Foundation Gives Grant to New Jewish Studies Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 1998
Joe Wills
530-898-4143
Foundation Gives Grant to New Jewish Studies Program
The Koret Foundation of San Francisco has awarded a $25,000 grant to the new Modern Jewish and Israel Studies Program at California State University, Chico.
Professor Sam Edelman, head of program, said the grant will go toward scholarships, faculty development, a speaker series and support for the program’s fund-raising efforts.
“We are truly grateful to the Koret Foundation for their ongoing support of Jewish studies in Northern California,” Edelman said.
This is the second grant in two years the program has received from the Koret Foundation, a large Bay Area foundation. The first grant was for $15,000 to help establish the program and provide scholarships for students interested in minoring in Modern Jewish and Israel Studies.
“I believe the Koret Foundation is supporting us in part because we are the newest Jewish studies program in the United States,” Edelman said. “We are also the only Jewish studies program in a CSU residential campus. The six other programs in the CSU are in urban commuter campuses. Because of our residential nature, we can offer students opportunities they cannot get elsewhere,” he said.
While courses have been taught at CSU, Chico for a number of years in Modern Jewish and Israel Studies, a formal program was recently formed. Last year, the CSU, Chico Academic Senate and President Manuel Esteban approved the minor in Modern Jewish and Israel Studies for undergraduates, to be housed in the new School of Graduate, International and Sponsored Programs. CSU, Chico also has area studies focused on Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific Basin.
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