Judaism is among the world’s oldest religions, emerging in the Middle East more than 4,000 years ago. Like most world religions, it is not frozen in form but is constantly affected by the times in which its followers live.

Today, Jews in America and elsewhere are redefining what it means to be Jewish and the ways this ancient religion is practiced. Among the recent developments in contemporary Judaism are the rise of independent, lay-led worship, prayer and fellowship groups; a growing push for “green” synagogues; a demand to expand kosher certification to include social justice standards as well as food cleanliness; the expansion of roles for women in the synagogue and beyond; and the further organization and visibility of previously marginalized groups, such as homosexual Orthodox Jews.

With the approach of the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana (which starts this year at sundown Sept. 29) and Yom Kippur (which begins at sundown Oct. 8), contemporary American Judaism offers a wellspring of story ideas beyond the typical explanatory holiday story. This source guide provides a starting point for exploring the issues and a resource for researching stories throughout the year.

How to use this guide

This guide focuses on Judaism in America, as most of our subscribers cover religion on the local or national level.

Extensive efforts have been made to include sources from all the main branches, as well as a chorus of voices representing different viewpoints. More than 300 organizations, institutions and experts are featured, on topics ranging from genealogy to politics to mysticism. Some people and groups can be found in more than one category.

People who believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah but who maintain a Jewish identity – usually called Messianic Jews – are not included in this guide. Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jewish groups generally consider Messianic Jews to be evangelical Christians. Journalists should avoid grouping Messianic Jews with mainstream Jews in stories or listings. For more information, see “Jews for Jesus” in the Religion Newswriters online stylebook.

Click to jump to:Major issues Branches and movements Orthodox Conservative Reform Reconstructionist Renewal Demographic data Useful Web sites Institutions of higher learning Universities and seminaries Jewish-studies programs Jewish history Major museums Holocaust museums, groups National archives State, regional societies Genealogy Organizations, institutions Civil rights advocacy Disability advocacy Educational Environmental Humanitarian Interfaith relations Israel / Palestine LGBT Political advocacy Religious / cultural Women’s Youth Other Selected Jewish media

National sources Academics and scholars American Jews Branches of Judaism Contemporary Jewish life, history Conversion / change of faith Education Ethics, philosophy Genealogy Holocaust Israel, Israeli-Palestinian conflict Jewish-Christian relations Jewish law Jewish museums Jewish music Jewish-Muslim relations Judaism and American politics Judaism and the arts Judaism and sexual orientation Languages Mysticism Secular and humanistic Judaism Sports Synagogue architecture Women in Judaism Prominent pulpit rabbis Others of note

Major issues

ISRAEL
Concern over the state of Israel – its protection and sovereignty – continues to be a major issue among American Jews. But as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues with no end in sight, American Jews have become less unified on the issue. A growing number, disheartened by Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians, are taking the Middle Eastern nation to task for abuses its own people once suffered, like ghettoization. The issue threatens to divide many Jewish congregations, communities and families as younger Jews, sometimes with little or no connection to Israel, raise questions about U.S. support and involvement there.

WHO IS A JEW?
According to traditional interpretations of Jewish law, a person born to a Jewish mother is automatically considered a Jew. But today, other factors of identity come into play. All main branches of Judaism recognize converts, or “Jews by choice.” But conversion processes and standards can vary widely. In 2006 the Rabbinical Council of America and the Beth Din of America, representing the Orthodox movement, launched a project “to establish an improved and more dependable conversion process.” In January 2007 a North American Regional Network of Conversion Courts was established. The Rabbinical Council has a Web site explaining the procedure. Complicating the issue of who is a Jew are advances in treating infertility. What is the status of a baby created from a donor egg from a non-Jewish donor but carried to term by a Jewish woman? Of a baby created by eggs from a Jewish donor but carried to term by a non-Jewish surrogate mother? Of a non-Jewish baby adopted by a Jewish family? What of Africans who trace their heritage back to “lost tribes” of Jews? As the number of people who identify as Jews declines, definitions of “who is a Jew” will grow in urgency.

JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS
Interfaith dialogue among these two groups, at least in the U.S., is very strong. The apology by Pope John Paul II for the silence of the Catholic Church during World War II and the statement by Pope Benedict XVI absolving Jews in the death of Jesus have done much to salve old wounds. But there are still some hurdles. Many Jews are put off by Zionist Christians, those who work for a strong Israel because they believe it is necessary for the heralding in of the end times, a period of upheaval before the eventual return of Christ. More are offended by Christian missionaries who seek to convert Jews to Christianity, another ingredient for the end times. Jews have been organizing their own groups to combat the missionaries and educate Zionist Christians.

JEWISH-MUSLIM RELATIONS
Tension between Jews and Muslims extends back to the seventh century, when Jewish tribes in Medina, Arabia, rejected the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Tensions were heightened with the creation of Israel in 1948 and worsened under the Second Intifada. But since 9/11, there has been an increase in dialogue between Jews and Muslims as more try to look past their current political differences, especially with regard to Israel, and focus on their shared historical background. Some involved in the exchange say Jews can help Muslims navigate the prejudices and stereotypes of a post-9/11 world, and others hope that the dialogue will eventually facilitate peace in the Middle East. On Sept. 3, 2008, Hebrew College hosted an event titled “The Future of Jewish-Muslim Relations.” Also this year, the Jewish Publication Society released An Introduction to Islam for Jews by Rabbi Reuven Firestone. MyJewishLearning.com has an entry by Ira Rifkin on the history of Jewish-Muslim relations.

INTRA-JEWISH RELATIONS
In addition to the expected differences between the branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist), there are smaller, but still very deep, divisions. Most center on the question of how strictly to interpret Jewish law, or Halakhah. But there are also divisions between religious and secular Jews. Some religious Jews ask, is a Jew without religion still a Jew? Is he or she somehow less of a Jew than a religious Jew? Many both within and outside of Judaism believe that until Jews can find more harmony and tolerance within their own community, they will be reduced in power and influence.

INDEPENDENT GROUPS
According to the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study, the last decade has seen the rapid growth of independent minyanim, or prayer groups, and independent havurot, or circles of fellowship. (Traditionally, a minyan is a quorum of 10 Jews, usually men, needed to perform some religious duties.) In some ways, these groups are like the independent house churches and worship groups of the emergent church movement in Christian circles. They are often lay-led and have no denominational affiliation. Questions have arisen as to how they will affect American Judaism. Should they be welcomed as a form of revitalizing and renewing Jewish identity among young, post-denominational Jews who feel uncomfortable or disconnected in a synagogue atmosphere, where singles sometimes say they feel neglected in favor of families? Or should they be a concern because many are not led by ordained rabbis trained in Jewish law and theology? Regardless, scholars agree they are transforming the way young Jews approach their faith and identify with their religion and culture.

KEEPING KOSHER AS SOCIAL JUSTICE
The most conservative Jews (Orthodox and Conservative) adhere to strict dietary laws, known as kashrut. Most have to do with the ritual slaughtering of animals. But a recent movement has taken hold, especially within the Conservative branch, to make kosher standards include requirements for decent pay, good working conditions, compassionate treatment of animals and adherence to government environmental standards. The movement, known as Magen Tzedek, which means “certificate of righteousness,” got a boost from recent controversies over labor treatment at kosher meatpacking facilities in Iowa. It is spearheaded by Rabbi Morris Allen of Minnesota, who is asking pulpit rabbis to preach on the subject during the High Holy Days.

NEVER AGAIN
How will the Jewish community and the rest of the world impart the historic and cultural lessons of the Holocaust as the eyewitnesses and the survivors die? Who will speak for the survivors after they are gone? How will the Jewish community and others combat Holocaust deniers in the future? Meanwhile, a growing number of Jews are speaking out against genocide in Darfur and around the world in the belief that they, perhaps more than any other people, are called by their faith and history to do so.

THE NEXT GENERATION
Every religious and ethnic minority struggles with how to pass on cultural and religious knowledge and heritage to succeeding generations, and Jews are no different. The question among Jewish educators is what is the best means of transfer – religious day schools, after-school programs, synagogue instruction, summer camps or trips to Israel?

HOMOSEXUALITY AND JUDAISM
Like many other religious groups, Jews struggle with the roles that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people should play in their faith. The Reform branch has ordained gay and lesbian rabbis since 1990 and allowed same-sex unions since 2000, while the Conservative branch accepted both in 2006. Reconstructionist Judaism has ordained gay and lesbian rabbis since 1985, and in 2007 it elected its first openly gay president in Rabbi Toba Spitzer. Orthodox Judaism does not recognize homosexuality as a lifestyle in line with Jewish law. Meanwhile, Jewish LGBT people continue to organize and pressure the different branches of Judaism for acceptance. ReligiousTolerance.org maintains a page on the policies and teachings of each branch about homosexuality.

