April 15, 2013
Photo credit: Luther Caverly

Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies

It all began in 2006, when the Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies (MTZ) was formally established on the basis of a handsome gift to an already existing research centre.

The organized research unit of Jewish Studies was set up in the two preceding years, as there were many faculty members in disciplines across the curriculum who were doing relevant work in this area. For the most part, these faculty members were working independently but several dozen of them joined their efforts upon MTZ’s formal establishment.

“In the first few years, we met informally, largely at brown-bag lunches where each faculty member talked about their own research-in-progress as well as that of their students,” says Dr. Aviva Freedman, Professor Emeritus of Applied Linguistics & Discourse Studies, and MTZ’s Director. “These informal meetings, which soon included more formal presentations of research, allowed for exciting cross-fertilization and development of research hubs.”

From the outset, the group realized that the Holocaust needed attention from many disciplinary perspectives:  in fact, there was a strong interest by historians, neuroscientists and psychologists, and even music and film professors.

As a result, the Centre went on to develop the Living History Project, in which documents and related teaching materials were prepared, focusing on Holocaust survivors who shared their stories with students in Ottawa schools.

… informal meetings, which soon included more formal presentations of research, allowed for exciting cross-fertilization and development of research hubs

“Working closely with award-winning director Francine Zuckerman, the team produced a short documentary focusing on two survivors and the considerable impact of their encounter with students,” says Dr. Deidre Butler, Assistant Professor of Religion (Jewish Studies), and Associate Director of MTZ.

The Holocaust and post-Holocaust responses remain a key research interest for many faculty members and have led to their invitation to host a key academic conference during Canada’s chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.  This international conference, being held April 24 and 25, 2013, is called “If Not Now, When? Responsibility and Memory After the Holocaust.”

The quote, “If not now, when?” originates from one of the most recognizable sayings in the Jewish tradition about responsibility to self and others. It will be one of the key focuses of the conference. Key speakers will include The Honourable Irwin Cotler, Dr. Mario Silva (Chair of IHRA), Minister Jason Kenney and Dr. Irving Abella.

Another core strength of the Centre is gender and sexuality. Several of its researchers are currently working on projects relating to this: Shawna Dolansky focuses on ancient Israelite religions, Kim Stratton studies magic in the ancient world, and Dr. Butler researches Jewish feminist thought. The Centre boasts a rich lecture series on many topics highlighting the diversity of Jewish Studies at Carleton.

… the group realized that the Holocaust needed attention from many disciplinary perspectives

MTZ regularly hosts conferences, presentations by national and international researchers, and non-credit and credit courses for research dissemination.

“Some of our most successful events have focused on Jewish and Israeli culture,” says Dr. Freedman. “For example, Mark Langer of the Department of Film Studies gave a delightful talk on the Jewish and immigrant elements in animated films of the 40s and 50s. Michael and Shimrit Graelsammer, who are artists-in-residence at Carleton and MTZ, both gave performances and talks on the contemporary Israeli popular music scene. And Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer provided an erudite and delightful presentation about Jewish Talmudic attitudes towards sex.”
The Centre was also recently granted the status as an official Carleton University Research Centre (CURC).

“This has allowed us to enhance the Centre’s cross-disciplinary work, by linking us with other CURCs,” says Dr. Butler. “Tentative connections with researchers in the departments of Public History and Migration and Diaspora Studies have already been explored. There are natural commonalities of interest, which were not apparent to us before we were granted this status.”

The Centre was also recently granted the status as an official Carleton University Research Centre (CURC)

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