Fall 2021

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We are delighted to announce that Professor Zvi Gilboa has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures. He continues to direct the Hebrew language program and has recently worked with Professor Greg Schmidt Goering to redesign the Hebrew curriculum. He also continues his scholarly research on transnational literature in Hebrew, and German literature and culture.

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After many years of pioneering work in teaching and growing Jewish Studies at UVA, Professor Gabriel Finder has retired this summer. His contributions to our program are almost too many to count. He taught thousands of UVA students the history of the Holocaust – and brought survivors directly into his classroom to speak to students. He introduced the study of the Yiddish language, as well as developing popular courses on German and East European Jewish history, American Jewish history, Jewish comedy, and the Holocaust and law. His work with alumni and other stakeholders has enriched our program beyond measure. In retirement he will continue to work on his academic research and writing about Polish-Jewish relations, Holocaust history, and war crimes trials.

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2021 also marks the retirement of Professor Joel Rubin. Thanks to this efforts, UVA Jewish Studies grew into one of the premier North American institutions for the study and teaching of Jewish music, particularly the rich traditions of East European klezmer music. His annual concerts with the UVA Klezmer Ensemble and a steady string of world-class guest artists became hallmarks of musical life and Jewish culture on the grounds of the university. His courses introduced students to the complex diversity of Jewish musical expression around the world and down through time. All the while, he maintained a busy schedule of international performances and recordings. In retirement he will continue his work as a performing artist and his ethnomusicological research.