Our Core Components
Established in 2009, the Natan and Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies’ mission is to create, coordinate, and promote interdisciplinary programming focused on teaching and scholarship in: Israel Studies, Jewish Studies, and the history, politics, cultures and societies of the Middle East.
Our primary goal is to expand knowledge about Israel, Judaism, and the Middle East on the university campus and beyond, while promoting and facilitating collaborative scholarship with institutions in Israel and around the world.
We strive towards our mission with the following Core Components:
- Excellence
- Collaboration
- Diversity
- Critical Thinking
- Academic Independence
Coursework
The UNO Department of Religious Studies currently offers eleven Jewish/Israeli courses, while the Department of History offers six such courses. The Center will provide funding to greatly expand these course offerings with the goal of creating a minor in Israel and/or Jewish Studies for UNO students. Potential new courses may include:
- History of Modern Israel
- Modern Jewish Thought
- Zionism and the Founding of Israel
- Religion and Politics in the Middle East
- Government and Politics of Israel
- Israel and the Holocaust
- Israeli-Arab Conflict
- Israeli Literature and Culture
If you would like to further our work, funding opportunities are available in the following areas:
Professorship
Funding for a permanent Israel and Jewish studies professor on the UNO campus will ensure the continued growth and development of course offerings, lectures and expertise.
Visiting Scholar
The Schwalb Center strives to be a bridge between UNO and the Nebraska Community to knowledge about Israel and Judaism. One of the ways in which we do this is by inviting Israeli scholars from a wide variety of disciplines to become visiting professors at UNO. These scholars offer courses to students and community members through UNO’s Audit and Passport program. These courses in turn engage and expose the audience to a deeper and broader understanding of Israel and Judaism.
Analysis and Communication
The Center for Israel and Jewish Studies will provide continuing expertise to interpret world events as they impact Jews, Israel, the Middle East, and the world through press releases and speaking engagements.
Lecture Series
The Center for Israel and Jewish Studies will coordinate the annual Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks Lecture Series held at UNO. The Center will sponsor the Phil and Ruth Sokolof endowed lecture series in Israel and Jewish Studies. It will also sponsor other community lectures by renowned experts.
Student Travel Scholarships
The Center for Israel and Jewish Studies will offer scholarships for students, creating unforgettable learning opportunities for UNO students.
Israel Travel Grants
Funding for faculty members will establish academic ties with Israeli universities and research institutions, and provide opportunities to deliver papers, lectures, and presentations in Israel.
Governance
The UNO faculty will be responsible for the academic program of the Center. In addition, a board of interested individuals from the Jewish and general communities will give advice and recommendations; will coordinate activities with the Center’s Partners and other communal institutions; and will seek support, both financial and general, for the operations and growth of the Center. In order to assure the development of the Center, endowed funds are being established at both the University of Nebraska Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.