SYTYCT: So You Think You Can Teach Jewish Studies

There’s a Whole Scholarship Going On

So You Think You Can Dance Teach – Jewish Studies. Recent Postings for 2015-2016:

Allegheny College (PA)
Jewish Chaplain and Faculty Member of Religious Studies

Allegheny College seeks applicants for the newly created full-time position of of Jewish Chaplain and Faculty Member of Religious Studies. Submit a letter of application, resume or c.v., evidence of teaching effectiveness, and contact information for three references by email to Jane Ellen Nickell, Chaplain and Eric Boynton, Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at [email protected]. Letters of recommendation will be requested of short-listed candidates.
More details at InsideHigherEd.com
Deadline for applications is October 30, 2015.

Bard College (NY)
Jacob Neusner Professor in the History and Theology of Judaism (Open Rank)

Bard College invites applications for a full-time, open rank position in the Religion Program, in the area of Judaic Studies. This is an endowed chair, the Jacob Neusner Professor in the History and Theology of Judaism, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the field and to Bard College. The position contributes centrally to both the Religion Program and the Jewish Studies concentration. The position requires a strong commitment to teaching and scholarship in a liberal arts setting. The period of specialization is open.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Nominations are especially welcome. For more information on the Religion Program at Bard, visit http://religion.bard.edu/ or contact Bruce Chilton, [email protected].

To apply, please submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, a teaching and research statement, a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation through Interfolio.com at: http://apply.interfolio.com/31517

Interfolio Link Closes: Dec 31, 2015.
Also posted at Religious Studies 2015-2016

Binghamton University, SUNY (NY)
Israel Studies (Hebrew and Israeli Literatures)

This position is the second of three cluster hires in Israel Studies and the successful candidate will be a member of both the Judaic Studies Department and the Center for Israel Studies. This position is affiliated with the Citizenship, Rights, and Cultural Belonging Transdisciplinary Area of Excellence (see http://www.binghamton.edu/tae/). Area of Specialization: Hebrew and Israeli Literatures. Areas of competence: Open. Comparative approaches are encouraged. A successful candidate will have a strong research program. Teaching experience preferred. Ph.D. in hand by 01 September 2016 is expected.

Requirements: A successful candidate will have a strong research program. Teaching experience preferred. Ph.D. in hand by 01 September 2016 is expected.

Application Instructions: Required application materials include a cover letter, CV, a research statement, a brief writing sample (no longer than a paper or chapter), a teaching statement that focuses on pedagogy, 2 sample syllabi, and 3 letters of reference. Applicants should use https://Binghamton.interviewexchange.com to submit their materials.

Applications received by 15 October, 2015 will be guaranteed full consideration, but the search will continue until the position is filled.

Columbia University (NY)
Leonard B. Kaye Chair in Hebrew and Comparative Literature

Summary Description: The Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University invites applications for a position in Modern Hebrew and Comparative Literature, at the rank of tenured associate or full professor. The appointment will fill the Leonard B. Kaye Chair in Hebrew and Comparative Literature. The candidate is expected to have a distinguished record of scholarly achievement in the field of Modern Hebrew and Comparative Literature, and to demonstrate the capacity to contribute significantly to the larger intellectual mission and the institutional well-being of the department.

Preferred Qualifications: PhD in Hebrew and Comparative Literature
Apply AT: http://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=61418

Date Review Begins: 09-15-2015.

Harvard University (MA)
Spanish-Portuguese Jewry

The Department seeks to appoint a tenure-track or tenured professor in Jewish history and culture, with special emphasis on the civilizations of Spanish-Portuguese Jewry both within the Iberian Peninsula and throughout the Sephardic diaspora. The appointment is expected to begin on or after July 1, 2016. Candidates are encouraged to apply by September 15, 2015. The appointee will teach and advise at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in Jewish studies or related discipline, required by the time the appointment begins; fluency in Hebrew required. The successful candidate will be able to teach inter alia the Jewish history and culture of the medieval and early modern Mediterranean world, and should demonstrate research expertise in some particular aspect or aspects of Sephardic history and culture, whether pre- or post-expulsion. For example: Jewish literature, philosophy, law of the “Golden Age”; visual and material culture; Jewish-Christian relations and/or Jewish-Muslim relations, etc. Applications are accepted only via the Harvard Employment web site:

TENURED: http://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/6239
TENURE-TRACK: http://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/6238

Apply by: Sept. 15 2015 (but maybe you can still apply)

New York University (NY)
Judaism (Teacher of, )

The Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University seeks to hire a scholar of Judaism. Rank open. The department will consider applications relating to any aspect of the study of Judaism, but it has particular interest in applications that demonstrate one or more of the following: engagement with the field of religious studies; an interest in issues related to gender; a chronological focus on a period before the eighteenth century. All candidates are expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses. The appointment will begin in September 1, 2016 pending administrative and budgetary approval.

