jews d

in
the

faces

D.C. GOINGS

W

hat did ritual baths and
synagogues feel like for
the ancient Jews who used
them? What kinds of objects did heal-
ers use in antiquity, and in what kinds
of places did they perform their heal-
ing? How did material economic con-
ditions affect Jewish
ritual expertise in
the ancient world?
How did the ancient
rabbis conceive of
the natural world?
The answers to
these and many
other fascinating
Head Fellow
questions will be
Rachel Neis
explored this fall,
when a distin-
guished group of fellows of the Frankel
Institute for Advanced Judaic Studies
will gather around the theme of “Jews
and the Material in Antiquity.” They
will be led by Head Fellow Rachel Neis,
Jean and Samuel Frankel Associate
Professor of Rabbinic Literature.
“The 2017-2018 Frankel Fellows rep-
resent a wonderful range of scholar-
ship and accomplishment,” explained
Neis, “including people with expertise
in archaeology, art history, ancient
history, rabbinics, early Christianity,
and comparative and ancient religion.”
Neis proposed this topic through
her ongoing interest in the intercon-
nectedness between objects, space
and embodiment. Currently writing a
book on rabbinic “biology” and repro-
ductive thought, Neis puts the rabbis
in conversation with ancient perspec-
tives on the natural world.
“From the reproduction of spe-
cies to the architecture of knowledge
and the embodiment of the Divine,
Frankel fellows will explore new ways
of understanding the ancient world
and how those who lived in it inter-
acted with the objects around them,”
said Jeffrey Veidlinger, director, Jean
and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic
Studies. “We are excited to welcome
these 12 scholars to U-M and to pres-
ent a series of public events that will
make the ancient world more acces-
sible to all of us.”
Established through a financial con-
tribution from the Jean and Samuel
Frankel Jewish Heritage Foundation,
the Frankel Institute provides annual
fellowships for scholars and artists
around the world to conduct research
on a given theme. Since its establish-

26

May 25 • 2017

jn

The 2017-18
Frankel Fellows

• Todd Berzon, Bowdoin College,
“Holy Tongues: The Materiality of
Language in the Religious World of
Late Antiquity”
• Rick Bonnie, University of
Helsinki, “Material Religion in
Hasmonean-Roman Judaea: The Role
of the Senses, Space, and Climate in
Determining the Use of Synagogues
and Miqva’ot”
• Sean Burrus, Metropolitan
Museum, “Image and Empire: Jewish
Identities and Visual Arts under
Rome”
• Catherine Chin, University of
California at Davis, “Life: The Natural
History of an Early Christian Universe”
• Deborah Forger, University of
Michigan, “God’s Embodiment in
Jewish Antiquity”
• Chaya Halberstam, King’s
University College at the University of
Western Ontario, “Justice and Mercy
Revisited: A Religious-Legal History of
Judicial Impartiality”
• Uzi Leibner, The Hebrew
University, “The Archaeology of
Memories in Hellenistic and Roman
Palestine”
• Rachel Neis, University of
Michigan, “The Reproduction of
Species: Humans and Other Materials
in Ancient Rabbinic ‘Biology’”
• Megan Nutzman, Old Dominion
University, “Asclepius and Elijah:
Ritual Healing in Roman and Late
Antique Palestine”
• Daniel Picus, Brown University,
“Ink Sea, Parchment Sky: Reading
Practices of Late Ancient Rabbis”
• Michael Swartz, Ohio State
University, “The Economics of Ritual
in Judaism in Late Antiquity”
• Juan Tebes, Catholic University
of Argentina, “Fluid Cultural
Boundaries in Idumaea and the
Formation of Jewish and Idumaean
Identities” •

ment in 2007, the Frankel Institute has
helped advance Jewish studies globally
and has nurtured cutting edge schol-
arship in the field, hosting just over
140 Institute Fellows. Additionally, the
Institute offers lectures, symposia, art
exhibitions and musical performances
to the public. •

JCRC/AJC hosted members of Michigan’s congressional delegation at
a special reception in late March for representatives of the Jewish com-
munity’s key social service and advocacy agencies. The program, which
was led by JCRC/AJC President Dr. Richard Krugel and Executive
Director David Kurzmann, featured U.S. Reps. Brenda Lawrence, Dave
Trott, Sandy Levin, John Conyers, Debbie Dingell and Mike Bishop. It was
attended by more than 50 leaders from JCRC/AJC, Jewish Federation
and its agencies, Hadassah, NCJW, ADL, MIBB and AIPAC. During the
meeting, Jewish communal leadership discussed the community’s legisla-
tive priorities, which include the U.S.-Israel relationship, concerns about
the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, the Iran
Nuclear Deal implementation, growing anti-Semitism, services to the aged
and disabled, and affordable health care and child care. The legislators
acknowledged their friends and constituents in the Jewish community and
discussed several issues, including Homeland Security grants for local
Jewish agencies, aid to Israel and immigration policy. •

JEFF AISEN

2017-18 Frankel
Institute Fellows

& places

JCRC/AJC Executive Director David Kurzmann, U.S. Reps. Sander Levin and Dave Trott, JCRC/AJC
President Dr. Richard Krugel and Reps. John Conyers and Mike Bishop

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell addresses attendees.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop and JCRC/AJC
Executive Director David Kurzmann

U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence and JCRC/AJC
President Dr. Richard Krugel.