JEWS WITH DISABILITIES
Many Jews with disabilities believe that they are not always fully included in the worship service, life-cycle events and synagogue life of their communities. They have begun to organize to speak for themselves, to educate their fellow Jews and to claim a place in the synagogue and beyond. In 2007 in Minneapolis, some parents claimed their children were denied access to religious school and synagogue programs, leading to community-wide reform. Yesodot, an advocacy organization for Jewish children and young adults in the Boston area who have disabilities, maintains a page linking to the official policies of the different branches of Judaism about Jews with disabilities or other special needs.

Branches and movements

Orthodox

Hasidic Jews on Yom Kippur, by Maurycy Gottlieb.

Orthodox Judaism is considered the oldest form of the religion. In general, it is characterized by a more literal and stringent adherence to Halakhah, or Jewish religious law, than other branches. But there is a spectrum of Orthodoxy, with the Haredi on the far right and the so-called Modern Orthodox on the left. The Haredi (the word is Hebrew and means “to tremble in awe before God”) are sometimes called the Hasidim or the “ultra-Orthodox,” though they consider the latter term derogatory. (Because of that, RNA’s Religion Stylebook recommends using more precise, descriptive language instead of “ultra-Orthodox.”) The Modern Orthodox movement attempts to adapt – up to a point – Halakhah to the demands of contemporary society.

• Chabad-Lubavitch is one of the largest Hasidic groups within the Orthodox branch of Judaism. It is based in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, and its followers are students of a line of seven rabbis, the last of which was Rebbe Menachem Schneerson, who died in 1994. Outside of New York and Israel, Chabad is primarily known for the international network of “Chabad Houses” it runs in places large (Paris, Prague, Pittsburgh) and small (Big Sky, Mont.; Fairbanks, Ala.; Rogers, Ark.), where Chabad rabbis and their wives work to reconnect Jews to their faith traditions and roots. The Web site has a state-by-state list of Chabad houses in the U.S. Contact via Web site.
• The Orthodox Union is the educational and outreach arm of Orthodox Judaism. It is generally considered a Modern Orthodox organization. Among its main concerns is helping Jews keep kosher and strengthening their traditional rituals, practices and holiday observances. The OU maintains a page of affiliated synagogues. Stephen Savitsky is president. Contact via Nathan Diament, OU Institute for Public Affairs, 202-513-6484, ipadc@ou.org.
• The Rabbinical Council of America is an organization of Orthodox rabbis, most of whom are Modern Orthodox. Rabbi Shlomo Hochberg is president. It is based in New York City. Contact 212-807-9000, shlomo@rabbis.org.
• The Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, or the Agudath Harabonim, is an association of Haredi rabbis. It was once a part of the Orthodox Union but split away in 1901. The association does not have a Web site.

Conservative

Conservative Judaism arose out of Germany in the mid-19th century and took root in America. It is a blend of the traditional practice with the progressive, centered on the idea that Jewish law – Halakhah – is binding but must evolve to meet the times.

• The Jewish Theological Seminary is a collection of five schools, including a rabbinical school, in New York City. It ordains both men and women in the Conservative movement. A page for journalists lists faculty members by topic. Contact Sherry S. Kirschenbaum, director of media relations, 212-678-8953 (office), 973-650-6018 (cell), shkirschenbaum@jtsa.edu.
• The North American Association of Synagogue Executives is the professional organization of synagogue executives in Judaism’s Conservative branch. Harry Hauser is executive director. Contact 631-732-9461, office@naase.org. The Rabbinical Assembly is an international association of Conservative rabbis. It maintains a directory of Conservative synagogues in North America and Mexico. Rabbi Alvin Berkun is president. Contact 212-280-6000.
• The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is an association of 760 Conservative congregations and 1.5 million members in North America. Rabbi Jerome Epstein is executive vice president. Contact 212-533-7800, epstein@uscj.org.

Reform

Reform Judaism, developed in the United States in the mid-19th century, is founded on the belief that Judaism must respond and change with the times. It was the first branch of Judaism to ordain women as rabbis and cantors and today welcomes Jews of all sexual orientations and lifestyles, as well as converts to Judaism. It also recognizes children of interfaith families as Jews, regardless of which parent is Jewish, so long as the child is raised as a Jew.

• The Central Conference of American Rabbis consists of Reform rabbis. Peter S. Knobel is president. Contact 212-972-3636, info@ccarnet.org.
• The National Association of Temple Administrators is the professional organization for administrators, managers and executives of Reform synagogues. Edward M. Alpert is president. Contact 847-835-4800, ealpert@amshalom.com.
• The Union for Reform Judaism claims 1.5 million individual members in more than 900 synagogues. It maintains a directory of congregations and a directory of summer camps. Rabbi Eric Yoffie is president. Contact 212-650-4150, presurj@urj.org.

Reconstructionist

Reconstructionist Judaism is the newest branch of Judaism, developed in America as an offshoot of Conservative Judaism in the mid-20^th century. It is built upon a more naturalistic idea of God – one who is not personal – and on the belief that Jewish law is subordinate to secular, contemporary morality.

• The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation calls itself the umbrella organization of progressive Jewish congregations and counts more than 100 congregations with 16,000 member households. It maintains a state-by-state directory of member congregations. Carl Sheingold is executive vice president. Contact 215-885-5601 ext. 21, CSheingold@jrf.org.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, a leader of the Jewish Renewal movement.

Renewal

Jewish Renewal is a progressive movement within Judaism that seeks to revitalize traditional Judaism by infusing it with mystical and meditative practices drawn from Hasidic Judaism and other mystical sources.

• Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal is an umbrella organization of Jewish groups dedicated to religious renewal of Judaism. It maintains a directory of affiliate communities. The main offices are in Philadelphia. Contact 215-247-9700.
• Ohalah is associated with Aleph and is designed to link Renewal rabbis and cantors with members of the Jewish community. It is based in Las Vegas. Rabbi Yocheved Mintz is president. Contact gkmintz@aol.com.

Demographic data

• The American Jewish Identity Survey has data from 2001 on the number of American Jewish adults broken down by means of identification – by choice, by birth, etc.
• The American Jewish Yearbook offers information and analysis about the American Jewish community, Jewish demography, Jewish history and Jewish life worldwide from 1899 to 2007. It is produced by the American Jewish Committee.
• The Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry describes itself as “a cross-disciplinary organization of individuals whose research concerns the Jewish people throughout the world.” The association is a valuable resource for experts and the latest research.
• The Association of Religion Data Archives has data on the number of Jewish clergy, congregations and members in the U.S. from 1931 through 1990.
• The Jewish Virtual Library is an online Jewish encyclopedia. Its Vital Statistics section has an exhaustive list of current statistics and comparative data.
• The National Jewish Population Survey is a representative survey of the Jewish population in the United States sponsored by United Jewish Communities and the Jewish federation system. The last study was conducted in 2000-01.
• The 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study focused on the size and characteristics of the emergent Jewish spiritual communities. It was conducted by Mechon Hadar and the S3K Synagogue Studies Institute.
• The North American Jewish Data Bank is a repository of social scientific studies of the Jews of North America.
• The 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life includes information on Jewish affiliation by different denominations.

Useful Web sites

• Beliefnet, a multifaith religion Web site and online community, maintains a section on Judaism that includes news articles, essays, blogs, how-to’s, discussions and reviews.
• The Jewish Virtual Library is an online Jewish encyclopedia with 13,000 articles and 6,000 photographs on topics ranging from anti-Semitism to Zionism.
• Judaism 101 is a general clearinghouse of information about Judaism run by Tracey Rich, a Jewish layperson. It contains descriptions of the Jewish calendar, the Hebrew alphabet, holidays, life-cycle events, rituals, observances and much more.
• ReligiousTolerance.org has an extensive section on Jews and Judaism, including descriptions of recent controversies, including Christian Zionism, missionary efforts aimed at Jews and recent acts of anti-Semitism.
• Shamash, a project of Hebrew College Online, maintains a kosher database and information on Jewish books, the Holocaust and the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible. It includes links to all things Jewish on the Internet.
• A detailed timeline of the Jewish-American experience can be found on the Web site of the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. The commission coordinated observances of the 350-year milestone, reached in 2004.

