Fall 2020 Welcome Message from the Department Chair

Hello and welcome back. As we approach the start of a challenging semester, I want to thank all of you for your continued support of the Department, the College, and the University. The pandemic has changed the ways we interact, how we file forms, where we study and write, but it has not changed the Department's commitments to students, staff, colleagues, and our communities. Although the Department office on campus is closed, the Department remains committed to student success, community engagement, and fostering dialogue across campus on a range of issues. Additionally, our faculty have started several exciting new research projects and finished key interventions in the fields of Jewish and Israel Studies, all of which you'll hear more about in the weeks to come.

I also want to draw your attention to the incredible work that Professor Gross has done on JS 280, Introduction to Jewish Studies: Lectures in Jewish Studies. The course introduces students not only to a range of themes in Jewish Studies but also to department faculty, as well as scholars from other institutions. If you've been curious about what our Jewish Studies classroom can offer you, the series is a great place to start. You can find more information on our events page.

I'll host my regular virtual office hours beginning the first week of classes on Tuesday/Thursday 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and Wednesday 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. and by appointment; email me at kmillet1@sfsu.edu to meet with me. I'll also host virtual coffee hours for majors and minors, beginning in September. If you need to submit graduation petitions, and advising forms, the University has inaugurated a new electronic system to do so. Information will be forthcoming on the Department's website, and students can also contact the Advising Resource Center (ARC) for more details.

Be safe, stay healthy, and I look forward to seeing you via Zoom, at one of the Department's events, in classes, and during my virtual coffee hours.

— Kitty Millet
Professor of Comparative Jewish Literatures and Holocaust Studies
Chair of the Department of Jewish Studies