Deadline for application is October 15, 2015. To apply, submit a curriculum vitae and three references online. Applicants at the assistant professor level who have not yet published a book should submit a book manuscript that has been accepted for publication or an approved doctoral dissertation. For more information and to apply see the NYU Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies web site at http://hebrewjudaic.as.nyu.edu. Instructions can be found under the home page link “Employment.”

San Francisco State University (CA)
Asst. Professor
John & Marcia Goldman Chair in American Jewish Studies

San Francisco State University, Department of Jewish Studies invites applications for the position of the John & Marcia Goldman Chair in American Jewish Studies to be filled at the level of tenure-track assistant professor beginning August 2016. Because American Jewish studies is a scholarly field and not an academic discipline, the department will consider applications from scholars in a wide array of disciplines, including (but not limited to) anthropology, art history, cultural studies, education, ethics, history, literature, media studies, modern Jewish thought, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, and womens/gender studies. Since this position reflects the intrinsically interdisciplinary nature of Jewish studies, broad familiarity with Jewish studies is desirable.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in their discipline, with a completed degree by August 1, 2016. Candidates must have an active record of scholarship related to their area of specialization in American Jewish studies. Preferred candidates will have teaching experience in settings with large, diverse student bodies and demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching. The ability to work as a public intellectual in Jewish studies is highly desirable, since the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the university’s mission of community engagement. Preferred candidates will have strong interpersonal skills, a sense of collegiality, and the ability to work cooperatively.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach two courses per semester, both lower and upper division undergraduate courses. These will include both existing department course offerings and new courses to be developed for the department in the candidates area of expertise. Since 2/2 constitutes a reduced annual teaching load, the endowed chair must demonstrate correspondingly higher levels of scholarly productivity (by maintaining an active program of research leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals and other venues in the field of American Jewish studies, as well as presentations at significant conferences, accolades or awards, and strong endorsements by referees) and leadership in service outreach activities. Other duties include advising, curriculum development, and committee service. A detailed position description is available at the department website: http://www.sfsu.edu/~jewish/.

Salary will be competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The California State University provides generous health and retirement benefits, as well as domestic partner benefits.

Application: Applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of relevant publications, evidence of teaching experience, and at least three letters of reference. Review of applications and supporting materials will begin September 30, 2015 and will continue until the position is filled. Please email materials or inquiries to [email protected]. Printed materials may also be sent to: American Jewish Studies Search, Department of Jewish Studies, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132.

CANCELLED:
Stanford University (CA)
Koshland Chair in Jewish Religion and Culture

The Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University invites applications and nominations in the area of the study of Jewish religion and/or thought for the Daniel E. Koshland Chair in Jewish Religion and Culture. We seek a senior scholar of distinction in the field of Jewish Studies, with an outstanding record of research and scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and advising students at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The successful candidate may specialize in any area or period of the study of Jewish religion and/or thought.

This search replaces the recently (July 2015) advertised search for the next holder of the Daniel E. Koshland Chair in Jewish Religion and Culture. Senior scholars of distinction are also encouraged to apply for this position, and, if appointed at full professor level, may be eligible for nomination to the Koshland Chair. Those who have already applied under the previous search may elect to have their applications carried over to this one.

Stockton University (NJ)
Holocaust Studies (incl. Jewish Studies)

Applications are invited from qualified individuals for the position of Assistant Professor in Holocaust Studies at Stockton University. The successful candidate will contribute to Stockton’s undergraduate minor and graduate Master of Arts programs in Holocaust and Genocide Studies in the School of General Studies. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a sustained commitment to scholarship and teaching in Holocaust studies, with an interest in teaching other genocides as well.

