Exploring the World at Home and Abroad
- contact: Charley Reed - University Communications
- phone: 402.554.2129
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
- search keywords:
- Schwalb Center
- History
- Global Engagement
Exploring the world at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) can take place anywhere - from your classroom to an overseas journey through history. For those on campus and in the community who are interested in the impact of religion in our world, the Nathan and Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies is a great resource for knowledge and opportunity to become engaged globally.
This semester, the UNO Schwalb center is providing events that look to explore these cultures through current events like the rise of terrorism in the Middle East as well as the historical journey of Muslims and Jews in Southern Europe and Northern Africa.
Middle East Forums
While it may only be a few weeks into 2015, there have been a number of critical developments in the Middle East.
To address these issues, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Nathan and Hannah Schwalb Center will once again host a series of panel discussions on issues facing countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Israel, Palestine, Syria and more.
The first of these panels will take place Thursday, Jan. 22, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC). Parking at the CEC is free and open to off-campus guests.
Following the recent attacks on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, as well as the continuing violence in Nigeria at the hands of Boko Haram, the topic of Thursday’s forum will be the response of the European and African communities to Jihadi terrorism in Europe and Africa.
The forum will be moderated by Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., a visiting professor ofpolitical science and international affairs and feature Moshe Gershovich, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the Schwalb Center; Ramazan Kilinc, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science; and David Muchlinski, Ph.D., adjunct professor of political science.
Attendees to the panel are encouraged to bring lunch and consider questions they maywant to ask the panelists.
For those who cannot make this Thursday’s event, future Middle East Forums will be held at the same time and place on Thursday, Feb. 19, and Thursday, March 19. The March 19 forum will include special guest Roey Gilad, Consul General of the Israeli Consulate to the Midwest.
For questions, please contact Kasey Davis at 402.554.3175 or kaseydavis@unomaha.edu.
From Andalusia to Morocco
Members of the Omaha community looking for a once-in-a-life time trip oversees need to look no further than the UNO and the Nathan and Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies, which are hosting a special trip to southern Spain and Morocco this May.
The trip, which will run Sunday, May 11 through Sunday, May 25, is a unique study abroad experience being offered to students and community members alike.
For students, it will be the culmination of an accredited UNO history course titled “From Andalusia to Morocco: Tracing Muslim History and Jewish Roots,” while, for community members, it will be an unforgettable experience through cities like Granada, Tangier, Fez and many more.
Throughout the trip, participants will tour a wide variety of Christian, Jewish and Muslim sites, while learning about their history and how they helped shape the cultures of each religion as we understand them today.
Moshe Gershovich, Ph.D., professor of history at UNO, will teach the course and lead the trip in May. This is the second study abroad trip organized by Gershovich and the Schwalb Center; last May the center led a group of 12 community members and six students on a trip to Israel.
Those interested and needing more information about space available, costs oritinerary, please contact the Schwalb Center offices at 402.554.3175, or email Gershovich at mgerschovich@unomaha.edu.
About the Schwalb Center
Established in 2009, The Natan & Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish studies’ mission is to create, coordinate and promote an interdisciplinary program focusing on teaching and scholarship in Jewish and Israeli history, politics, culture and society. Our primary goal is to expand knowledge about Judaism and Israel, both on university campus and in the broader Nebraska community, and we seek to promote and facilitate collaborative scholarship (teaching and research) with academic institutions in Israel.
Relevant Links
Nathan and Hannah Schwalb Center Website
The Bethsaida Excavation Project