Institutions of higher education

UNIVERSITIES AND SEMINARIES

• The Academy for Jewish Religion is a rabbinical and cantorial school in Riverdale, N.Y., that serves all branches of Judaism. Ora Horn Prouser is executive vice president and dean. Contact 718-543-9360.
• The Academy for Jewish Religion, California, is a transdenominational rabbinical, cantorial and chaplaincy school in Los Angeles associated with the Hillel Center for Jewish Life on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. Rabbi Mel Gottlieb is president. Contact 310-824-1586.
• American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute) is a transdenominational school in Los Angeles, and AJU’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies ordains Conservative rabbis, both men and women. It maintains a page of issues and experts for journalists. Robert Wexler is AJU’s president. Contact 310-476-9777 ext. 200, rwexler@ajula.edu.
• Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Jewish studies, Jewish education and Jewish communal service. Erika Schon is the director. Contact 410-704-7117.
• Brandeis University is a private, nonsectarian Jewish university in Waltham, Mass. It was founded in 1948 as a university for Jews rejected by Ivy League schools because of quotas. Fred Lawrence is president. Contact 781-736-3001.
• The Drisha Institute for Jewish Education is a school created for Jewish women who want to study advanced Hebrew texts. Rabbi David Silber is its founder and dean. It is in New York City. Contact 212-595-0307, dsilber@drisha.org.
• Gratz College is a transdenominational school in Melrose Park, Pa., that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. It also operates a Jewish Community High School. Jerry Kutnick is dean of academic affairs. Contact 215-635-7300 ext.137, jkutnick@gratz.edu.
• Hebrew College in Newton Centre, Mass., has programs in Jewish studies, Jewish education, transdenominational rabbinic ordination for both men and women, cantor education and Mekorot (Hebrew language and Jewish texts). It also maintains Prozdor, a Jewish high school. Rabbi Daniel Lehmann is the college’s president. Contact 617-559-8600.
• The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion trains rabbis, cantors, teachers and others in Reform Judaism at campuses in Cincinnati, New York City, Los Angeles and Jerusalem. It ordains both men and women. Rabbi David Ellenson is president. Contact 800-424-1336 ext. 2201, presoff@huc.edu.
• The Institute of Traditional Judaism – The Metivta is the educational arm of the Union of Traditional Judaism of Teaneck, N.J. The UTJ describes itself as “a trans-denominational education and outreach organization dedicated to promoting the principles of traditional Judaism.” The ITJ offers training for both men and women but ordains men only. Rabbi Ronald Price is dean. Contact 201-801-0707.
• The Jewish Theological Seminary is a collection of five schools, including a rabbinical school, in New York City. It ordains both men and women in the Conservative movement. A page for journalists lists faculty members by topic. Contact Sherry S. Kirschenbaum, director of media relations, 212-678-8953 (office), 973-650-6018 (cell), shkirschenbaum@jtsa.edu.
• The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pa., ordains rabbis in the Reconstructionist tradition of Judaism. It ordains both men and women. A page for journalists lists experts by topic. Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz is the president. Contact 215-576-0800 ext. 129, dehrenkrantz@rcc.edu.
• Spertus College is the transdenominational academic branch of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago. It offers master’s and doctoral degrees in Jewish studies and Jewish education. Contact 312-322-1700.
• Yeshiva University in New York City is mainly associated with the Modern Orthodox movement. It maintains a guide to experts on the faculty. Contact 212-960-5300, rjoel@yu.edu.

JEWISH-STUDIES PROGRAMS

• The Academic Jewish Studies Internet Directory lists and provides links to university programs in Jewish studies in the United States.
• The Association for Jewish Studies is a professional organization that promotes Jewish studies in higher learning. It maintains a directory of universities and colleges with Jewish studies programs.

Jewish history

MAJOR MUSEUMS
• The National Museum of American Jewish History maintains a list of Jewish museums around the country and around the world.

HOLOCAUST MUSEUMS, GROUPS

• The Association of Holocaust Organizations works to advance programming, research and education about the Holocaust. Member organizations are posted on the Web site. William L. Shulman is president of the association’s board, as well as president of the Holocaust Resource Center and Archives at Queensborough Community College in Bayside, N.Y. Contact 516-582-4571.
• The Israel Science and Technology Homepage maintains a list of Holocaust museums throughout the world that includes 24 sites in the United States.
• The Holocaust Educational Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization founded by Holocaust survivors, their children and their friends to promote awareness of the Holocaust. The foundation sponsors teacher and faculty training, as well as educational programs for youth. It is based in Skokie, Ill. Contact 847-676-3700, hef3@aol.com.
• The Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research offers a directory of Holocaust education organizations that is searchable by state and country. The group is based in Berlin, Germany. Kathrin Meyer is the executive secretary. Contact info@holocaust-taskforce.org.
• The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., commemorates those who died in the Holocaust and strives to confront bigotry and genocide throughout the world today. The museum’s Web site is described as the leading online authority on the Holocaust. Sara Bloomfield is director. Contact through Andrew Hollinger, media relations director, 202-488-6133, ahollinger@ushmm.org.
• The USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education documents the experiences of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses. It has taped more than 50,000 testimonies and produced films and classroom materials. Its mission is to “overcome prejudice, intolerance and bigotry – and the suffering they cause – through the educational use of the Foundation’s visual histories.” Kim Simon is director of programs and interim executive director of the institute, which is in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California. Contact at 213-740-6001.

NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, ARCHIVES

• The American Jewish Historical Society is in the Center for Jewish History in New York City. It is a collection of American Jewish holdings from the 16^th century to the present. Daniel Kaplan is president. Contact 212-294-6160.
• The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives is the repository for more than 10 million pages documenting American Jewish history. The Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion houses the collection. Gary P. Zola is executive director. Contact 513-221-1875 ext. 3303, gzola@huc.edu.
• Links to a number of other institutions with American Jewish history collections are posted on the Web site of the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History.

STATE, REGIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

• The Arizona Jewish Historical Society is in Phoenix. Lawrence Bell is executive director. Contact 602-241-7870.
• The Indiana Jewish Historical Society is in Fort Wayne. Trent D. Pendley is president. Contact 260-459-6862.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware in Wilmington chronicles the lives of that state’s Jews. Contact 302-655-6232.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington is in Washington, D.C. Laura Cohen Apelbaum is executive director. Contact laura@jhsgw.org
• The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan is in West Bloomfield. Ellen Cole is co-president. Contact 248-432-5517.
• The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina is in Charleston. Contact 843-953-3918.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Southern California chronicles the history and experience of Jewish life in and around Los Angeles and San Diego. Contact 323-761-8950.
• The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest focuses on the history of Jews in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Katherine Tane is executive director. Contact 952-381-3363, ktane@jhsum.org.
• The New Mexico Jewish Historical Society is in the Albuquerque Jewish Community Center. Contact 505-348-4471.
• The Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society is part of the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver. It chronicles the history of Jews in the American West. Jeanne Abrams is director. Contact 303-871-3016, jabrams@du.edu.
• The Southern Jewish Historical Society is in Atlanta and details the life of Jews in the American South. Scott Langston is president. Contact via Catherine Kahn, info@jewishsouth.org.
• The Texas Jewish Historical Society is in Austin. Contact through the Web site.
• The Washington State Jewish Historical Society is in Seattle. Contact 206-774-2277.

GENEALOGY

• The Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute offers reference works, databases and workshops for researching family histories. The institute is in the Center for Jewish History in New York City. Contact 212-294-8318, gi@cjh.org.
• The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies provides links to dozens of U.S. genealogical groups. It also posts a list of primary contact people for many of the groups, along with their phone numbers and email addresses. Anne Feder Lee of Honolulu is president of the international group. Contact president@iajgs.org.
• JewishGen: The Home of Jewish Genealogy is a comprehensive Web site affiliated with the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City. JewishGen provides links to numerous resources, including a database of 400,000 surnames and towns, a Family Tree of the Jewish People that has nearly 4 million listings, and some local genealogical societies. Warren Blatt is managing director of the nonprofit site, which is run mainly by volunteers. Contact 646-437-4326.
• The blog Tracing the Tribe focuses on Jewish genealogy and was named one of the best Web sites for 2008 by Family Tree Magazine. Schelly Talalay Dardashti runs the blog. Contact tribeblog@jta.org.

Organizations, institutions

CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY

• The American Jewish Committee is a multipronged nonprofit that works to battle anti-Semitism, advocate for Israel, strengthen Jewish life and promote pluralism and democracy. It maintains a list of experts and a number of chapters throughout the United States. David A. Harris is executive director. Contact via Kenneth Bandler, 212-891-6771, bandlerk@ajc.org,or Michael Geller, 212-891-1385, gellerm@ajc.org.
• The Anti-Defamation League promotes and protects civil and human rights and religious freedom for all peoples and battles anti-Semitism. It also advocates for Israel. ADL’s Web site includes links to the regional offices. Abraham Foxman is the organization’s national director. Contact through the Web site.
• B’nai B’rith International is a humanitarian, human rights and advocacy group in existence since 1843. Its Center for Human Rights and Public Policy fights anti-Semitism worldwide and speaks out on domestic and international policy matters of concern to Jews. B’nai B’rith’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Links to regional and local branches in the U.S. are posted on the Web site. The president is Moishe Smith, a Canadian and the first non-U.S. citizen to hold the title. Contact 202-857-6553, president@bnaibrith.org.
• The Jewish Defense League fights genocide, defamation and anti-Semitism. It considers itself the most controversial of pro-Israel Jewish organizations and defends the actions of Dr. Baruch Goldstein and Rabbi Meir Kahane. It is based in Los Angeles. Contact 818-980-8535.
• Jewish Women International advocates for the rights of women and children, including victims of abuse, in the Jewish community. It has offices and chapters around the United States. Loribeth Weinstein is executive director. Contact 202-857-1380, lweinstein@jwi.org.
• Jewish World Watch fights genocide and other human rights violations through education, advocacy and refugee services. It’s based in Encino, Calif. Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis is founder and chairman. Contact 818-501-1836 or email through the Web site.
• Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa is a human rights advocacy organization that works on behalf of Jewish refugees from those areas. It is based in San Francisco, with branches in Boston and Seattle. Gina Waldman is chairperson. Contact 415-683-7803.
• The Jewish Federation of North America is an umbrella association for 155 Jewish federations and 400 independent Jewish communities in the U.S. It works for social justice and human rights. Its Web site includes a directory of member federations in North America.

DISABILITY ADVOCACY

• Empowering Jews With Disabilities works to give a voice to Jews with disabilities. It was founded by Marlee Kivens, who has spina bifida. It is based in Minnetonka, Minn. Contact kiven002@yahoo.com.
• Yachad: The National Jewish Council for Disabilities works on behalf of individuals who have disabilities. It has chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman is national director. Contact 212-613-8224, lichtmanj@ou.org.
• Yad HaChazakah: The Jewish Disability Empowerment Center helps Jews with visible and invisible disabilities stay engaged with their families and communities. The center, which is in New York City, offers coaching, mentoring and advocacy. Sharon Shapiro is director. Contact 212-284-6936, yad.hachazakah@gmail.com.

EDUCATIONAL

• The Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education is a transdenominational organization for Jewish educators in North America. Jeffrey Lasday is executive director. Contact 212-268-4210, jlasday@caje.org.
• The Holocaust Educational Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization founded by Holocaust survivors, their children and their friends to promote awareness of the Holocaust. It sponsors teacher and faculty training, as well as educational programs for youth. It is based in Skokie, Ill. Contact 847-676-3700, hef3@aol.com.
• The Jewish Community Day School Network works to advance and support Jewish day school education and educators. It encompasses 120 schools with 30,000 students and maintains a map and directory of member schools. Susan Weintrob is president. Contact 212-665-1320, info@ravsak.org.
• The Jewish Educators Assembly represents teachers and administrators in the Conservative movement. Edward Edelstein is executive director. Contact 516-569-2537, jewisheducators@aol.com.
• The National Association of Temple Educators works on behalf of Reform Jewish religious education. Rabbi Stanley Schickler is executive director. Contact 212-452-6510, nateoff@aol.com.
• The Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education works to enhance Jewish day school education in North America. The partnership posts an extensive list of organizations also dedicated to that cause. Rabbi Joshua Elkin is executive director. Contact 617-367-0001 or email through the Web site.
• The Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools includes professional educators and lay leaders. It promotes excellence in Reform Jewish day school education. Nancy Pryzant Picus is president. Contact 713-988-5343, npicus@shlenker.org.
• Torah Umesorah, the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools, is an Orthodox organization. Rabbi Dovid Nojowitz is national director. Contact 212-227-1000 ext. 4521, umesorah@aol.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL

• ADAMAH: The Jewish Environmental Fellowship is a three-month program for young Jews that focuses on the care and preservation of the environment through organic farming and contemplative spiritual practices. It is a program of the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. Contact Shamu Sadeh, 860-824-3003, shamu@isabellafreedman.org.
• Canfei Nesharim works to educate the Orthodox community about preserving the environment. Evonne Marzouk is the organization’s founder. Contact evonne@canfeinesharim.org.
• The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life calls itself the leading Jewish environmental organization in the U.S. Many of its programs fight climate change and work to protect and restore the environment. Rabbi Steve Gutow is executive director. Contact 212-532-7436.
• Hazon works to promote a more environmentally friendly Jewish community in New York City. It sponsors environmental bike rides, hikes and food programs. Nigel Savage is executive director. Contact 212-664-2332, Nigel@hazon.org.
• The Shalom Center focuses on planetary ecological dangers from its offices in Philadelphia. It is associated with the Jewish Renewal movement, and Rabbi Arthur Waskow is director. Contact 215-844-8494, awaskow@shalomctr.org.
• Teva Learning Center is a Jewish environmental education institute. It is nondenominational and provides educational service for participants from Jewish day schools, congregational schools, synagogues, camps and youth groups. Contact 212-807-6376.

HUMANITARIAN

• American Jewish World Service is an international organization that works to alleviate poverty, hunger and suffering throughout the developing world. Ruth Messinger is president. Contact via her executive assistant, Joanna Kabat, 212-792-2874, jkabat@ajws.org.
• B’nai B’rith International is a humanitarian, human rights and advocacy group in existence since 1843. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Links to regional and local branches in the U.S. are posted on the Web site. The president is Moishe Smith, a Canadian and the first non-U.S. citizen to hold the title. Contact 202-857-6553, president@bnaibrith.org.
• The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society has worked since 1881 to provide rescue, resettlement and reunion services to Jews in need throughout the world and to other oppressed migrants. Its headquarters are in New York City. Gideon Aronoff is president and CEO. Contact through the communications office at 212-613-1350, roberta.elliott@hias.org.
• The Jewish Coalition for Service promotes volunteerism among Jews as a fulfillment of tikkun olam, the Jewish concept of “repairing the world.” Whitney Blom is executive director. Contact 212-870-2450, whitney@jewishservice.org.
• The Jewish Federation of North America is an umbrella association for 155 Jewish federations and 300 independent Jewish communities in the U.S. It works for social justice and human rights. Its Web site includes a directory of member federations in North America.

INTERFAITH RELATIONS

• The American Jewish Committee is a multipronged nonprofit with a long history of promoting pluralism and interreligious understanding. The organization maintains a list of experts and a number of chapters throughout the United States. David A. Harris is executive director. Contact via Kenneth Bandler, 212-891-6771, bandlerk@ajc.org,or Michael Geller, 212-891-1385, gellerm@ajc.org.
• Children of Abraham is a nonprofit that promotes relationships between Jewish and Muslim teenagers via the Internet. Ari Alexander and Gul Rukh Rahman are co-executive directors. Contact 212-375-2620, ari@childrenofabraham.org or gul@childrenofabraham.org.
• The Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations is an association of institutes that work to foster mutual understanding between Jews and Christians. Members are listed on its Web site. Elena Procario Foley chairs the council’s board. Contact EProcariofoley@iona.edu.
• The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is observing the 25^th anniversary of its founding by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who serves as president. Contact through communications director Michael Stoltz, 312-641-8688, michael.stoltz@ifcj.org.
• The National Council of Synagogues includes representatives from the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The council meets with other major faith groups, such as the National Council of Churches, to discuss issues and concerns. Rabbi Gilbert S. Rosenthal is the NCS executive director. Contact through the Rabbinical Assembly, 212-280-6000.

ISRAEL / PALESTINE

• Ameinu is a pro-Israel, Zionist organization based in New York City. It describes itself as progressive. Kenneth Bob is president. It maintains a list of chapters throughout the U.S. Contact 212-366-1194.
• The American Israel Public Affairs Committee was named by The New York Times as the most powerful pro-Israel advocacy group. AIPAC claims 100,000 members and is based in Washington, D.C. Josh Block is the official spokesman. Contact 202-997-4614 (cell), jblock@aipac.org. Members of the press can also contact AIPAC via press@aipac.org.
• The Association of Reform Zionists of America speaks on behalf of Israel for the Reform movement. Rabbi Robert J. Orkand is president. Contact president@arza.org.
• Brit Tzedek v’Shalom (Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace) is a group of American Jews dedicated to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Steve Masters is president. It is based in Chicago and maintains a list of chapters throughout the U.S. Contact 312-341-1205.
• The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is an umbrella association of 51 Jewish organizations that fosters support for Israel among politicians, Jews and the broader community. It is based in New York City. Contact 212-318-6111.
• The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership describes itself as an educational nonprofit that focuses on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Founder Charles Jacobs, who recently left the center, was named one of the 50 most influential Jews by Forward in 2008. The center is based in Boston and has offices in New York and Israel. Anna Kolodner is executive director. Contact 617-428-0012.
• Encounter introduces emerging Jewish leaders to the issues of Palestine and its people. Rabbi Melissa Weintraub is its North American co-director. Contact 212-284-6776, melissa@encounterprograms.org.
• Hadassah is a volunteer women’s organization that works to strengthen Jewish identity by fostering ties to Israel. It maintains several regional offices. Among its programs is Young Judaea, which tries to build ties between young American Jews and Israel. Contact Ariav Amittay in public affairs, 212-303-8155, aamittay@hadassah.org.
• The Israel on Campus Coalition advocates for Israel on college campuses, monitoring for anti-Israel bias in media and in classes. David A. Harris is executive director. Contact via Web site form.
• The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is an umbrella organization that works to protect the rights of Jews everywhere and to advocate for Israel. It is based in New York City with offices in Washington, D.C. Contact 212-684-6950.
• Mercaz USA is the Zionist arm of the Conservative movement. It advocates for Israel and works to build ties between the Jewish diaspora and Israel. Stephen Wolnek is president. It is based in New York City. Contact 212-533-7800 ext. 2016.
• Neturei Karta is an anti-Zionist organization that opposes the existence of the state of Israel because its members believe that a sovereign Israel is contrary to Jewish law. Rabbi Dovid Weiss is associate director and is based in Monsey, N.Y. Contact via Web site form.
• StandWithUs is a pro-Israel advocacy group founded by Roz Rothstein, named one of the 50 most influential Jews by Forward in 2008. The organization maintains chapters by region as well as a youth branch, StandWithUs Campus, with several regional offices. Contact 310-836-6140, info@standwithus.org.

