Daniel Gordis Higher Education Career

Transcription

1 Daniel Gordis Higher Education 1992 Ph.D. in Religion (Social Ethics), School of Religion, University of Southern California Dissertation: "Law as Dialectic of Community, Continuity and Compassion: The Legal Writings of Rabbi David Zevi Hoffmann and their Philosophic Foundations" Adviser: Dr. Ronald R. Garet 1984 M.A., Rabbi, Jewish Theological Seminary of America 1981 B.A. in Political Science, Columbia College (Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) Visiting Student, Hebrew University Career 2007-Present Senior Vice President and Senior Fellow, Shalem Center Director of the Mandel Leadership Institute, Mandel Foundation Vice President, Mandel Foundation Director, Jerusalem Fellows, Mandel Foundation Vice President for Public Affairs and Community Outreach, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Dean, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Dean of Administration, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Assistant to the President, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Lecturer in Rabbinic Literature, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Dean of Student Affairs, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) 1985 Instructor in Rabbinics, University of Judaism (Los Angeles) Administrative Assistant for Public Affairs, Department of Educational Projects, JTSA

2 Awards and Fellowships 2010 Winner of 2009 National Jewish Book Award for Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End in the Contemporary Jewish Life and Practice Category 2007 First Place, American Jewish Press Association's Simon Rockower Award for Best Feature Writing, for "Israel the Eternal Nation," in The World Jewish Digest IV(1) (Sept. 2006) 2003 First Prize, "2002 Books for a Better Life Award" for If a Place Can Make You Cry in the Inspirational Memoir Category 2002 First Place, American Jewish Press Association's Simon Rockower Award (Israel Ministry of Tourism Mosaic Award for Excellence in Feature Writing About Israeli Peoplehood, Culture and Society), for "Sunday Mourning," in Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles (Dec. 7, 2001) 2000 Finalist, 1999 National Jewish Book Awards, for Becoming a Jewish Parent Mandel Fellow at the Mandel Institute and the Center for Advanced Professional Educators to support a year of study in Philosophy of Education. 1986, 1987, 1988 Anthony VerPlanck Miller Memorial Fellowship (USC) 1984 Bernard and Sydell Citron Scholastic Prize (Valedictorian) (JTSA) 1984 Honorable Mention, Lamport Homiletics Prize (JTSA) 1983 Rabbi Wolfe Kelman Prize in Contemporary Jewish History and Sociology (JTSA) 1983 Alexander Kohut Memorial Prize in Rabbinics (JTSA) 1983 Joseph Zubow Memorial Prize in Codes (JTSA) 1981 Phi Beta Kappa (Columbia University) List of Publications Refereed Books 1. David Ellenson and Daniel Gordis, Pledges of Jewish Allegiance: Conversion, Law, and Policy-Making in 19 th and 20 th Century Orthodox Responsa, Stanford University Press, 2012.

3 Book Chapters 1. "A Basic Religious Datum," Languages and Literatures in Jewish Education: Studies in Honor of Michael Rosenak, vol. I, Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 2007, pp "Israel and Zionism in the Religious World View of Contemporary Conservative Judaism," Israel, the Diaspora and Jewish Identity, Danny Ben-Moshe and Zohar Segev, eds., Sussex: Sussex Academic Press, 2007, pp "Conservative Judaism Critical Documents," The Blackwell Reader in Judaism, Jacob Neusner and Alan Avery-Peck, eds., Oxford: Blackwell, 2001, pp "Contemporary American Conservative Judaism: The Struggle between Ideology and Popularity," The Blackwell Companion to Judaism, Jacob Neusner and Alan Avery- Peck, eds., Oxford: Blackwell, 2000, pp Articles 1. "David Zevi Hoffmann on Civil Marriage: Evidence of a Traditional Community under Siege," Modern Judaism IX(1) (Feb. 1990). 2. "Wanted A Role for Ethics in Jewish Bioethics: Thoughts on the Use of Text in a Continuing Conservation," Judaism: A Quarterly Journal XXXVIII(1) (Winter 1989). Reprinted in Generation: A Journal of Australian Jewish Life, Thought and Community, Melbourne: Vic., "Lies, Wives and Sisters: The Wife/Sister Motif Revisited," Judaism: A Quarterly Journal XXXIV(3) (Summer 1985). 4. "Scripture and Halakhah in Two Parallel Sugyot," Prooftexts: A Journal of Jewish Literary History V(2) (May 1985). Other Publications Books 1. Israel Alone: How the Fate of One Small Nation Could Determine the Fate of the Whole World, New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, forthcoming. 2. Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End, New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Paperback edition published in Coming Together, Coming Apart: A Memoir of Heartbreak and Promise in Israel, New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, If a Place Can Make You Cry: Dispatches from an Anxious State, New York: Crown Publishers, Revised and expanded version published as Home to Stay: One American Family's Chronicle of Miracles and Struggles in Contemporary Israel, California: Three Rivers Press, 2003.

