The Jewish Catalog Turns 50: A Revolutionary Manifesto of DIY Judaism
The Weitzman Museum
101 South Independence Mall East (Corner of 5th & Market)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
& Livestreamed on Zoom
$15 General Admission
$12 Museum Members and PennCard Holders
FREE Livestream with Suggested $5 Donation
In the Fall of 1973, three young leaders emerged from the Jewish counterculture movement with an audacious vision. They sought to reshape Judaism and make it accessible to all. The fruits of their labor, the Jewish Catalog, burst forth into the world, captivating the hearts and minds of a generation.
Published by the esteemed Jewish Publication Society in the heart of Philadelphia, the Jewish Catalog has since become a beacon of knowledge, guiding countless individuals on the path to a richer Jewish life. Unveiled in its pages is a treasure trove of resources and tools, all artfully presented in an informal yet exquisitely illustrated format. The brilliance of the Catalog lies in its universality. No matter one’s background or level of knowledge, the Catalog warmly embraces one and all.
Join us for a conversation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Jewish Catalog–a bestseller whose success led to second and third Jewish Catalog editions– a groundbreaking publication that revolutionized Judaism. Gather with us to explore the origins, development, and profound impact of this landmark manifesto in American Jewish life.
The program will take place from 5:45 to 6:45 pm, and a reception will immediately follow (vegetarian, not prepared under rabbinic supervision).
Featuring
Joshua Teplitsky
University of Pennsylvania
Joshua Teplitsky is the Joseph Meyerhoff Associate Professor of Modern Jewish History and the Ruth Meltzer Director of the Jewish Studies Program at Penn. His research focuses on the history of Jewish life in early modern Central Europe within the wider context of Jewish/Christian interaction and minority experience. He is also a codirector of the digital humanities project, “Footprints: Jewish Books through Time and Place.” This ongoing collaborative project traces the movement of Jewish books between 1450 and 1800.
Teplitsky received his Ph.D. in Hebrew and Judaic studies from NYU in 2012.
Beth S. Wenger
University of Pennsylvania
Beth S. Wenger is Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, and Moritz and Josephine Berg Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. A specialist in American Jewish history, Wenger's interests also include European Jewish culture, American religion and ethnicity, and cultural, social, and gender history.
Wenger received her PhD from Yale University. She was one of four founding historians who helped to create the core exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, and she continues to serve as historical consultant to the Museum.
Michael Strassfeld
Rabbi Michael Strassfeld has been prominent in the American Jewish community for nearly forty years, dating from his involvement as co-editor of the first Jewish Catalog in 1973. He graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University (1971) with honors in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, after having spent his freshman year at the Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. He also holds an M.A. degree from Brandeis in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, and completed his doctoral coursework in Jewish History at Brandeis. He received his ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1991.
Rabbi Strassfeld was very active in the Havurah movement, having been the founding chairperson of the National Havurah Committee from 1979 to 1982. Before coming to the SAJ, he held various positions at Congregation Ansche Chesed on the Upper West Side, including Director of Program and Development, Executive Director, and Rabbi of the congregation. Rabbi Strassfeld led the SAJ from 2001–2015.
Cosponsors
This event is produced by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in partnership with the Katz Center, Brandeis Library, Brandeis University, Penn’s Jewish Studies Program, and the Jewish Publication Society.