The Words of 2007 Jewish Studies Graduates
“The Jewish Studies Program has been an incredible experience. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to learn under such talented professors in an exciting environment.”
—Sarah Kaplan, B.A. in Jewish Studies and minor in Hebrew, 2007
Community Relations and Israel Affairs Coordinator, Jewish Community Federation of Charlotte
“The Jewish Studies Program at IU has been such an amazing experience for me. I have been able to take classes in such a wide variety of subjects and work with some of the most intelligent professors. I have learned so much here and had a really great time doing it. I feel fully prepared by my education here to begin graduate school at JTS.
—Danielle Zuber, B.A. in Jewish Studies and minor in Hebrew, 2007
Master's degree student at the Davidson School for Jewish Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary
“Jewish Studies is a great addition to other studies at IU and it can add a nice liberal arts focus for Business students. The religious studies and history components have important ethical and international business elements.”
—David Fliesher, Jewish Studies area certificate; Kelley School of Business major, 2007
What are they doing now?
Find out what our former students are doing after graduating from the program.
“The Jewish Studies Program here at IU has been a great way for me to break from my science course load and pursue something completely different that was of interest to me. The courses were all very stimulating and every Jewish Studies course I have taken was well taught. Jewish Studies has really helped me learn about my heritage and has made me a more well-rounded student.”
—Leslie Abrams, area certificate in Jewish Studies; Biology (pre-med) major, 2007
“The Jewish Studies Program here is amazing. I really liked the professors and classes. I thought that the Hebrew courses were the best part.”
—Jacob Ginsburg, B.A. in Jewish Studies, 2007
“My Jewish Studies courses have given me a great foundation for life: I have learned how to translate the Hebrew Bible and have been challenged in studying Jewish history.”
—Paul Helms, area certificate in Jewish Studies, 2007
ministry intern at Zionsville, Indiana church; graduate student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Boston)
“I really loved the flexibility of the program. I know many people who earned the Jewish Studies major or area certificate and each of us focused on something different. The funds available for scholarships in Jewish Studies are unmatched in any other department or program.”
—Jorie Slodki, area certificate in Jewish Studies and minor in Yiddish Studies, 2007
Master's degree student at University of Wisconsin in Theatre Research focusing on working with Israeli teens to explore conflicts between different Jewish cultures in Israel
“The professors in this program have become more than educators throughout my years at IU. They take an active interest in their students' activities and successes. I have gained so much invaluable guidance from many of my Jewish Studies professors in and out of the classroom, and I hope to maintain these connections.”
—Alana Zoldan, B.A. in Jewish Studies and minor in Hebrew, 2007
Quotes from other alumni
“Becoming a JS major was the best
decision I ever made during my college
career. It gave me the opportunity to form
a connection with professors, advisors, and
students in a much more personal
atmosphere than any other major I could
have chosen. It also helped me to realize
that I enjoy learning about Judaism and
that keeping Judaism a constant part of my
life is a meaningful and necessary
experience for me now and in the future.
The experiences I've had, the friendships
I've made, and the meaning of Judaism in
my life have all been a direct result of the
Borns JSP.”
—Elizabeth Wood, B.A., May 2004
Elizabeth is a fourth year rabbinical student
at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute
of Religion in Cincinnati.
“I had three requirements for the perfect
university: a top-notch music school, a topnotch
JSP, and a vibrant Jewish community.
Coming to IU is probably the best decision
I ever made and my JS classes were the
highlight of my day throughout my four
years at IU.”
—Philip Ohriner, School of Music B.S. and
Outside Field in Jewish Studies, May 2002
Rabbinical student at The Jewish
Theological Seminary
“The Borns JSP gave me the tools to be
confident and successful in the Jewish
professional world.”
—Emily Walsh,
Area Certificate, May 2004
Emily Walsh is pursuing an M.A.
in Jewish communal service
at Hebrew Union College after
serving as the JCSC Hillel Fellow
at Washington University for 2 years
“JS at IU is a great community of
professors and students to be involved
with, and a great way to explore, question,
and understand one's Jewish identity. I
backed into JS-I just signed up for three
classes one semester and Carolyn e-mailed
me to say I might want to consider a
major or an area certificate. A very
fortuitous event! As someone from a small
town, this was certainly the first 'Jewish
community' I've ever lived in, and it was a
very positive experience.”
—Leah Nahmias,
Area Certificate, May 2004
Teach for America
“I was a student in the highly acclaimed
Kelley School of Business here at IU. While
my business education was outstanding, the
environment that I was surrounded with in
Business could not compete with that of
the Borns JSP. I was able to develop
wonderful relationships with not only
brilliant, hardworking, and fun students,
but with faculty members. Professors and
staff members within this program have a
genuine interest in the success and lives of
their students. The knowledge that I gained
throughout all of my JS classes helped
create a well-rounded education.”
—Michelle Steiman,
Area Certificate, May 2005
“After attending a private Jewish day
school for 12 years, IU offered me the
opportunity to get a Jewish education on a
higher level. The professors were
incredible.”
—Jonathan Azulay,
B.A., May 2004
“My work at IU focuses on both Christianity
and Judaism in the first several centuries of
this era, a time when both traditions were
growing and changing. In particular, I am
working on a project that explores how Jews
and Christians thought about and
represented angels, in both texts and art.
Even though I study Judaism in antiquity,
some of the most provocative and productive
conversations I've had during my time here at
IU have been with scholars of Judaism in the
modern period, conversations that happen
because of the multi-department, multidiscipline
character of the Borns JSP. I've had
a chance to practice my teaching skills
because of the JSP: when there was a need for
a beginning biblical Hebrew teacher, the
program took a chance and hired me. The
students who have gone through my classes
have been bright and impressive in the range
of subjects and projects they are pursuing.”
—Ellen Muehlberger, Ph.D. candidate in
Religious Studies completing a doctoral
minor in Jewish Studies
“My interest in graduate study began during
my undergraduate years at the University of
Michigan. I took a class in Yiddish literature
taught by a visiting professor. But I began to
wonder why there was no course in Jewish
American literature. And so for the past
eight years I have been reading and writing
about Jewish American literature,
specifically the history of its invention.
Graduate school at IU has for me been a
laboratory where I have experimented with
new modes of thought and critical
expression.”
—Jeremy Shere, Ph.D. in English
with doctoral minor in Jewish Studies
“Thanks to my doctoral studies in the
Department of History and the Borns JSP, I
have had a rare opportunity to take
outstanding Jewish history, literature, and
philosophy courses which I thoroughly
enjoy. I am very happy that, as an IU
graduate with a doctoral minor in JS, I can
expand and deepen my knowledge in Jewish
subjects well beyond the bounds of history.”
—Jolanta Mickute, third year graduate
student in Modern Jewish History with
outside minor in Jewish Studies.
