Welcome

Dear Alan D. Leve Center Friends,

This past year has been one of profound challenge. Across the globe and here on our own campus, we have witnessed a troubling surge in antisemitism—manifesting in rhetoric, actions, and campus climates that have left many in our community feeling vulnerable. At UCLA, these challenges have tested our values and our resolve. But even in these difficult times, there are glimmers of hope—and not just the kind that comes from finding parking on campus. With the arrival of Chancellor Julio Frenk, UCLA has taken bold and necessary steps to confront antisemitism directly. Chancellor Frenk has not only acknowledged the unique and persistent nature of antisemitism, but has also launched a standing Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, backed by institutional resources and a commitment to pluralism and justice. His leadership has brought renewed energy and moral clarity to our campus, and the UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies is proud to be a partner in this work—advancing scholarship, fostering dialogue, and supporting our students and faculty in the face of hate.

At the Alan D. Leve Center, we are deeply committed to addressing the alarming rise in antisemitism through rigorous scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement. In partnership with the UCLA Initiative to Study Hate (ISH), we co-founded the Research Hub on Antisemitism, which brings together scholars from across the humanities and social sciences to explore the historical roots, contemporary expressions, and psychological mechanisms of antisemitism. This past year, the Hub supported thirteen researchers and two postdoctoral fellows, whose projects ranged from analyzing antisemitic misperceptions in media and social networks, to examining historical patterns of antisemitism in the American Southwest and the Russian Empire, to investigating the sonic dimensions of hate speech on platforms like TikTok. Indeed, we are learning that hate has a soundtrack, and we’re studying it. We remain steadfast in our mission to foster understanding in the face of hate, and your support helps to ensure that our campus remains a place where Jewish life and scholarship can thrive.

Our commitment to Jewish Studies extends beyond the classroom and into the field, quite literally, through our growing engagement with Israel and its rich archaeological heritage. This past year, the Alan D. Leve Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tel Aviv University to collaborate on an archaeological excavation at Tel Shaddud in northern Israel—identified with the ancient biblical city of Sarid, mentioned in the “Song of Deborah” (Judges 5). As Associate Director of the excavation, I am proud to help lead this initiative, which offers students a rare opportunity to participate in cutting-edge fieldwork at a site layered with history including an ancient Egyptian fortress, an early Israelite settlement, a neo-Assyrian and Persian fort, a Roman Jewish village, and finally early 20th-century military trenches of the British and the Haganah. This past summer with the unwavering support of Dean of Humanities Alex Stern, we were able to fund two students—one undergraduate and one graduate—to come to Israel for the excavation. The excavation helps to bridge textual studies, history, archaeology, and geography. The excavation team works with modern Kibbutz Sarid, where residents view the ancient tell as part of their heritage and some even volunteer at the site, creating a living dialogue between academic archaeology and contemporary Israeli communities. This collaboration not only deepens our understanding of ancient Israel but also fosters meaningful connections between scholarship and modern identity, land, and memory. With the philanthropic support of the community, we hope to expand student participation in the coming year, continuing to offer immersive experiences that bring Jewish history to life in its original setting.

As we continue to confront antisemitism, it is equally vital that we invest in the long-term strength of Jewish Studies as an academic field. We’ve prioritized developing a robust curriculum, especially in areas like Jewish literature and Hebrew language instruction. While financial challenges have slowed our hiring plans, we’ve made real progress in revamping the Jewish Studies major and minor to keep them relevant and rigorous. But curriculum alone is not enough. Student-led initiatives, cultural programming, and immersive learning experiences are essential components of a vibrant academic community, and they require sustained financial support. We invite our community, partners, and supporters to help us meet this moment by investing in the future of Jewish Studies at UCLA. Your support enables us to continue fostering scholarship, engagement, and understanding in a time when these values are more important than ever.

With warm regards (and trowel in hand),

William Schniedewind
Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies & NWS Languages
Director of Graduate Studies, NELC Department
Sady and Ludwig Kahn Director, UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies