University creates Judaic studies center

By Harold Gwin

Creation of the center coincides with a proposal to offer a minor in Judaic studies.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University now has a Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies.

The creation of the center is actually an expansion of the existing Judaic and Holocaust Studies program that has existed at the university since 1997.

The expansion coincides with the program’s development of a proposed minor in Judaic studies.

The YSU Board of Trustees voted to establish the center Friday, claiming that the university was one of the first in the country to offer a course in Holocaust studies. Jewish studies courses have been offered at YSU since 1970.

The center will be part of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Dr. Helene J. Sinnreich, director of Judaic and Holocaust Studies, will serve as director of the center.

Its mission is dedicated to teaching and promoting research on all facets of Jewish culture and history, with a special emphasis on the Jewish people during the Holocaust. Its goal is to teach lessons of tolerance and genocide prevention, according to the proposal drafted seeking creation of the center.

The original program was underwritten by an initial $100,000 donation from an anonymous source and, with other endowments having been added over the years, it operates on a budget of just under $40,000 a year.

Sinnreich’s proposal would have it continue at that same spending level for now.

The money is used to bring speakers, museum exhibits and films to campus and has financed the introduction of Hebrew language classes, support for student projects and sponsored domestic- and international-study travel by students.

The program also publishes an academic journal, provides introductory and advanced-level courses in Jewish history, religion, culture and languages, and offers community outreach educational programming.

It’s all housed in an office on the fifth floor of DeBartolo Hall and has just two computers, a conference table and a small library/resource center.

Sinnreich’s proposal notes that the program is rapidly outgrowing its space. She would like to see it moved to bigger quarters and be staffed by a part-time professional person who can provide clerical and administrative assistance. She also proposes that the university, at some point, provide funds to buy books for the library/resource center.

gwin@vindy.com