Qualifications: Candidates must hold a doctorate in an appropriate field, including, but not limited to Holocaust & Genocide Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Psychology, Theology, Political Science, Sociology, Literature, and Education. Interdisciplinary approaches are especially welcome. Scholarship and teaching on Jewish and Christian responses to the Holocaust, Jewish life and culture before the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and/or Jewish-Christian relations is particularly desirable. Excellent teaching credentials and a strong research and publication record are expected.

The successful candidate should be willing to contribute to distance/online education as well as teaching in traditional classroom and seminar settings. Service will include contribution to governance of the Undergraduate Minor in Holocaust & Genocide Studies and the Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG), student advising, and campus-wide faculty committees/initiatives.

Salary: Assistant Professor: $59,488.41 to $62,192.99, commensurate with experience.
Salary is complemented by a GENerous benefits package.

Submit application materials to Dr. Robert Gregg, Dean of General Studies, https://careers-stockton.icims.com/jobs. Include electronic copies (as Word or PDF files) of the letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, and three letters of recommendation. All offers of employment are contingent upon a favorable background check.

Screening of applications begins October 15, 2015 and will continue until the position is filled.

Towson University (MD)
Ancient Judaism (2nd century BCE-the Rise of Islam)

The College of Liberal Arts invites applications for a tenure-track, 10-month Assistant Professor position in Ancient Judaism (2nd century BCE-the Rise of Islam) with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies beginning August 2016.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in Religious Studies. ABD applicants considered, but appointment will be at the instructor rank and all degree requirements must be completed by August 1, 2016. Possess a strong command of rabbinic literature and engage with core genres of the traditional Jewish canon, but may focus on an era from late antiquity through the Rise of Islam. Interested in addressing the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism as well as its intersections with other religious and intellectual traditions of late antiquity. Possess a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and show potential for a productive scholarly program.

Responsibilities: Faculty assigned an instructional workload of six (6) course units per academic year for the first year. Beginning the second year the workload reverts back to the standard instructional workload of seven to eight (7-8) course units. Teach both introductory and specialized courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including Introduction to Judaism, Introduction to the Study of Religion and Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as upper level undergraduate courses. Teach the core graduate survey in Rabbinic History and Literature as well as graduate seminars. The Philosophy and Religious Studies Department in conjunction with the graduate program in Jewish Studies will determine the mix of undergraduate and graduate courses, advising duties and service. Application Process: Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, official or unofficial transcripts, evidence of effective teaching, three letters of recommendation by November 6, 2015 to Dr. Anne Ashbaugh at: http://apply.interfolio.com/29532.

University of California Berkeley (CA)
Assistant Professor
Modern Hebrew Literature – Comparative Literature and Near Eastern Studies

Description The Departments of Comparative Literature and Near Eastern Studies at U.C. Berkeley seek applications for an Assistant Professor in Modern Hebrew Literature (tenure track) with an expected start date of July 1, 2016.

The successful candidate will have a rigorous grounding in modern Hebrew literature and culture, with additional areas of specialization in one or more of the following: Biblical or medieval Hebrew literature; Yiddish or Ladino literatures and cultures; Arabic, German, or other literatures of relevant comparative focus; critical approaches such as gender theory, critical race theory, post-colonial theory, area studies, film and media studies, or social/cultural history.

Applicants should submit: 1) A cover letter that includes current and future research plans and teaching philosophy; 2) a current C.V.; and 3) three letters of reference. When applying, applicants will be asked to provide contact information for referees, and must then request letters through the application system. Additional writing and teaching materials will be solicited for finalists.

All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality ( http://apo.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html ) prior to submitting their letters. Where to apply: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF00796

Applications must be received by November 2, 2015. Please direct inquiries to: [email protected]

University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
Asst. Professor
Jews of Muslim Lands/Mizrahi Jews in Israel

The Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies and the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, seek to appoint a tenure-track assistant professor who specializes in the Jews of Muslim Lands/Mizrahi Jews in Israel. The position is open to scholars trained either in History, the Social Sciences, Religious Studies, or Cultural Studies, and it is part of a larger initiative to strengthen Middle Eastern Studies on campus. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to affiliate with other departments at the University of Maryland, which values interdisciplinary research and teaching. Position start date: August 16, 2016.

