SIRLS is Saved

"Judaic studies create a context for exploring the great religious movements of the Middle Eastern and Western world. The social, theological and historical implications of Judaism continue to be vital forces in modern times, impacting the lives and fate of individuals and nations alike. Expanding and sharing knowledge is the ultimate key to understanding."
— John Schaefer,
Judaic Studies supporter and president of the University
of Arizona when the unit was
created in 1975.

Catching the Vision:The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies

Painting entitled “Shabbat Shalom” by Tucson artist, Julie Szerina Stein. Stein can be reached at jszerina@hotmail.com.

While so many individuals and institutions struggle to find footing amid the dips and plunges of a topsy-turvy economy, there are some that hold steady and others that actually thrive. The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies, a comparatively small unit that teaches courses in Hebrew and Judaica, is thriving. Its most recent good fortune is a gift of $1 million.

Given by Paul and Alice Baker, Donald and Joan Diamond, and an anonymous donor, the $1 million is an initial endowment that will support the transformation of the Committee for Judaic Studies (the unit’s previous name) into The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies. The Center intends to raise an additional $1 million over the next year to complete the Center’s financial foundation. The Center will be the framework for what is now one of the largest Hebrew and Judaic Studies programs in the country in terms of enrollment, and an ever-expanding educational outreach in the Tucson community.

Adding to its existing status as a degree-granting and tenure-controlling unit, these funds will provide Judaic Studies with the means to expand and improve the benefits it offers to the campus and the community. With increased funding, the Center will expand its course offerings; offer organized adult education, teacher training workshops and educational travel programs; and extend its outreach efforts to local and regional high school students. It also intends to create a master’s degree program in the future. In addition, the Center will initiate research projects with other SBS units, such as the Southwest Center. Overall, it is expected that this Center will make significant contributions to the quality of Jewish life and education in Tucson, in Arizona and in the Southwest.

Developing a Public-Private Partnership

The $1 million endowment follows on the heels of other notable successes for Judaic Studies. During the past three years, enrollment in Judaic Studies has doubled, from 750 to over 1,500. The number of majors in the field has increased by 20 percent, and the number of minors by 150 percent.

In January of last year, thanks to the support of Edward Donnerstein, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the unit weathered a University-wide 4.5 percent budget cut with no impact on course offerings or faculty and staff positions.

In addition, an anonymous donor has committed a large estate to endow a Jewish cultural arts series and a significant endowment for student scholarships. The planned Cultural Exchange Program will bring new programs in Jewish art, music, theater and dance; exhibits of photographs and cultural artifacts; and lectures and conferences on Jewish themes to UA students and the Tucson community for many years to come.

What’s going on here? To hear Ed Wright tell it, it’s simple: Judaic Studies is fulfilling its mission by translating faculty research into dynamic instruction at the undergraduate level and in the community at large. Wright, professor of Hebrew Bible and early Judaism, has been director of the program since July 2000. His focus? Promoting Judaic Studies as a true public-private partnership that is founded on faculty commitment, quality teaching and community service.

Each year, an increasingly interested community responds to Judaic Studies’ annual fundraising appeal. The raised funds have enabled the unit to offset budget shortfalls and expand its services on campus and in the community.

Under Wright’s direction, Judaic Studies has grown more visible than ever, providing more opportunities for faculty members to talk to people about what they do. Working in cooperation with diverse units on campus, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, UA Hillel Center, the Tucson Jewish Community Center, the Doubletree Hotel, and others to organize and sponsor community events, Judaic Studies has achieved heightened visibility and enthusiasm for its programs.

Judaic Studies brings current thinking on a wide range of topics to a growing Tucson public — at no charge. They co-sponsor lecture series, notably the Shaol Pozez Memorial Lectureship Series. Other highly successful initiatives have included “Hallonot — Windows on the Jewish World,” where faculty members presented evening lectures on their research at a local high school, and “Many Voices, One People,” a series that explores the views of the Conservative, Orthodox and Reform movements in America. Along with these formal presentations, Wright estimates that faculty members give 30 talks each year to community groups. And, he allows, the people who come to these events represent a cross-section of the Tucson community, just as students in Judaic Studies represent a cross-section of the student body.

