A senior delegation of Jewish studies scholars from various US universities recently arrived in Israel to express support as it wages war against the Hamas terror organization.
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The initiative originated from Yeshiva University faculty and swift participation from colleagues at Hebrew Union College and Jewish Theological Seminary as well as additional support from scholars at institutions such as Catholic Theological Union, Rutgers, Washington University, Notre Dame, Cleveland State, Emory, Reed College, and more.
"It is heartwarming that Conservative, Reform and Orthodox congregations and communal organizations from around the country quickly joined in to help," Professor Steven Fine, director of the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies, said. "This is Klal Yisrael [the Jewish people] forging new bonds at a moment of crisis, a wonder to watch".
According to organizers, the Jewish Studies Scholars Solidarity Trip to Israel in Crisis has as its first goal visiting Israeli academic institutions, scholars and students who are affected by this war, and using their expertise as Jewish scholars as part of the war effort. This trip is the first step, however, in a larger project to bring together scholars of Jewish Studies as a community, to create a fellowship and to seed future projects.
The participants explored Kibbutz Kfar Azza and Kibbutz Yad Mordecai, which were brutally attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7 and were slated to meet with scholars at Bar-Ilan University and Tel Aviv University, visit the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, and visit to the new Israel Antiquities Authority campus, and learn about the work of archaeologists at war.