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must have completed the doctoral degree either in History, Jewish Studies, Middle East Studies, Israel Studies, Religious Studies, Cultural Studies, Comparative Literature, a social science discipline or other related fields by the time of the appointment; must demonstrate theoretical and methodological sophistication in their approach to the study of the Middle East; must demonstrate knowledge of the history, political, and social forces of the Middle East; and must demonstrate the ability to teach specific courses on the Jews of Muslim lands and on Mizrahi Jews in Israel. Candidates must show promise of excellence in research; promise of excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and proficiency in Hebrew and at least one other Middle Eastern language, preferably Arabic.

Preferences: For best consideration, applicants must apply by October 23, 2015. A complete application must include the following: a letter of application stating qualifications, experience, research plans, and teaching interests; a complete curriculum vitae; three letters of recommendation; and two representative samples of the candidate’s scholarship, such as dissertation chapters or published articles. Questions regarding this position may be sent to Prof. Marsha Rozenblit, Search Committee Chair, [email protected] or 301-405-4267.
Visiting Positions / Limited-Term Appointments
Brandeis University (MA) – Post-doctoral Fellowship in Israel Studies
The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University invites applications for the 2016-17 academic year. Post-doctoral fellows teach one course per semester in Israel studies, related to programs in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Israeli arts and culture, politics, sociology, economics or other relevant disciplines. They are expected to be in residence at Brandeis, participate actively in the intellectual life of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies and present at least one public lecture. This position offers an annual stipend of $52,500 plus benefits and a $3,000 research and travel fund.

Learn more at http://www.brandeis.edu/israelcenter/support/postdoctoral.html
Apply by October 31, 2015.

Center for Jewish History (NYC)
NEH Fellowship for Senior Scholars

The Center offers a fellowship to senior scholars through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The award supports original research at the Center in the humanities, including but not limited to Jewish studies, Russian and East European studies, American studies and Germanic studies, as well as musicology, linguistics, anthropology, sociology and history. Applications are welcome from college and university faculty in any field who have completed a PhD more than six years prior to the start of the fellowship and whose research will benefit considerably from consultation with materials in the collections of the Center’s partners – American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. Fellowships carry a stipend of up to $50,400 for a period of one year. Fellows are expected to conduct original research at the Center, deliver at least one lecture based on the research conducted, actively participate in the scholarly community at the Center, acknowledge the Center and NEH in all publications resulting from research completed during the fellowship, and submit a report upon completion of the fellowship describing the experience.

The application deadline for the 2016-17 fellowship is December 1, 2015.
Full eligiblity requirements and application guidelinese are posted at fellowships.cjh.org .
Center for Jewish History (NY) – Prins Foundation Postdoctoral and Early Career Fellowship for Emigrating Scholars

The Center for Jewish History is pleased to offer a fellowship for emigrating postdoctoral and early career scholars through a grant from the Vivian G. Prins Foundation. We invite foreign scholars who seek permanent teaching and research positions in North America to apply for this award, which will support 10-month fellowships for scholars who are at the beginning of their careers. Fellows will be provided with a stipend of $35,000 to conduct original research in the collections of the Center’s partners – American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. This award allows the Center to serve as the gateway for emerging scholars seeking to begin a new academic life in North America.

Application deadline: January 11, 2016
Full eligibility requirements and application guidelinese are posted at fellowships.cjh.org

Colby College (Maine)
Faculty Fellow in Jewish Studies (1 yr.)

The department of religious studies and the Jewish studies program at Colby College invite applications for a one-year faculty fellow (sabbatical replacement) in Jewish studies, beginning September 1, 2016. The successful candidate will teach two survey courses on Jews and Judaism (one premodern, one modern) and two additional courses in the candidate’s areas of interest. Applicants from all disciplinary backgrounds and relevant areas of expertise are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a strong commitment to teaching undergraduates in a liberal arts setting and to scholarly research. Candidates who will contribute to the goals of Colby’s Center for Small Town Jewish Life preferred. PhD preferred.

Please submit as a single pdf file a letter of interest, c.v., statement of teaching philosophy, and statement of research interests to [email protected]; please name the file “lastname, firstname”. Please have three letters of recommendation submitted to the same address.

Applications received by November 1 will receive full consideration; preliminary interviews will take place at the AJS conference in Boston.

