Ruderman Lecture Series

ANNUAL MORTON E. RUDERMAN MEMORIAL LECTURE

Jewish Studies is participating energetically in Northeastern University’s commitment to address issues of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion in all aspects of our educational and experiential learning program. With gratitude, as ever, to the Ruderman Family Foundation for their support, our annual Morton E. Ruderman Memorial Lecture this year took the shape of a series that we called “The Colors, Cultures, and Flavors of the Jews.”

Working closely with Professors Jonathan Kaufman (School of Journalism) and Ted Landsmark (School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs), Jewish Studies designed two lectures as part of the Fall 2021 Myra Kraft Open Classroom “Repairing a Divided America” (see page 4).

On October 6, Professor Kabria Baumgartner of Northeastern conducted a conversation with Professor Eric Goldstein of Emory University on the topic of his book, The Price of Whiteness: Jews, Race, and American Identity. Professor Goldstein discussed the ways in which immigrant Jews in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries negotiated the process of redefining themselves according to American racial and social constructs, and how, post-World War II, Jews entered the mainstream white establishment with attendant social, class, educational, and economic implications. It was as late as this period of history that Jews in America came to be seen as “white,” a label that both affords privilege and entails losses and compromises for some Jews, whether because they want to maintain a sense of distinctiveness as Jews, identify with minority experiences, are of non-European background, or experience antisemitism by white racists.

[WATCH THE RECORDING]

On October 20, Rabbi Mira Rivera joined Professors Phil Thai, Matt Lee, and Lily Song of Northeastern University to discuss “Asian Americans in a MultiRacial and Multi-Religious Democracy.” While Professors Thai, Lee, and Song discussed the different backgrounds of Asian Americans and the history of prejudice and discrimination, Rabbi Rivera shared personal stories of being not only Asian American but also Jewish, and the kinds of reactions she has experienced both within and outside the Jewish community to her being not only Jewish, but a rabbi. Rabbi Rivera’s personal story is moving and inspiring.

[WATCH THE RECORDING]

In a hybrid format, in person and livestreamed, with a recording available online, these two lectures reached a combined audience of well over 500 people.

The Series resumes this fall, beginning with Laura Arnold Leibman speaking on October 20 about mixed raced Jews in early America, some of whom had been enslaved and some of whom became slave holders. Exploring the diversity of the Jewish people and the complexity of the Jewish experience reshapes Jewish communal self-understanding and will have an impact on Jewish Studies curricula at Northeastern and more widely.

RABBI MIRA RIVERA, PHIL THAI, MATT LEE, LILY SONG

SHARON RUDERMAN SHAPIRO, LORI LEFKOVITZ, KABRIA BAUMGARTNER, ERIC GOLDSTEIN, JAY RUDERMAN