OU students Raluca Szabo and Eric Boulis hold on to an ancient limestone pillar
last year at Khirbet Qeiyafa.
Students gain access to insight on
Jewish history, culture, life.
I
David Groves
Special to the Jewish News
A
s the Judaic Studies program at
Oakland University in Auburn
Hills matures into a more chal-
lenging, well-rounded course of study, it
is welcoming a new intellectual and life-
changing experience for a diverse body of
students.
Already the Judaic Studies program
offers classes that explore history, sacred
texts, theology, philosophy, the Hebrew
language and more. A course on the
Holocaust has stimulated great interest,
and a new offering on Jewish mysticism
promises to do the same.
Perhaps the most sought-after course,
however, has been the program's summer
study abroad in Israel. Now celebrating its
fifth year, this immersion in Jewish schol-
arship and culture is pulling up stakes
from an archeological excavation site in
Khirbet Qeiyafa and moving to a new proj-
ect in Lachish.
Known as the second major city in
Judah after Jerusalem, this ancient site
will grant Oakland students working with
peers from Hebrew University a chance to
engage in hands-on exploration that could
unearth evidence to support the storied
monarchy of King David.
As soon as people hear that we're going
to Israel, they say, 'Wow, that's amazing.
We want to go with you:" said Michael
Pytlik, a visiting instructor of anthropol-
ogy and director of the Judaic Studies
program.
The trip to Israel involves a great deal
of cultural adjustment, a challenging itin-
erary of study and plenty of hard work.
Ultimately, however, their work provides
insight and experience that will benefit
them for a lifetime.
"They come back aware of all the
things they didn't know about Israel.
They see the tremendous weight the
Jewish tradition has had in shaping the
course of human history, and how all of it
continues to interact and thrive in mod-
ern Israel," said Pytlik, who has worked
and studied in Israel during 20 trips
there.
Yosef Garfinkel, director of excava-
tions at Khirbet Qeiyafa and professor of
archaeology at Hebrew University, said
scholars and other students also benefit
from Oakland's participation.
"The young students are always full
with excitement, eyes shinning and big
smiles on their faces" he said. "Oakland
is always the strongest group on the site,
and their portion of the excavated area
is much larger then their portion in the
manpower. I can't imagine the Khirbet
Qeiyafa project without Oakland"
Bernie Kent, a supporter who has made
study abroad opportunities available for
many students, said he knows how mean-
ingful the experience can be based on his
own travels to Israel.
"It's an amazing place, and I believe
that archaeology and Judaic Studies
students will only truly appreciate it if
they're able to see it firsthand" Kent said.
"I can also tell you that supporting
study abroad and OU Judaic Studies in
general has helped open a channel of
communication and a cultural tie with
Oakland University, the Jewish commu-
nity here and the people of Israel. You
cannot overstate how meaningful and
important this is to the preservation and
celebration of our heritage"
In all Judaic Studies offerings, faculty
members strive to make courses relevant
to students of all faiths and heritages,
which, in turn, enables them to apply
cultural literacy and critical-thinking
skills to their understanding of modern
realities.
As the Judaic Studies program grows,
Pytlik and community advisers will
spread the word at Jewish day schools
and high schools in the region about
what Oakland has to offer.
In addition to Kent, Jim August, Darryl
Goldberg, William Goldenberg, Dan
Medow and Lois Shaevsky serve on the
Judaic Studies Community Advisory
Committee.
To learn more, visit oakland.edu/
judaicstudies.
❑
David Groves is assistant director of media
relations at Oakland University.
ArtWorks ADL
Artists, students contribute art themed
to interpretations of a hate-free world.
T
he Anti-Defamation League,
Michigan Region launched
"ArtWorks ADL: Justice, Advocacy
& Art" at the Janice Charach Gallery in
the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield with more than 120 guests.
ArtWorks was the first annual art
exhibition, fundraiser and silent auction
highlighting the talents of nationally and
locally acclaimed artists for the benefit of
ADL. The evening was underwritten by the
Buckfire and Elconin families in memory
of David Buckfire and was co-chaired by
Pam Bloom and Leonard Sahn and emerg-
ing leaders Michael Chosid and Miriam
Svidler.
#ArtWorksJR was a competition for
Metro Detroit students in grades K-12. Its
goal was to inspire young people to think
about what hate means to them and share
their artistic interpretation of how a world
without hate would look. All JR entries can
be found at http://on.fb.me/lfJsXKj.
Grand-prize winners in each grade
category: Victoria Stern, Vandenberg
Elementary; Christopher Mosby, Levy
Middle; and Britney Hill, Southfield
12
January 2 • 2014
High School. Runners-up are Anya Scott,
Vandenberg; Rochel Schecter, Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah; and Kayla Johnson-Berkley,
Southfield High.
The evening began as Berkley High
School senior T.J. Bowers amazed attend-
ees with his ADL story. He spoke about
Dream Dialogue, an educational program
funded by Elaine and Michael Serling that
has select students from Berkley and West
Bloomfield high schools participating in
cultural and educational experiences with
others outside the classroom.
Many of the participating artists joined
the ADL for the evening, including Bowen
Kline, Michael Phillips, Jo Strausz Rosen,
Michelle Sider, Alphonzo Cox and Bruce
Finsilver.
"We are grateful to the incredibly talent-
ed artists who donated their artwork," said
Heidi Budaj, ADL regional director. "Each
artist wrote a personal statement of what
the centennial theme, 'Imagine a World
Without Hate: means to them"
Members of the Buckfire and Elconin families, underwriters of the event in
memory of David Buckfire
❑
To see the art and statements, go to
http://bit.ly/HWiFbg.
Lisa Svidler, artist Miriam Svidler and her grandmother Larissa Tylevich with
Miriam's painting.