4 5. Becoming a Jewish Parent: How to Explore Spirituality and Tradition with Your Children, New York: Harmony Books, Republished in paperback edition with Three Rivers Press, Does the World Need the Jews?: Rethinking Chosenness and American Jewish Identity, New York: Scribner, God Was Not in the Fire: The Search for a Spiritual Judaism, New York: Scribner, Republished in paperback edition with Touchstone Books, Am Kadosh: Celebrating Our Uniqueness, New York: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Department of Youth Activities, Second, revised edition published in Selected Articles 1.a. "The Tower of Babel and the Birth of Nationhood," Azure 40 (Spring 2010), pp b. Hebrew translation published in Techelet 40 (Summer 2010), pp "Dear Chancellor: Letters of Welcome, Words of Advice," Conservative Judaism Magazine (Winter 2007), pp "Revelation: Biblical and Rabbinic Perspectives," Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, New York: Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, 2001, pp Reprinted in Etz Hayim Study Companion, Jacob Blumenthal and Janet Liss, eds., Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2005, pp "Positive Historical Judaism Exhausted: Reflections on a Movement's Future," Conservative Judaism XLVII (1) (Fall 1994), pp Republished in Signposts on the Way of Torah, Jacob Neusner, ed., Belmont: Wadsworth and Thompson International, 1998 (Sixth Edition), pp "Precedent, Rules and Ethics in Halakhic Jurisprudence," Conservative Judaism XLVI(1) (Fall 1993), pp Daniel Gordis and Joel Roth, "Textual Tradition and Sociological Reality: Their Tension in the Marriage Contract," Proceedings of the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards , New York: Rabbinical Assembly, "Elitism and Conservative Judaism: An Afterthought," Conservative Judaism XXXVII(2) (Winter 1983). 8. "The Elusive Conservative Third Generation: A Reaction to Elitism," Conservative Judaism XXXVII(1) (Fall 1983). 9. Daniel Gordis and Joel Roth, "Keruv and the Status of Intermarried Families," Conservative Judaism XXXV(4) (Summer 1982).

5 Monographs 1. "Behaving and Believing, Behaving and Belonging: The Role of Norms in Jewish Continuity," Jewish Identity Today Monograph Series (New York: American Jewish Committee, 1995). 2. "'Give Me Progeny...': Jewish Ethics and the Economics of Surrogate Motherhood," University of Judaism Monograph Series, Los Angeles: University of Judaism, 1988, vol. 8(1). 3. "Significance Through Symbol: Redefining Authority in Jewish Law," University of Judaism Monograph Series, Los Angeles: University of Judaism, June 1986, vol. 5(3). In addition: over 140 columns and articles published in Commentary Magazine, New York Times, World Jewish Digest, Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility, Jerusalem Post, and in other newspapers and magazines. Book Chapters 1. "It is My Brothers I am Seeking," Educational Deliberations: Studies in Education Dedicated to Shlomo (Seymour) Fox, Mordecai Nisan, and Oded Schremer, eds. (Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House and Mandel Leadership Institute, 2005), pp "From the Depths I Call You: Prayer as a Response to Evil and Suffering," Pray Tell: A Hadassah Guide to Jewish Prayer (Woodstock: Jewish Lights Hadassah Education Department Publications, 2003). 3. "The Miracle of Survival," Noam Zion and Barbara Spectre, A Different Light: The Hanukkah Book of Celebration, Jerusalem: The Shalom Hartman Institute, 2000, vol. I, p. 198 ff. 4. "Marriage: Judaism's 'Other' Covenantal Relationship," Celebration and Renewal, Rela Geffen Monson, ed., Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1993, pp "Probing Classical Sources for Ethical Commitments" (presented at the First Annual Whizin Conference on Technology and Ethics at the Technion), Technology and Ethics, E. A. Halevi, and D. Kohn, eds., Haifa: S. Neaman Institute Press, Selected Book Reviews 1. Review of Giulio Meotti, A New Shoah, in Commentary Magazine (Dec. 2010), pp Review of David Horovitz, Still Life with Bombers, in The Jerusalem Post Literary Supplement, April 5, 2004, pp (Includes interview with David Horovitz, entitled "Blown Up and Blamed for it").