College of Charleston (SC)
Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Distinguished Visiting Chair in Jewish Studies – Fall 2016

The Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston invites applications for the Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Distinguished Visiting Chair in Jewish Studies for the Fall semester of 2016. Leading academics, writers, artists, and policy makers with expertise on any aspect of the Jewish experience are encouraged to apply. The visiting scholar will participate in the intellectual life of the Jewish Studies Program and the broader college community, and teach one undergraduate course. We are especially interested in candidates who extend our curriculum into areas not well-covered by existing faculty. The position offers an ideal opportunity for research and writing in a beautiful, relaxing environment and carries a salary of up to $20,000, plus free housing in a spacious three bedroom house a short walk from campus. Interested applicants should send a c.v. along with a syllabus or course proposal to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Prof. Martin Perlmutter, Director of Jewish Studies, at [email protected]. For more information about the Jewish Studies Program, visit our website at jewish.cofc.edu.

Those attending the AJS conference in Boston and wanting to meet with us should submit their application by December 1, 2015. The final application deadline is January 15, 2016.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel)
Mandel Postdoctoral Fellowships in Humanities and Jewish Studies for 2016-2019

The Mandel Fellowships are intended for scholars, from Israel and abroad, who have shown exceptional excellence, depth, and originality, and whose research may enrich academic and cultural discourse.

Applications will be accepted from candidates who completed their doctoral degrees recently, no earlier than October 1, 2011. Candidates who have not yet graduated may apply if they have submitted their dissertations by October 7, 2015. If awarded the fellowship, their acceptance will be conditional upon approval of their degrees by April 1, 2016.

Mandel Scholars engage in research in optimal conditions and teach one annual course (2 hours per week). Teaching in English is possible.

Mandel Scholars receive approximately 150,000 NIS per year in addition to a research grant.

The fellowship is for three years, beginning October 1, 2016. There is an option for a two- or one-year tenure.

Scholars are selected on a competitive basis with no preference for a specific field of study.

Contact: Online application only, via the Humanities section of Hebrew University’s Scholarship System

Website: http://www.scholion.huji.ac.il/.upload/Kol_kore_full_details_english%202015.pdf

Deadline for Applications: October 7, 2015.

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2016–2017
Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies:
‘Political Ramifications: Expanding Jewish Political Thought’

Over the course of their history, Jews have championed a range of ideological views and operated within a variety of political contexts. These experiences have generated a rich body of political thought, but there is an ongoing need to advance such thought in light of new developments in political theory and a changing world beyond academia. One way forward is to continue to stretch the boundaries of Jewish political thought in ways that intersect with the study of law, religion, history, literature, and other subjects, or that approach the subject in a comparative framework.

During the 2016–2017 academic year, the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania seeks to expand the study of Jewish political thought. The Center seeks applications from scholars working in fields from ancient to contemporary, welcoming projects that enlist philosophy and theory to unsettle regnant paradigms of power and statehood, that draw on archival research to challenge established understandings of Jewish political history, or that make use of other less expected sources for political thought. Research themes may include but are not limited to:

Intersections with Religion and Culture. Recent years have seen a revived interest in the subject of political theology. How does Jewish political thought address the entanglement between religion and politics? Can and should political debates inform the development of Jewish theology, and can Jewish theology provide conceptual resources with which to tackle political problems?
Comparative Study. How do categories and concepts from general political theory inform Jewish traditions of authority and membership? And what, conversely, can Jewish thought contribute to wider debates about topics such as sovereignty, allegiance, and citizenship?
Law as Politics. Relevant projects could raise questions that span law and politics such as those concerning governance, jurisdiction, and Halakhah. They may investigate the politics of those who develop Jewish legal traditions or explore the relationship between those traditions and their political contexts.
Finding the Political in the Local and the Everyday. General political theory has identified political logics and structures not only in the state but also in a range of more local contexts, including family, city, school, and congregation. What insights emerge from applying this theoretical approach to Jewish life?
The Katz Center invites applications from scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and the arts at all levels, as well as outstanding graduate students in the final stages of writing their dissertations. Stipend amounts are based on academic standing and financial need with a maximum of $60,000 for the academic year. Recipients will be notified by March 1, 2016.

Applications are available on our website: http://katz.sas.upenn.edu

Application Deadline: November 1, 2015.