University of Pittsburgh Jewish Studies Program

Award-winning filmmaker Rafael Balulu joins us next week for his talk, "Saints and Saviors: Jewish Stories from North Africa in the Shadow of the Holocaust."

Next week, Jill Joshowitz will deliver the Annual Israel Heritage Room Lecture. Her talk, "Reflections on the Dura Europos Synagogue Paintings: From the Syrian Desert to the Israel Heritage Room," takes place Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30pm in room 332 of the Cathedral of Learning.

Next week, Anika Walke joins us for the Third Annual Renee Sachs Memorial lecture on Holocaust history.

This Wednesday, join us virtually for a discussion of "Evaluating Anti-Zionism in Relation to Antisemitism," with Ethan Katz of UC Berkeley.

Register through the event link: https://calendar.pitt.edu/event/evaluating-anti-zionism-in-relation-to-antisemitism-virtual-webinar

So excited to hear Dr. Adrienne Krone speak about her research on Jewish farming! February 19th, 5pm at Pitt.

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle for this preview of her talk. https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/jewish-farming-in-the-u-s-is-fertile-ground-for-jewish-ethnographer/?fbclid=IwY2xjawP3eZ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0hzYUNwEVn83hgVy7BtFdH2gLhUNWRIv2q-F8N5RQHtk25gIS-UdsCZSjrg_aem_MEB2LTCBS0QvSyVQ0MJyKA

Jewish farming in the U.S. is fertile ground for Jewish ethnographer 'If we're not paying attention to the ways that religion is informing how people make decisions then we're missing key pieces of the conversation and we can't change the food system and make it better'

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, February 10, 8am. Join us virtually for Hilla Nehushtan’s talk, “Jewish Women Navigating Body Size, Religion, and Culture,” as part of the Religion and Health Lecture Series of the Institute for Bioethics. This discussion will provide valuable insights, for clinicians and others, regarding the lived experiences of women whose religious and cultural commitments intersect with conventional approaches to body image, care, and support. Register here: https://pitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IocN5lOTTbSeTgkpK2goBw #/registration

Next week, we are excited to welcome Mika Ahuvia for her talk, "How Do You Talk to an Angel? Jewish Ritual-Magic Sources" on Thursday, 2/12 at 5pm, WPU 540. Part of our "Conversations with Gods: Divination in the Ancient World" interdisciplinary series.

Our course on Antisemitism has been revived! Look for "Antisemitism: Then and Now" this Spring 2026.

Pitt’s Jewish Studies Program revives antisemitism course The timing of the course, called “Antisemitism Then and Now,” coincides with a rapid rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world.

There are still spots left in these exciting spring semester courses — Check them out!

Please join us this Wednesday evening as Dr. Kerry Wallach shares her research on Rahel Szalit, a well-known Jewish artist in Weimar Berlin whose work and legacy was largely forgotten after the Holocaust. This is the first offering in an annual lecture series that will honor the life of renowned art historian and Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Balas.

Please join us on Thursday, October 23rd, to speak with the curators of the exhibit "Camera As Passport: The Ship of Photographers."