6 3. Review of Alan Dershowitz, The Case for Israel, in The Jerusalem Post Weekend Magazine, March 12, 2004, p Review of Arthur Hertzberg, The Fate of Zionism, in The Jerusalem Post Weekend Magazine, Jan. 9, 2004, p Review of Yitzchak Lozowick, Right to Survive A Moral Defense of Israel's Wars, in The Jerusalem Post, Nov. 7, 2003, pp. 27, Review of Burton Visotzky, The Genesis of Morals, in The Jewish Spectator 62 (1) (Summer 1997), pp Review of Michael Lerner, Jewish Renewal, in INSIDE Magazine (Fall 1994). 8. Review of Joseph Telushkin, Jewish Literacy; and of David Cahn-Lipman, The Book of Jewish Knowledge, in The Jewish Spectator 56(4) (Spring 1992), pp Review of Bradley Artson Shavit, Love Peace and Pursue Peace, in The Jewish Spectator 56(1) (Summer 1991), pp Review of Irving Greenberg, The Jewish Way, in The Jewish Spectator 55(1) (Summer 1990), pp Review of Walter Jacob, ed., Liberal Judaism; and of Jack Simcha Cohen, Intermarriage and Conversion, in The Jewish Spectator 54(3) (Winter 1989), pp Review of Simon Greenberg, On the Ordination of Women as Rabbis: Studies and Responsa, in Tikkun Magazine 15(2) (March-April 1989). 13. Review of Jacob Neusner, The Mishnah: A New Translation and The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan: An Analytical Translation and Explanation, in Hebrew Studies 30 (1989). 14. Review of Nicholas de Lange, Judaism; of Dan Cohn-Sherbok, The Jewish Heritage; and of Michael Fishbane, Judaism: Revelation and Tradition, in The Jewish Spectator (Winter 1988). Other Relevant Activities 2009 "Anxious State": A one-man play by Marc Sirinsky based on If a Place Can Make You Cry was staged at Oregon Stage Works in May 2009, with Anthony Heald playing the main role "Indestructible": Participation and role in documentary on ALS disease, discussing theological explanations for human suffering. Film is recipient of Best Feature Documentary 2007, Cinequest "Voices from Jerusalem": a project of Chicago NextTheater's Artistic Director Jason Loewith and Steppenwolf Associate Artist Jessica Thebus, using If a Place Can Make You Cry and other diaries, letters and

7 s by Jewish, Arab and Christian residents of Jerusalem to create a workshop production of the book. Performed in Chicago in May Expert Witness: Consultant to attorneys and their clients on matters of Jewish law, for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Levinson, Lieberman & Maas, among others Book Reviewer for volumes on Codes, Halakhah and Jurisprudence, Conservative Judaism Magazine Faculty Member, Wexner Heritage Foundation Editorial Positions Faculty Member for Board of Directors and Young Leadership Course, American Jewish Committee (Los Angeles, CA) Editorial Positions The Jewish Spectator (Calabasas, CA): Contributing Editor ( ); Senior Contributing Editor ( ); Member, Board of Critics (2000- )