquity Till Today

Because of its geostrategic importance, the Middle East has been, since immemorial times, the focus of conflicts and wars, some of which have had a global impact. It is generally assumed that the Middle East serves as an arena of competition between its countries, its peoples, and the world's great powers.

CLCV 220 Spring 2024

CWL 581 flyer

Spectacles of Terror & Theories of Violence

From The Battle of Algiers (1966) to Omar (2014) and Bethlehem (2014) this graduate seminar takes a comparative approach to examining cinematic depictions of terrorism. Addressing Ruby Rich’s call to approach the study of terrorism and film.

CWL 581

ruins of an ancient city from JS 231 course flyer

Development of Ancient Cities

Explore the monuments, archaeological remains, and histories illustrating the development of the earliest states and urban centers of the Ancient Mediterranean and Near East, including Uruk, Jerusalem, Carthage, Athens, and Rome.

JS 231

JS 495 flyer

Jewish Life in Small Central Illinois Communities

Treasure Found!! Those of you who have always loved going through your grandparents' old drawers, or the boxes up in the attic - join me in this adventure! We will be going through the archive of the Jewish communities of the central mid-west.

JS 495

YDSH320 Flyer

Lit Responses to the Holocaust

In this film course we will be watching and discussing Holocaust Cinema. We will consider different genres, including documentaries, testimony, comedy, drama, musicals and action-adventure films. We consider films from different locations, including the UK, the US, Israel, Poland, Hungary and Italy.

YDSH 320

HEBR 404 flyer

Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

Continuation of HEBR 403. Concentration on ability to engage in reasonable fluent discourse in Hebrew, comprehensive knowledge of formal grammar, and an ability to read easy Hebrew texts. Israeli television programs and movies are used to develop communicative skills and cultural knowledge.

HEBR 404

hebrew keyboard

Elementary Modern Hebrew II

Continuation of HEBR 201, with introduction of more advanced grammar, and with emphasis on more fluency in speaking and reading. 5 credit hours. Prerequisite: HEBR 201 or equivalent.

HEBR 202