LGBT

• The Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation is a program of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion that works to educate students – the next generation of Jewish leadership – about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and how to include them in organized Judaism. It maintains a list of synagogues that welcome and affirm LGBT people. The institute is in Los Angeles, and Joel Kushner is director. Contact jkushner@huc.edu.
• Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity is based in Denver and works with Jewish congregations of all branches to welcome LGBT people. Its links page connects to LGBT groups, including local welcoming and affirming congregations, books, blogs and advocacy groups. Gregg Drinkwater is executive director. Contact via the Web site.
• Orthodykes is a support and advocacy organization for lesbian Orthodox Jews with groups in New York City, Israel and on the Internet. Contact orthodykes@starways.net.
• The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Jews is an umbrella organization of 50 groups around the world that advocate for rights for LGBT people. The membership list includes links to local groups in the U.S. Howard Solomon is president. Contact president@glbtjews.org.

POLITICAL ADVOCACY

• The American Israel Public Affairs Committee was named by The New York Times as the most powerful pro-Israel advocacy group. AIPAC claims 100,000 members and is based in Washington, D.C. Josh Block is the official spokesman. Contact 202-997-4614 (cell), jblock@aipac.org. Members of the press can also contact AIPAC via press@aipac.org.
• The American Jewish Committee is a multipronged nonprofit that works to battle anti-Semitism, advocate for Israel, strengthen Jewish life and promote pluralism and democracy. It maintains a list of experts and a number of chapters throughout the United States. David A. Harris is executive director. Contact via Kenneth Bandler, 212-891-6771, bandlerk@ajc.org,or Michael Geller, 212-891-1385, gellerm@ajc.org.
• The American Jewish Congress works on multiple goals, including advocacy for Israel, women’s empowerment, energy independence, religious freedom and erasing anti-Semitism. Richard Gordon is president. Contact 212-879-4500,president@sjcongress.org.
• B’nai B’rith International is a humanitarian, human rights and advocacy group in existence since 1843. Its Center for Human Rights and Public Policy fights anti-Semitism worldwide and speaks out on domestic and international policy matters of concern to Jews. B’nai B’rith’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Links to regional and local branches in the U.S. are posted on the Web site. The president is Moishe Smith, a Canadian and the first non-U.S. citizen to hold the title. Contact 202-857-6553, president@bnaibrith.org.
• The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is an umbrella association of 51 Jewish organizations that fosters support for Israel among politicians, Jews and the broader community. It is based in New York City. Contact 212-318-6111.
• The Institute for Public Affairs is the part of the Orthodox Union that advocates for public policy of interest to mainstream Orthodox Judaism. It has 1,000 member congregations. Mark Bane is chairman. Contact 212-613-8123 in New York City or 202-513-6484 in Washington, D.C.
• The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the political activism arm of the Union for Reform Judaism. It is active in 60 different issues, from affirmative action to women’s health. Rabbi David Saperstein is director and chief counsel. Contact 202-387-2800.

RELIGIOUS / CULTURAL

• Beta Israel of North America promotes and preserves Ethiopian Jewish history and culture. Beejhy Barhany is director. Contact 212-284-6942, info@binacf.org.
• CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, is a think tank dedicated to training Jewish leaders and enhancing spiritual and civic involvement in American life. Rabbi Irwin Kula is president, and Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard is director of organizational development. Blanchard has written about what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century. Contact Kula at ikula@clal.org or through Ruth Bregman at 212-779-3300 ext. 116. Contact Blanchard at tblanchard@clal.org.
• Edah is an organization of Modern Orthodox Jews who seek greater openness to the world than does traditional Orthodox Judaism. Edah was founded in 1997 and ceased formal operations in 2006, but its Web site continues to post useful contacts and information, including a lengthy list of speakers/experts and a library.
• Footsteps helps members of the most conservative Orthodox and Hasidic communities who wish to leave them make the transition to mainstream Jewish life. Its founder and director is Malkie Schwartz. Contact 212-284-6775, mschwartz@footstepsorg.org.
• The Foundation for Jewish Culture provides grants, awards and other opportunities to individual artists and scholars who it believes will advance Jewish culture and community. Elise M. Bernhardt is the president and CEO. Contact 212-629-0500 ext. 210, ebernhardt@jewishculture.org.
• Gateways is a nonprofit organization that works to fight assimilation by connecting Jews to Jewish life, religion and culture. It is based in Monsey, N.Y. Its founder and director is Rabbi Mordechai Suchard. Contact 845-352-0393 ext. 104.
• The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Miss., works to bring educational and rabbinic services to isolated Jews and Jewish communities in a 12-state Southern region. Macy B. Hart is president. Contact 601-362-6357, hart@isjl.org.
• The Institute for Jewish Spirituality uses Torah study, prayer, mindfulness meditation, yoga and spiritual direction and retreats to nurture deeper spirituality among rabbis, cantors and lay people. It is based in New York City but now has a Northern California branch. Rabbi Rachel Cowan, a Reform rabbi, is its executive director in New York. Contact 212-774-3608, rachel@ijs-online.org. Rabbi Margie Jacobs heads the Northern California branch, in El Cerrito, Calif. Contact 510-528-1836, Margie@ijs-online.org.
• JDub Records is a nonprofit organization that puts together music and cultural events that promote cross-cultural dialogue between Jews and others. Aaron Bisman is president, CEO and co-founder. Contact 212-998-4112, Aaron@jdubrecords.org.
• Jews for Judaism is an international organization that aims to help Jews strengthen their heritage and counter attempts to convert Jews to other religions. It has branches in several cities, including Baltimore and Los Angeles. Contact the appropriate center via the contact information on the Web site.
• Limmud NY works to promote Jewish learning and cultural celebration through an annual weekend of events in New York City. Ruthie Warshenbrot is its director. Contact 212-284-6968.
• Mechon Hadar works to revitalize community, prayer and study among young Jews. Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is director. Contact 212-284-6913, info@mechonhadar.org.
• The Milken Archive of American Jewish Music takes as its mission to record and document 350 years of American Jewish music, both religious and secular. Neil Levin is the artistic director. The archive has offices in New York City and Santa Monica, Calif. Contact 310-570-4800 (California) or 212-222-6487 (New York).
• The National Havurah Committee is an umbrella organization for havurot, Jewish circles of fellowship, study and prayer. It helps Jews of all denominations and no denomination establish havurot in their areas. It is based in Philadelphia. Contact 215-248-1335.
• Reboot is a nonprofit organization that seeks to “reboot” Jewish traditions, particularly for young people, through salons across the country, journals, books and films. It is based in New York City. Contact 212-931-0100.
• ReclaimingJudaism.org offers seminars and Web-based resources on the application of Jewish spiritual practice for spiritual seekers and teachers. Rabbi Goldie Milgram is its founder and executive director. She is the author of Reclaiming Judaism as a Spiritual Practice: Holy Days and Shabbat. Contact rebgoldiem@aol.com.
• Synagogue 3000 is an organization that both supports and studies Jewish synagogues of all denominations. It maintains a partial directory of independent minyanim and havurot. To find more of these communities, Google “independent” and “minyan” or “havurah” and your area. Ron Wolfson is its president. Contact 212-824-2277.

WOMEN’S

• Hadassah is a volunteer women’s organization that works to strengthen Jewish identity by fostering ties to Israel. It has programs focused on health, youth, the environment and education. It maintains several regional offices. Among its programs is Young Judaea, which tries to build ties between young American Jews and Israel. Contact Ariav Amittay in public affairs, 212-303-8155, aamittay@hadassah.org.
• Jewish Women International advocates for the rights of women and children, including victims of abuse, in the Jewish community. It has offices and chapters around the United States. Loribeth Weinstein is executive director. Contact 202-857-1380, lweinstein@jwi.org.
• The Jewish Women’s Archive works to chronicle the history of Jewish-American women. It is based in Brookline, Mass. It maintains on online archive, a blog and education guides and produces documentary films. Gail Twersky Reimer is executive director. Contact 617-232-2258.
• The National Council of Jewish Women is a faith-based nonprofit that works for women’s rights, reproductive freedom and child welfare through offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Israel. Nancy Ratzan is president. Contact 212-645-4048.
• Women of Reform Judaism represents more than 75,000 women in the Reform branch of Judaism, providing leadership training to its members as well as financial help for rabbinical students, youth programs and special projects. Its offices are in New York City. Shelley Lindauer is executive director. Contact 212-650-4050, slindauer@urj.org.
• The Women’s League for Conservative Judaism is the national organization of women members of Conservative synagogues. Its goals are to provide a voice for women in the Conservative movement and to strengthen the Jewish identities of its membership. Cory Schneider is president. Contact 212-870-1260, cschneider@wlcj.org.

