UCI Center for Jewish Studies

UC Irvine Center for

Jewish Studies

Now is the time for a transformative expansion of the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of California, Irvine.

With antisemitism on the rise, both in the United States and

Thanks to the vision of long-time friends of UCI, we have the

globally, this is the right time to invest in educating students from

unique opportunity to think big: Dr. Susan and Dr. Henry

diverse backgrounds about the complex history of Israel and the

Samueli have generously committed at least four million dollars

Jewish people.

as a match for all gifts pledged in support of this important initiative. Every donor who gives a minimum of $50,000 for

We need to empower our students, as well as K-12 students

a new endowment will have the opportunity for a named

throughout our communities, by providing them with the

endowment, while doubling their gift with the match.

knowledge to confront antisemitism, knowledge about Jewish civilization, and knowledge about Israel.

Each year, we teach hundreds of students and have developed a number of initiatives that we plan to build on: an initiative

UCI continues to set records in terms of undergraduate

to educate undergraduate students about confronting

student applications and ranks among the top-ten of all public

antisemitism; an annual “New Horizons in Jewish Studies”

universities in the United States. An investment in Jewish

graduate essay prize that receives a growing number of

Studies at UCI will thus have an outsize impact, shaping the

submissions each year from current and recent PhDs in

experience of students for decades to come; building one of the

many of the top universities in the US; and we have hosted

top destinations in the country for graduate students in Jewish

several international conferences, including on Jewish and

Studies; resonating far beyond the university campus thanks

Mediterranean Studies, Holocaust research in the Social

to innovative outreach programs; and establishing UCI as a

Sciences, and on contemporary Jewish literature.

strategic partner for scholars of Jewish Studies in Israel.

Ideas that matter

UC Irvine Center for Jewish Studies

We plan to build on our current strengths by focusing on:

Innovation by building long-term international strategic partnerships: beginning with the Chaim Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies at Tel Aviv University, we plan to bring young scholars to UCI’s campus to enrich teaching, research, and community education.

Partnerships with our communities: Campus is just the beginning. UCI has a strong commitment to supporting K-12 educators through our Center for Educational Partnerships and UCI’s History Project. We seek to significantly expand Holocaust education and education about Jewish history and Israel.

Capacity-building to implement these programs through designated focus on Contemporary Antisemitism Studies and Israel Studies.

Undergraduates who participated in Confronting Antisemitism pilot program found it transformational, saying:

Being involved in Jewish Studies enhanced my experience in a way that I did not expect.

I have been very fortunate to be involved in education about antisemitism and Israel through several different local, Jewish programs. The Jewish Studies Program made me realize how important it is that all students get this type of education and allowed me to experience this material through the lens of the non-Jewish students on campus. This new perspective made me realize that the Jewish Studies Program is an amazing resource for all students and for the community as a whole.

Being involved with this fellowship and Jewish Studies has opened my eyes to varying forms of hate, and - as a student - has piqued my interest in working towards future programs that deal with discrimination or hate on various levels.

It has also taught me that ignorance can be a choice, and that when faced with the unknown, it is detrimental to not implore it and educate yourself.

– Mary Reffitt, history major

– Maxwell Ginsburg, philosophy major

We would love to tell you more about our programs and our bold vision. To ask questions, give input, and get involved, please contact Linda Haghi, Executive Director, School of Humanities at 949-824-2923 or lhaghi@uci.edu or Sean Fischer, Director of Development, at seandf@uci.edu or 949-824-0438.

Ideas that matter