Hebrew Theological College Chief Academic Officer Receives Baron Dissertation Award

December 21, 2015
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Gabe Kahn
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L-r: Dr. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, professor of modern Judaism at Arizona State University; Dr. Shoshana B. Tancer, professor emeritus at Arizona State; Dr. Zev Eleff, chief academic officer and dean of the Men’s Division of the Hebrew Theological College; Dr. Robert Tancer, professor emeritus at Arizona State; and Dr. Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University.
L-r: Dr. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, professor of modern Judaism at Arizona State University; Dr. Shoshana B. Tancer, professor emeritus at Arizona State; Dr. Zev Eleff, chief academic officer and dean of the Men’s Division of the Hebrew Theological College; Dr. Robert Tancer, professor emeritus at Arizona State; and Dr. Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University.

New York, NY Rabbi Zev Eleff, Ph.D., chief academic officer and dean of the Men’s Division of the Hebrew Theological College (HTC) of Skokie, Ill., received the 2015 Salo Wittmayer Baron Dissertation Award at the Association of Jewish Studies (AJS) annual conference in Boston, the principal academic conference for the entire field of Jewish studies. 

Professor Salo Wittmayer Baron was one of the preeminent Jewish historians of the 20th century. The Baron Dissertation Award, sponsored by the Arizona State University Center for Jewish Studies, recognizes the best dissertation in the field of American Jewish history and culture over a three-year period. Dr. Eleff’s dissertation was on the topic of the transformation of rabbinic authority in American Judaism during the nineteenth century.

“This paper is an excellent piece of scholarship,” according Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, the Irving and Miriam Lowe Professor of Modern Judaism at Arizona State. “Dr. Eleff has articulated an original, multi-faceted and nuanced argument, building on the work of previous scholars, while deepening our understanding of the mechanisms that shaped the emergence of the rabbinate in America.”

Before coming to HTC in 2015, Dr. Eleff earned his Ph.D. in the field of American Jewish history from Brandeis University, was ordained at Yeshiva University and received a master’s in history and education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Dr. Eleff is the author and editor of six books and more than 30 scholarly articles, published in both English and Hebrew. He was most recently an instructor in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis.

“It’s an honor to be associated with Salo Baron, the great pioneering Jewish historian in American universities,” said Dr. Eleff. “I’m also proud to be included among the faculty members of HTC and Touro who have distinguished themselves in the field. Hopefully this will encourage others to delve deep into the study of Judaism.”

 

About the Touro College and University System

Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris and Florida. New York Medical College, Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/media/.

About the Hebrew Theological College

Hebrew Theological College, founded in 1921, is committed to producing Torah-imbued college graduates who will serve the Jewish community and humanity through their professional and personal vocations. Hebrew Theological College provides coursework leading to undergraduate degrees in Judaic Studies, Accounting, Business, Education, English, Health Sciences, Psychology and Speech and Language Pathology.  In addition to the two college divisions – the Men’s Beis Midrash/College program and the Blitstein Teachers Institute for Women - Hebrew Theological College also includes the Fasman Yeshiva High School preparatory division for young men.  Hebrew Theological College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community. HTC officially partnered with Touro College in 2015. For more information on Hebrew Theological College, please go to www.htc.edu