UNO Hosts Symposium on Jewish Religion, Philosophy

Omaha – The Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) is bringing some of the nation’s top ethicists to Omaha on Sunday, April 6, and Monday, April 7.

The first “Jewish Religious & Philosophical Ethics Symposium” will span both days and focus on topics ranging from ethics in the Mishnah to Jewish historiographical ethics, from ethics and race to gender ethics. The event is free and open to the public.

The symposium’s keynote address will take place in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service Collaborating Commons, 132D, on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. and feature Howard Wettstein, Ph.D., a scholar on the topic of evil and religious awe from the University of California-Riverside.

Wettstein earned his Ph.D. from the City University of New York (CUNY) in 1976 and has published several books including “The Significance of Religious Experience” and “Diasporas and Exiles: Varieties of Jewish Identity.”

There will also be two plenary sessions at the symposium.

The first is a presentation from Yaron Shemer, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The session will take place on Sunday, April 6, at the Thompson Alumni Center from 12:15 p.m. through 2:15 p.m. with lunch included.

The second session will be at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, in the Dodge Room at the Milo Bail Student Center, Lewis Gordon, Ph.D. on behalf of Be’chol Lashon (“In Every Tongue) will present a talk on Afro-Jewish ethics that is also sponsored by the Black Studies Department at UNO.

Other visiting scholars at the symposium include:

Jonathan Schofer, University of Texas at Austin
Yakir Englander, Northwestern University
Michah Gottlieb, New York University
Ari Schick, Yeshiva University
Elisha Ancelovits, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Berel Dov Lerner, Western Galilee College

Scholars from UNO include:

Curtis Hutt, Religion
Halla Kim, Philosophy
Laura Grams, Philosophy

At part of the conference, scholars from UNO will collect works presented for publication. The document is the first edited scholarly publication to come from UNO’s Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies.

For media inquiries, contact Charley Reed, UNO media relations coordinator, at unonews@unomaha.edu or by phone at 402.554.2129.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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