Officials name 2 scholars
Two-year search ends for Jewish Studies Program

By Bethany McCormack
Staff Reporter

Last week, officials at Brite Divinity School selected two scholars to lead the Jewish Studies Program after almost two years of searching.

W. David Nelson has been named the Rosalyn and Manny Rosenthal Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies, and Athalya Brenner has been named the Rosalyn and Manny Rosenthal Distinguished Professor-in-Residence of Hebrew Bible.

Toni Craven, a professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite and chairwoman of the search committee, said the two scholars create a good combination because of their two different areas of interest. Brenner’s knowledge of the Hebrew Bible will bring a new perspective to students, and Nelson’s focus on early Judaism will be helpful for undergraduate students, she said.

“This is a monumentally exciting time for us,” Craven said.

Nelson teaches at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and has also taught at the University of Dayton and Hebrew Union college. Beginning in the fall, he will be a full-time faculty member at Brite and will teach one course a year in the religion department.
Brenner, who is from Haifa, Israel, is a professor at the University of Amsterdam. She will serve an initial three-year term beginning fall 2001.

The search for a scholar to lead the Jewish studies program began in the fall of 1999 after the Rosenthal family donated $1 million for the Rosalyn and Manny Rosenthal Chair for the Judaic studies endowment.

Nelson’s addition to the TCU faculty marks the first time in the university’s history that a permanent faculty member has taught exclusively in the area of Jewish studies, Craven said.

Craven said it is wonderful to have two Jewish scholars and a world-class archaeologist coming to TCU.

“We are trying to enhance Jewish studies and make it as good as can be,” she said. “I am thrilled with these appointments.”

Nathan Digby, a Brite student and member of the Jewish scholar search committee, said he thinks the addition of Brenner and Nelson will be beneficial to students at Brite.

“It will be a big benefit by putting Christianity in context and helping us understand our own beliefs in contrast and collaboration with those of another faith tradition,” he said.

The appointment of Nelson and Brenner is one component of the Jewish Studies Program, which began in 1994. Another part of the program, the Gates of Chai Lectureship in Contemporary Judaism, brings prominent Jewish speakers to campus. A Judaica library is also being created which will contain a collection of Jewish literature and artifacts, the Hebrew Bible, Talmud and Midrash.

The fourth component of the program is an annual visiting scholar initiative endowed by Dr. and Mrs. Louis Barnett of Fort Worth.

he first visiting scholar will be an archaeologist, Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University. He will teach a course titled “Megiddo and the Archaeology of Early Israel” from May 21 to June 1.

Bethany McCormack
b.s.mccormack@tcu.edu