SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 11

with his wife, Elaine, provided 
a naming gift in 2018 for the 
program.
On Sept. 11, MSU will cele-
brate the program’s 30th anni-
versary with a lunch event at 
the campus home of President 
Samuel Stanley Jr. 

“It’s grown dramatically,
” 

Serling says of the program. “It’s 
really a force now, and Elaine 
and I are very proud of what’s 
been accomplished.
” 
Through the Serling Institute 
for Jewish Studies and Modern 
Israel, MSU offers classes in 
American Jewish History, 
Hebrew Language, Judaism, 

Israel Studies and Holocaust 
Studies taught by MSU profes-
sors and visiting Israeli scholars. 
The Institute supports an 
Israel study abroad program, 
develops social and education-
al programming with other 
campus student groups, and 
provides community resources 
such as a guide on antisemitism. 
The September event will 
reunite alumni and recognize 
the program’s contributions to 
the campus community. 
 “MSU is excited to be taking 
part in the celebration of the 
30th anniversary of the Serling 
Institute,
” says MSU Deputy 

Spokesperson Dan Olsen, who 
adds that President Stanley has 
said since his arrival in 2018 
that maintaining a safe, wel-
coming and supportive campus 
community is his top priority. 
“MSU and the Serling Institute 
have been actively engaged in 
fostering a supportive academic 
and social environment for our 
Jewish students.
”

MSU ROOTS
MSU’s Jewish Studies program 
began in 1992, and Serling got 
involved in 1996, helping bring 
the program from a $18,000 
budget and part-time staff to a 

$15 million operation with six 
core faculty, 26 affiliated facul-
ty members and four visiting 
Israeli scholars. 

Serling, who graduated MSU 
in 1966 and went to Detroit 
College of Law (now MSU 
College of Law) was inspired 
by a Federation-sponsored visit 
of 25 Israeli adults who came 
to East Lansing and connected 
with people in their fields. He 
co-sponsored a reception at the 
president’s house on campus, 
where he met with then-direc-
tor Professor Steven Weiland.
“That ignited my passion for 

continued on page 12

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MSU Hillel features educational 
and fun programming around campus for Jewish students. Retired 
director of Jewish Studies Dr. Ken Waltzer, Michael Serling and Dr. 
Yael Aronoff. Jewish Studies group in Israel in 2019. Israel at 70th 
conference: Professor Oded Shoseyov, Dr. Ken Waltzer, Professor 
Yael Aronoff, Elaine Serling, Michael Serling, Dean Chris Long, 
Dean Sherman Garnett and Dean Steve Esquith. 

