The University of Florida’s Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education announced on Wednesday the launch of the Robert M. Beren Program on Jewish Classical Education, an academic initiative focused on the role of Jewish thought in Western and American civilization.
Supported by $15 million in philanthropic contributions from the Robert M. Beren Family Foundation, Gary and Lee Rosenthal, and Paul and Karen Levy, the program will introduce undergraduate courses, a study abroad initiative in Israel, visiting scholars, and public lectures on Jewish history and civic life. It will additionally offer courses on Jewish classical texts, the historical role of Jewish thought in shaping political and cultural institutions, and the development of modern Zionism.
“The establishment of the Robert M. Beren Program will make a significant contribution to liberal education in America,” said William Inboden, director of the Hamilton Center. “By making Jewish classical texts and history a core pillar of our curriculum, we’re creating a unique opportunity for students to understand how Hebraic ideas have shaped Western civilization and the American founding. And by creating a study abroad program in Israel, UF students will have the chance to learn in one of the world’s most interesting, dynamic, and strategic nations.”
The Beren Program will collaborate with the Rosenthal-Levy Scholars initiative, an independent scholarship program run by Tikvah, which supports undergraduate students studying political theory, history, philosophy, and Jewish thought.
“The Hamilton Center is a new citadel for the study of Western civilization,” said
The University of Florida’s Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education announced on Wednesday the launch of the Robert M. Beren Program on Jewish Classical Education, an academic initiative focused on the role of Jewish thought in Western and American civilization.
Supported by $15 million in philanthropic contributions from the Robert M. Beren Family Foundation, Gary and Lee Rosenthal, and Paul and Karen Levy, the program will introduce undergraduate courses, a study abroad initiative in Israel, visiting scholars, and public lectures on Jewish history and civic life. It will offer courses on Jewish classical texts, the historical role of Jewish thought in shaping political and cultural institutions, and the development of modern Zionism.
“The establishment of the Robert M. Beren Program will make a significant contribution to liberal education in America,” said William Inboden, director of the Hamilton Center. “By making Jewish classical texts and history a core pillar of our curriculum, we’re creating a unique opportunity for students to understand how Hebraic ideas have shaped Western civilization and the American founding. And by creating a study abroad program in Israel, UF students will have the chance to learn in one of the world’s most interesting, dynamic, and strategic nations.”
The Beren Program will collaborate with the Rosenthal-Levy Scholars initiative, an independent scholarship program run by Tikvah, which supports undergraduate students studying political theory, history, philosophy, and Jewish thought.
“The Hamilton Center is a new citadel for the study of Western civilization,” said Eric Cohen, chairman of the Rosenthal-Levy Scholars program and CEO of Tikvah. “We are thrilled to help encourage students with true leadership ability to study the most important ideas in history with some of the finest teachers, thinkers, and practitioners in the world.”
The program will also partner with the Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies at UF, incorporating modern Hebrew instruction and joint academic programming. Norman JW Goda, director of the Bud Shorstein Center, welcomed the collaboration, stating that the center looks forward to working with the incoming Rosenthal-Levy scholars and expanding opportunities for students studying Israeli history, literature, and culture.
“The Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies is most pleased to work with the Robert M. Beren Program,” said Goda, Bud Shortsein Center director. “We cannot wait for the Rosenthal-Levy scholars to arrive. We have first-rate faculty, plus a truly excellent program in Modern Hebrew that centers on Israeli history, literature, and culture.”
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