YOUTH

• The B’nai B’rith Youth Organization is an independent Jewish youth group for high school teenagers. It is no longer associated with B’nai B’rith, from which it split in 2002. Its focus is on developing future Jewish leaders and strengthening the Jewish identity of young Jews. It maintains a directory of chapters throughout North America. Matthew Grossman is executive director. Contact 202-857-6580, mgrossman@bbyo.org.
• The Foundation for Jewish Camp promotes the experience of overnight summer camp among young Jews as a means of building Jewish community and identity. It maintains a directory of Jewish camps across North America. Gerrald Silverman is president. Contact 646-278-4500, jerry@jewishcamping.org.
• Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life engages young Jewish students in Jewish life, culture and religion during their college careers. It maintains a state-by-state directory of regional and local Hillel centers. Wayne Firestone is president. Contact 202-449-6560, wfirestone@hillel.org.
• KOACH College Outreach is a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism that works to keep Jewish college students connected to their faith and culture while on campus. It maintains a list of colleges with a KOACH presence. Contact Rabbi Elyse Winick, associate director, 617- 244-5221, winick@uscj.org.
• The National Conference of Synagogue Youth is an organization of the Orthodox Union that focuses on connecting young Jews with their Jewish heritage, culture and religion. It has branches in 15 U.S. cities. Rabbi Steven Burg is the international director. Contact 212-613-8233, burg@ou.org.
• The National Ramah Commission oversees the network of Ramah camps around the world. Ramah camps are a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The commission maintains a list of U.S. Ramah camps. Contact 212-678-8881.
• The North American Federation of Temple Youth is a youth organization within the Union for Reform Judaism whose goal is to strengthen the identity of Reform Jewish youth and increase their synagogue participation. Contact Mellen at 212-650-4074, mmellen@urj.org.
• Sigma Alpha Rho is an independent Jewish high school fraternity with chapters throughout the Northeast and Canada. It maintains a directory of chapters. Its top officer is Matt Bagell. Contact 609-330-6508, ser@sarfraternity.org.
• United Synagogue Youth is a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism that works to instill in Jewish youth a sense of Jewish ethics and values and a sense of Zionism. It maintains a regional directory. Jules Gutin is director. Contact 212-533-7800 ext. 2300, gutin@uscj.org.
• Young Judaea is a youth program run by Hadassah with programs to strengthen identity and experience in young Jews. Among its programs are summer camps and trips to Israel. Zach Goldstein is its top officer. Contact 212-303-8014, zgolden2@yahoo.com.

OTHER

• Bikkurim: An Incubator for New Jewish Ideas is an entrepreneurial organization that supports, develops and promotes new ideas in the Jewish community in North America. It has provided seed money and support to a range of groups, including those that encourage Jewish stewardship of the environment, promote Jewish heritage, produce Jewish music and engage in cross-cultural dialogue. Nina Bruder is executive director. Contact 212-284-6892, nbruder@bikkurim.org.
• The Center for Cultural Judaism is an organization of secular and nonreligious Jews who identify themselves as Jews through the Jewish culture. Contact Myrna Baron, executive director, 212-564-6711, myrna@culturaljudaism.org.
• The Jewish Peace Fellowship is a nondenominational Jewish organization in Nyack, N.Y., that works to be a voice of peace drawn from Jewish resources, like the Torah and the Talmud. It was begun in 1941 to defend the rights of conscientious objectors. Contact 845-358-4601 ext. 35.
• The Society for Humanistic Judaism celebrates Jewish culture while promoting humanistic, nontheistic values. The Web site provides links to member congregations and communities throughout the country. Bonnie Cousens is executive director of the group, which is based in Farmington Hills, Mich. Contact 248-478-7610.

Selected Jewish media

• Commentary Magazine is a monthly neo-conservative magazine that focuses on politics and current events. John Podhoretz is editorial director. Contact 212-891-1394.
• Heeb calls itself “a take-no-prisoners zine for the plugged-in and preached-out.” Launched in 2001, the magazine covers politics, arts and culture and is marketed to young Jewish sophisticates. Joshua Neuman is editor and publisher. Contact josh@heebmagazine.com.
• Jewish Action is a print and online magazine of the Orthodox Union. Nechama Carmel is the editor. Contact 212-613-8146.
• The Jewish Daily Forward, commonly called The Forward, is the largest Jewish newspaper in the United States. It is no longer a daily but now appears weekly. Jane Eisner is editor. Contact 212-889-8200.
• The Jewish Week is a newspaper with five regional editions that cover the Jewish community in the New York City area and around the world. Gary Rosenblatt is editor and publisher. Contact 212-921-7822 ext. 215, gary@jewishweek.org.
• Lilith Magazine is a Jewish feminist magazine that covers politics, religion, art and culture. Susan Weidman Schneider is editor in chief and one of the founders of the publication. Contact 212-757-0818, susanws@lilith.org.
• Moment magazine focuses on Jewish life and culture in America. Contact editor@momentmag.com.
• Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility is a monthly magazine that contains essays about a central issue in Judaism, such as rituals, family life and Israel. It was founded by Eugene Borowitz and is edited by Susan Berrin. Contact sberrin@jflmedia.com.
• Tikkun is a bimonthly magazine that covers politics, culture and society. It is published in Berkeley, Calif., with a progressive Jewish sensibility and is edited by Rabbi Michael Lerner. It maintains a network of Tikkun communities throughout the U.S. that are geared toward progressive social action. Contact 510-644-1200, rabbilerner@tikkun.com.
• Zeek: A Jewish Journal of Thought and Culture is a print and online magazine that “represents, defines and creates New Jewish Culture … [and] builds a bridge between religious and secular, connects Israeli creativity with the diaspora, and helps to create a vital, inclusive Judaism for the 21st century.” Jo Ellen Green Kaiser is editor in chief. The magazine is based in New York City. Contact 212-666-1404, zeek@zeek.net.

National sources

Academics and scholars

AMERICAN JEWS AND JUDAISM

• Steven M. Cohen is a research professor at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and a senior consultant to Synagogue 3000. He is one of the authors of the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study and can discuss its findings on independent minyanim and havurot. Contact 212-824-2277, steven@synagogue3000.org.
• Ari Goldman is a journalism professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York City. He is a former religion reporter for The New York Times and is the author of several books on Jews and Judaism, including Being Jewish: The Spiritual and Cultural Practice of Judaism Today and Living a Year of Kaddish. He can discuss major issues in Judaism, both in the U.S. and in Israel, where he is a frequent visitor, and the practice of Judaism. Contact alg18@columbia.edu.
• Gregg Ivers is a professor in the school of public affairs at American University in Washington, D.C. He is an expert on constitutional law and is the author of To Build a Wall: American Jews and the Separation of Church and State. Contact 202-885-2976, ivers@american.edu.
• Rebecca Kobrin is an assistant professor of history at Columbia University in New York City. She specializes in the history of American Judaism and is at work on a book about Jewish migration to North America. Contact 212-854-9017, rk2351@columbia.edu.
• J. Shawn Landres is director of research at Synagogue 3000 and a visiting research associate at UCLA’s Center for Jewish Studies. He is one of the authors of the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study and can discuss its findings on independent minyanim and havurot. Contact 310-553-7930.
• Jacob Neusner is a professor of the history and theology of Judaism at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., and one of the leading scholars of Judaism in America. Contact 845-758-7389.
• Stuart Rockoff is director of the history department at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Miss. He is an expert on this history of Southern Jews. Contact 601-362-6357, rockoff@isjl.org.
• Jonathan Sarna is a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and the author of American Judaism: A History. He served as a consultant to the PBS series The Jewish Americans. He says a major challenge facing Jews is the changing nature of Jewish peoplehood because of conversion, adoptions and intermarriage. Jews are more diverse than ever, he says, which means they do not all share the unifying trait of a common past. Contact 781-736-2977, sarna@brandeis.edu.
• Beth Wenger is an associate professor of American Jewish history at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Jewish Americans: Three Centuries of Jewish Voices in America (2007). Contact 898-5702, bwenger@sas.upenn.edu.