In its quality teaching and vibrant outreach efforts, Judaic Studies models the University’s mission as a land-grant institution. In Wright’s words, “We have a responsibility to our students to give them dynamic instruction at the undergraduate level and a responsibility to the community to take what we do beyond the boundaries of the University in order to have a transformative impact on our community.”

Creating a Legacy

Wright’s gift is in helping people realize the vision they have for their own legacy. Thus, when the Baker and Diamond families approached him asking what they might do for Judaic Studies, he saw the answer that would create not only a world-class center for the University and for Tucson, but a legacy for these families in providing educational opportunities on campus and in the community — opportunities that could change lives for the better.

Paul and Alice Baker are well-known community members and philanthropists in Tucson. The Bakers are dyed-in-the-wool Wildcat fans, who give generously to the University of Arizona. Both Bakers attended the UA, as have their children. Now their grandchildren wear Wildcat outfits.

Alice said they first became involved in the Judaic Studies program at the UA when their daughter Deborah told them about a course she was taking in Judaic Studies: “I could just remember how excited she was. And how she was sad when it was over…the study and the professor changed her life.”

It turned out that Ed Wright had been Deborah’s professor in that class, the very first class that he taught in Judaic Studies at the UA. Clearly, the Bakers have been a fan of Wright’s ever since.

“Ed Wright — not only did he touch and inspire my daughter — but he’s an intelligent, passionate and determined visionary,” Alice said.

Paul Baker said, “We have an opportunity to attract top national and international scholars to the Center under the expert leadership of Ed Wright. The demand for these Judaic Studies classes is very high — some 1,600 students have signed up for these classes and the numbers keep growing each semester.”

Alice added, “I do think we have to give Peter Likins so much credit. When he announced the focused excellence plan, you look around and say, ‘Where can I make a difference?’ ‘Where can we be excellent?’ It was a chance to be part of the focused excellence program — the best Judaic Studies program in the West.”

Alice said that Paul and she give to be in line with “our values, our moral compass and our heart. The best gift we have is that we are able to be philanthropic. That is what gives us the most joy. That’s what it’s really all about — just making the world a better place.”

It is certainly no surprise that Donald and Joan Diamond are also part of this venture. They are longtime supporters of the Jewish Community Center, as well as frequent and generous contributors to the University of Arizona. When asked which UA projects he’s involved in,
Diamond says with a chuckle, “Unfortunately, every one.” He mentions the business school, the arts, athletics, health programs, including the Arizona Arthritis Center and Steele Memorial Children’s Research Center. “So I think I cover everything. Because if I don’t, Likins calls me and gets me there anyway.” He adds, “We’ve been very fortunate…And so we want to give back to the community every year.”

To Diamond, the primary impetus to get involved is his concern about the problems in the Middle East. He believes it is essential to encourage dialogue between the relevant parties. “The more education that everybody has about what is going on there, the better off the world will be.”

President Peter Likins puts these gifts to Judaic Studies into perspective, “When we asked the Arizona Board of Regents to approve the transformation of our Judaic Studies program into the more elevated Arizona Center for Judaic Studies, I was asked how we would meet the increased costs. Fortunately, I could assure our properly cost-conscious Regents that we are blessed with benefactors who understand the concept of the public-private partnership.” Likins expressed his personal appreciation to the Bakers and the Diamonds whose generosity to the University of Arizona spans many areas.

Joan Kaye Cauthorn, Tucson activist and longtime supporter of the Judaic Studies program, said that the Bakers and the Diamonds have a great vision for broadening the impact of Judaic Studies and enhancing Jewish education. She also acknowledges those who have helped the department grow over the years including founders Rabbi Albert Bilgray and Rabbi Marcus Breger, as well as former Director Leonard Dinnerstein and current Director Ed Wright. She added, “I am very excited about the continual growth of Judaic Studies because of the impact it will have as a bridge to the community at large.”

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