Expert on History of Jewish Women at OBU Next Week
April 3, 2002
Jewish scholar Judith Baskin will spend two days at Oklahoma Baptist University discussing the role of women in the Jewish community as part of the university's annual Schusterman Lecture in Jewish History and Tradition, April 11-12.
Dr. Baskin, director of the Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies and professor of religious studies at the University of Oregon, is OBU's third Schusterman lecturer.
She will address the representations of women in Biblical and Rabbinic Judaism during the 7 p.m. lecture April 11, in the university's Geiger Center.
Baskin will be available for discussion during a reception immediately following the lecture. She also will host a student dialogue session at 10 a.m. April 12, in the Geiger Center.
A prolific writer and researcher, Baskin is internationally known for her research, writings, and teachings in Jewish history. She has had more than seven books and 50 articles published. Often focusing on women in Jewish history, she has been the featured speaker at numerous academic conferences and events.
Prior to her position at the University of Oregon, Baskin taught in the department of Judaic studies at the State University of New York at Albany and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Baskin also was visiting professor at Yale University.
Baskin earned an undergraduate degree from Antioch College, after spending a year at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She holds a Ph.D. degree in medieval studies from Yale.
She has served in a variety of functions in the Association for Jewish Studies, including vice president for programs and as a member of the board of directors. She also was co-chair of the group's women's caucus.
In 1995, Baskin was named Collins Fellow at SUNY at Albany, for outstanding service to the university. She was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching by the same university in 1993.
OBU's Schusterman Lectureship in Jewish Religious History and Tradition is intended to foster an understanding and appreciation of Jewish culture and tradition among OBU students and faculty, and to cultivate awareness of Jewish contributions to religious, ethical and philosophical thought.
OBU has about 300 students majoring in religion, philosophy and applied ministry, and more than 75 students minoring in one of these areas. The lecture is designed to acquaint these students with respected Jewish scholars and scholarship and to enhance the quality of the University's various courses in Old Testament studies.
The Schusterman Lectureship is made possible by a grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation of Tulsa, a philanthropic organization that funds programs enhancing Jewish life in the United States, Israel and the former Soviet Union. The Foundation also supports Oklahoma-based non-sectarian charitable groups that focus on education, children and community service, including National Conference for Community Justice, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries, and the Tulsa County Library.
Lynn Schusterman is president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Charles Schusterman, who passed away in December 2000, was the chairman of Samson Investment Co., the largest independent gas producer headquartered in Oklahoma. The Schustermans have received many awards for their philanthropic activities, including the 1999 Global Vision award from the Tulsa Global Alliance, and the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community Justice in 1998. In 2000 both Lynn and Charles were inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame and Charles was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Schusterman lives in Tulsa. She has three children and six granddaughters.