BRANCHES OF JUDAISM

• Samuel Freedman is a journalism professor at Columbia University whose books include Jew vs. Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry. He can comment about rifts between different Jewish groups and denominations. Contact 212-854-1829, sgf1@columbia.edu.
• Samuel C. Heilman is a sociologist at the City University of New York in New York City. He is the author of Sliding to the Right: The Contest for the Future of American Jewish Orthodoxy (2006), which argues that the more conservative segments of the Orthodox are gaining the upper hand over the Modern Orthodox. He is also co-editor of the annual periodical Contemporary Jewry, produced by the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry. Contact 718-997-2832 or 212-817-8772, heilman@qc.edu.
• Allan L. Nadler is director of Jewish studies at Drew University in New Jersey. He was trained as an Orthodox rabbi but is now unaffiliated and writes and comments extensively on Orthodox Jewish life. Contact 973-408-3941, anadler@drew.edu.
• Jack Wertheimer is the Joseph and Martha Mendelson Professor of American Jewish History and the director of the Joseph and Miriam Ratner Center for the Study of Conservative Judaism at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Wertheimer is one of the country’s foremost experts on contemporary Jewish history and demographics. Contact 212-678-8869, jawertheimer@jtsa.edu.

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIFE AND HISTORY

• Sylvia Barack Fishman is a professor of contemporary Jewish life at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and co-director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, which focuses on women in contemporary Judaism. She is the author of numerous books, including Jewish Life and American Culture (SUNY Series in American Jewish Society in the 1990s) and The Way Into the Varieties of Jewishness (2008). She is also an expert on Jewish identity, marriage and conversion. Contact 781-736-2065, fishman@brandeis.edu.
• Jay Geller is an assistant professor of modern Jewish culture and religious studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where he teaches courses in Jewish identity. Contact 615-343-3968, jay.geller@vanderbilt.edu.
• Jeffrey S. Gurock is a professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University in New York City. He has written several books on American Jewish history and is an expert on American Jews who served in World War II. Contact 212-960-5251, gurock@yu.edu.
• Susannah Heschel is a professor of Jewish studies at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. She teaches courses in contemporary Jewish life and history and is also an expert on the Holocaust and on Jewish feminism. Contact 603-646-0475 (Jewish studies department), susannah.heschel@dartmouth.edu.
• Eugene Sheppard is an associate professor of modern Jewish history and thought at Brandeis University in Boston and associate director of the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry. He is an expert on the influence of European Jewish refugees on public life and academia in the U.S. Contact 781-736-2965, Sheppard@brandeis.edu.
• Steven J. Zipperstein is a professor in Jewish culture and history at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. He is co-editor of a series of books titled Jewish Lives from Yale University Press. His research areas include modern Jewish history, and he teaches a course on Jews in the modern world. Contact 650-725-5660, steven.zipperstein@stanford.edu.

CONVERSION AND CHANGE OF FAITH

• Sylvia Barack Fishman is a professor of contemporary Jewish life at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and co-director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, which focuses on women in contemporary Judaism. She is the author of numerous books, including Jewish Life and American Culture (SUNY Series in American Jewish Society in the 1990s) and The Way Into the Varieties of Jewishness (2008). She is also an expert on Jewish identity, marriage and conversion. Contact 781-736-2065, fishman@brandeis.edu.
• Lynn Davidman is a professor of modern Jewish studies at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. She is an expert on those who leave Hasidic Judaism, both in the U.S. and in Israel. Contact 785-864-7255, lynndavidman@ku.edu.
• Louis Feldman is a professor of classics and literature at Yeshiva University in New York City. He is an expert on conversion to Judaism and can discuss conversion from a historical perspective. Contact lfeldman@yu.edu.

EDUCATION

• Sharon Feiman-Nemser is a professor of Jewish education at Brandeis University and director of the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education. She says Jews need to find ways to help unaffiliated and disaffected Jews discover meaning in the faith. A major challenge, she says, will be to ascertain ways to make this ancient faith relevant to contemporary, post-modern Jews and give them good reasons to affiliate, study and identify with Judaism. Contact 781-736-2946, snemser@brandeis.edu.
• Robert Wexler is president of the American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism and the Brandeis-Bardin Institute) in Los Angeles. Under his presidency, AJU has grown to 10,000 students. Contact via Iris Waskow, director of communications, 310-440-1529, rwexler@ajula.edu.

ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHY

• Kenneth Brander is a rabbi and a professor at Yeshiva University in New York City. He is an expert on Jewish thinking and end-of-life issues, cloning and stem-cell research. Contact brander@yu.edu.
• Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus is a professor of religion at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. He can discuss Jewish approaches to the treatment and rights of animals. Contact 508-286-3694, jkraus@wheatoncollege.edu.
• Reuven Kimelman is a professor of classic rabbinic literature at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., where he is an expert on contemporary Jewish life and ethics and the moral meaning of the Jewish Bible. He says a major challenge facing Jews today is finding a cogent Jewish voice on contemporary moral issues. Contact 781-736-2963, kimelman@brandeis.edu.
• Aaron Levine is an economics professor at Yeshiva University in New York City. Among his areas of expertise is Jewish business ethics. Contact alevine@yu.edu.
• Peter Ochs is a professor of modern Judaic studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He is an expert on Jewish philosophy and theology, the history of Jewish thought and Jewish ethics. Among the courses he teaches is one on Jewish theology after the Holocaust and another on belief and ethics after the Holocaust. He says Jews must recover their pride in what Judaism has to offer the world. Only then, he says, can they recover from a sense of victimhood, regain a sense of self-sufficiency and power and reinvigorate Judaism with hope and generosity. Contact 434-924-6718, pochs@virginia.edu.
• David Shatz is an adjunct professor of religion at Columbia University in New York City. He is also the editor of Torah u-Madda, a journal about the interaction between Judaism and the broader culture. Contact 212-851-4127, dcs3@columbia.edu.

GENEALOGY

• Samuel Freedman is a journalism professor at Columbia University. His books include Who She Was: My Search for My Mother’s Life, praised for its illumination of Jewish immigrant life in the mid-20^th century. Freedman was among the speakers at the International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in 2006. Contact 212-854-1829, sgf1@columbia.edu.
• Arthur Kurzweil is an author, editor and publisher who helped start the first Jewish Genealogical Society. His books include the classic From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History. Contact arthur.kurzweil@verizon.net.
• Gary Mokotoff is an award-winning author and leader in the field of Jewish genealogy. His books include the acclaimed Avotaynu Guide to Jewish Genealogy (co-editor) and Where Once We Walked: A Guide to the Jewish Communities Destroyed in the Holocaust (co-author). His Web site includes links to other important genealogical sites. Contact GaryMokotoff@avotaynu.com.
• Michael Stanislawski is the Nathan J. Miller Professor of Jewish History at Columbia University in New York City. He was a featured speaker at this year’s International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. Contact 212-854-2482, mfs3@columbia.edu.

HOLOCAUST

• Richard Breitman is a history professor at American University in Washington, D.C., where he specializes in the history of Germany and the Holocaust. He is editor of the journal Holocaust and Genocide Studies, published by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.Contact 202-885-2386, rbreit@american.edu.
• Debórah Dwork is a professor of Holocaust history and director of the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. She is an expert on Auschwitz and other concentration camps and on children of the Holocaust. Contact 508-793-8897.
• Saul Friedlander is a history professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction for his book The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1939-1945. Contact 310-825-3678, friedlan@history.ucla.edu.
• Susannah Heschel is a professor of Jewish studies at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. She teaches courses in contemporary Jewish life and history and is also an expert on the Holocaust and on Jewish feminism. Contact 603-646-0475 (Jewish studies department), susannah.heschel@dartmouth.edu.
• Steven T. Katz is a religion professor at Boston University, where he teaches a course on the Holocaust. He edited The Impact of the Holocaust on Jewish Theology and Wrestling With God: Jewish Theological Responses During and After the Holocaust (2007). He has served as chair of the academic committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and is the chair of the Holocaust commission of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. He is an American representative to the European Union’s International Task Force on the Holocaust. Contact 617-353-8096.
• Deborah Lipstadt is a professor of modern Jewish history and Holocaust studies at the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. She is the author of History on Trial: My Day in Court With David Irving, about her experience of being sued for libel by Irving for calling him a Holocaust denier. She won the case, considered groundbreaking among Holocaust scholars. She is also a consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Contact 404-727-2298, dlipsta@emory.edu.
• Daniel Shwarz is a professor of English literature at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He is the author of Imagining the Holocaust, which examined the problem of teaching about the Holocaust once the eyewitnesses are dead. Contact 607-255-9313, drs6@cornell.edu.
• Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor who teaches in the philosophy and religion departments at Boston University. The 1986 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is also a prolific author whose books include his Holocaust memoir, Night, and several other volumes about that period. Contact 617-353-4561, wiesel@bu.edu.

