Dr. Jonathan Krasner
Newly-Appointed Assistant Professor of American Jewish History at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati to present at first Food For Thought Luncheon Lecture of 2002-2003 Series

Dr. Jonathan Krasner, newly-appointed assistant professor of American Jewish History at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, will present "A Recipe for American Jewish Integration: The Adventures of K'tonton and Hillel's Happy Holidays" at the first Food for Thought Luncheon Lecture of 2002-2003. The lecture will take place at noon on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 in Mayerson Hall Auditorium, 3101 Clifton Avenue. This will be Dr. Krasner's first public lecture in the Cincinnati area.

Rabbi David Ellenson, president of HUC-JIR announced the appointment of Dr. Krasner as assistant professor of American Jewish History at HUC-JIR, Cincinnati as of July 1, 2002. Dr. Krasner will teach a core course in American Jewish History (with Dr. Gary Zola), and will teach electives in such areas as American Jewish Intellectual History, American Jewish Literature, the Sociology of the American Jewish Community, the Historiography of American Jewish History, and American Jewry and Zionism. Rabbi Ellenson stated: "We welcome Dr. Krasner, whose scholarship, teaching, and mentorship will enhance our academic programs."

During the Food For Thought Lecture, Dr. Krasner will explore issues of American Jewish integration during the inter-war years. The session will focus on two of the most popular Jewish children's books of the era and explore the extent to which these books exemplify the balancing act for American Jews between acculturation (becoming "real Americans") and survival (the struggle to retain Jewishness in a land of unprecedented openness).

Jonathan Krasner received his doctorate at Brandeis University and holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University. The recipient of many fellowships, he has been an American Jewish Archives Research Fellow at HUC-JIR, Cincinnati. His dissertation focused on the representation of insiders and outsiders in American Jewish schoolbooks. He is currently revising it for publication. His lecture today is based on an article that will soon appear in "The Lion and the Unicorn," a journal devoted to the study of children's literature.

Prior to joining the faculty at HUC-JIR, Dr. Krasner served as Chair of the History Department at the New Jewish High School in Boston, where he developed school-wide curricula, supervised and evaluated teachers, as well as taught courses in American Jewish History, Zionism and Israel, European Jewish History, and Humanities. In addition, he brings to HUC-JIR many years of teaching experience on the college and high school levels.

In its thirteenth season, Food For Thought features HUC-JIR faculty and scholars who discuss their fields of expertise and recent research with the public. The Department of Outreach Education invites the community to learn with Dr. Jonathan Krasner. A hot buffet lunch will be available for $8; reservations are necessary. There is a $2 fee to attend the lecture only. To learn more about Food For Thought, the Department of Outreach Education of HUC-JIR, or to make a reservation contact Marcia Cruse, (513) 221-1875 ext. 353.