ISRAEL AND THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

• Herbert Druks is a professor in the Judaic studies department at Brooklyn College in New York. He is an expert on the relationship between Israel and the United States and is the author of The Uncertain Friendship: The U.S. and Israel From Roosevelt to Kennedy and The Uncertain Alliance: The U.S. and Israel From Kennedy to the Peace Process. Contact 718-951-3992, hdruks@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
• Robert O. Freedman is a professor of political science at Baltimore Hebrew University. He is an expert on Israel’s history and relations with other countries, especially the U.S., the former Soviet Union and the Palestinian people. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency on matters about Israel. He says a major issue Jews face today is the conflict between Orthodox Judaism and the rest of the American Jewish community. Contact 410-578-6906, rfreedman@bhu.edu.
• Calvin Goldscheider is a professor of Judaic studies at Brown University in Providence, R.I. He is also a scholar-in-residence at the Center for Israel Studies at American University in Washington, D.C. He is the author of many books, including Cultures in Conflict: The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Studying the Jewish Future. Contact 401-863-3192, calvin_goldscheider@brown.edu.
• Kenneth Stein is a professor of contemporary Middle Eastern and Israeli studies at the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. He is one of the foremost authorities on the history of modern Israel and has written numerous books on the subject, including one in collaboration with former President Jimmy Carter. Contact 404-727-4472, kstein@emory.edu.
• Ilan Troen is a professor of Judaic studies at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. He is the founding editor of the journal Israel Studies, published three times a year, and has written 10 books on American, Jewish and Israeli history. Contact 781-736-6220, troen@brandeis.edu.

JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS

• Yaakov Ariel is a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author of Evangelizing the Chosen People: Missions to the Jews in America, 1880-2000, and teaches several courses on contemporary Judaism. Contact 919-962-5666 (department).
• David Berger is a professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University in New York City and dean of its Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. His areas of expertise include Jewish-Christian relations. Contact 212-960-5253, dberger@yu.edu.

JEWISH LAW

• Michael Berger is an associate professor at the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. Among his areas of expertise are the development of Jewish law and Jewish ethics and the relationship between Judaism and violence. Contact 404-727-6258, mberg02@emory.edu.
• J. David Bleich is a professor of Jewish law and ethics at Yeshiva University in New York City. He is an expert on Jewish law and bioethics and how Jewish law applies to contemporary issues. He is also conversant in how Jewish law intersects with the American legal system. Contact bleich@yu.edu.
• Michael Broyde is a professor at the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, where he is also the academic director of the university’s law and religion program. He has written about Jewish considerations on marriage, divorce and cloning. Contact 404-727-7546, Michael.broyde@emory.edu.
• Suzanne Stone is a law professor and director of the Center for Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization at Yeshiva University in New York City. Contact 212-790-0332, sstone@yu.edu.

JEWISH MUSEUMS

• Ellen Smith is a lecturer in Near Eastern and Judaic studies at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. She is also principal of Museumsmith, a firm that helps museums with exhibitions and historic site interpretations. She has helped mount numerous exhibits on Jewish culture throughout the country. Contact 781-736-2998, esmith2@brandeis.edu.

JEWISH MUSIC

• Judah M. Cohen is a professor of Jewish culture and an assistant professor of folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University. He is the author of the forthcoming The Making of a Reform Jewish Cantor: Musical Authority, Cultural Investment (expected 2009). He was a fellow at New York University’s Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, where he studied the “new” Jewish music and culture scene, including Jews and hip-hop and rap. Contact 812-855-0141, cohenjm@indiana.edu.
• Marsha Bryan Edelman is a professor of music and education at Gratz College in Melrose Park, Pa. She is the author of Discovering Jewish Music. Contact 215-635-7300 ext. 138, medelman@gratz.edu.
• Josh Kun is an associate professor of journalism and communication at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he directs the Popular Music Project at the Norman Lear Center. He is a co-founder of the nonprofit record label Reboot Stereophonic, dedicated to Jewish-American music. He is co-author of And You Shall Know Us by the Trail of Our Vinyl: The Jewish Past as Told by the Records We Have Loved and Lost. Contact jkun@usc.edu.
• Neil Levin is the artistic director of the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music in Santa Monica, Calif. Contact 310-570-4800.

JEWISH-MUSLIM RELATIONS

• Mehnaz Afridi, an independent Muslim scholar based in Southern California, is a frequent speaker on the subject of Muslim-Jewish relations. Contact Mafridi@hotmail.com.
• Rabbi Reuven Firestone is a professor of medieval Jewish and Islamic studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous books on Jewish-Muslim relations, including An Introduction to Islam for Jews (2008) and Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims. Contact rfirestone@huc.edu.
• Eboo Patel is the founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit that focuses on building an interfaith youth movement. He is Muslim and was a speaker at a Hebrew College event titled “The Future of Jewish-Muslim Relations: A Dialogue.” Contact 312-573-8825.
• Rabbi Or Rose is an associate dean of the Hebrew College Rabbinical School and director of the college’s interfaith and social justice programs. He was a speaker at the college’s event titled “The Future of Jewish-Muslim Relations: A Dialogue.” Contact 617-559-8636, orose@hebrewcollege.edu.
• Rabbi Eric Yoffie is president of the Union for Reform Judaism and a pioneer in interfaith dialogue with American Muslims. Last year he gave a keynote presentation at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention. Contact 212-650-4150, presurj@urj.org.

JUDAISM AND AMERICAN POLITICS

• Michael Gottsegen is a visiting assistant professor in the Judaic studies program at Brown University n Providence, R.I. He studies the relation between the Jewish religion and public and political life. Contact 401-863-3925, michael_gottsegen@brown.edu.
• Suzanne Stone is a law professor and director of the Center for Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization at Yeshiva University in New York City. She teaches a course on Judaism and American politics. Contact 212-790-0332, sstone@yu.edu.

JUDAISM AND THE ARTS

• Robert Abzug is a professor of history and American studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He teaches a course on the impact of Jewish artists, writers and musicians on American life. Contact 512-475-7240, zug@mail.utexas.edu.
• Joshua Perelman is a postdoctoral fellow at the National Museum of American Jewish History and the University of Pennsylvania. He is an expert on Judaism and modern dance in America. Contact 215-923-3811 ext. 103, perelmaj@sas.upenn.edu.

JUDAISM AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION

• Rebecca Alpert is a rabbi and an associate professor of religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. She has written about Jewish lesbians and same-sex marriage. Alpert says the most important issue facing American Jews today is finding ways to make people aware of Jewish variety. The stereotypes that abound (all Jews are rich, white, Zionist, liberal) limit the Jewish community’s self-expression in all its complexity and foster misunderstanding and oversimplification, she says. Contact 215-204-7712, ralpert@temple.edu
• Gwynn Kessler is an assistant professor of religion at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she teaches a course on Judaism and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer persons. Contact 352-392-1625, gkessler@religion.ufl.edu.

MYSTICISM

• David Blumenthal is a professor of Judaic studies at the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. He is the author of two seminal books on Jewish mysticism, God at the Center: Meditations on Jewish Spirituality and Understanding Jewish Mysticism. Contact 404-727-7545, reldrb@emory.edu.
• Jonathan Dauber is an assistant professor of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah and Hasidism at Yeshiva University in New York City. Contact 212-960-5253 (department), dauber@yu.edu.
• Sheldon R. Isenberg is an associate professor of religion at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He specializes in Jewish mysticism and comparative mysticism. Contact 352-392-1625, sri@religion.ufl.edu.
• Shimon Shokek is a professor of Jewish philosophy and mysticism at Baltimore Hebrew University. He has written about Jewish mysticism, including the Kabbalah. Contact 410-578-6962, shimonshokek@gmail.com.

SECULAR AND HUMANISTIC JUDAISM

• Mitchell Silver is a lecturer in philosophy at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. He is the author of Respecting the Wicked Child: A Philosophy of Secular Jewish Identity and Education. He says the most important issue facing American Jews today is maintaining a shared identity despite branch affiliations and secularism. Contact 617-627-4798, mitchell.silver@tufts.edu.
• Jonathan Steinberg is a professor of modern European history at the University of Pennsylvania. One of his specialties is secular Judaism in Europe and the U.S. Contact 215-573-5449, steinbej@history.upenn.edu.

SPORTS

• Rebecca Alpert is a rabbi and an associate professor of religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. She is at work on a book about Jewish baseball players in the time of the Negro Leagues and teaches a course titled “Jews, America and Sports.” Alpert says the most important issue facing American Jews today is finding ways to make people aware of Jewish variety. The stereotypes that abound (all Jews are rich, white, Zionist, liberal) limit the Jewish community’s self-expression in all its complexity and foster misunderstanding and oversimplification, she says. Contact 215-204-7712, ralpert@temple.edu.

SYNAGOGUE ARCHITECTURE

• Julian Henri Preisler is an archivist and genealogist in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia. He is the author of an e-book about American synagogue architecture. Contact 304-274-5122, jhp1963@yahoo.com.

WOMEN IN JUDAISM

• Joyce Antler is a professor of American Jewish history and culture at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. She has written a history of the Jewish mother and is an expert on images of Jewish women in popular culture, especially on television. She has also written about Jewish women and American politics. Contact 781-736-3036, antler@brandeis.edu.
• Sylvia Barack Fishman is a professor of contemporary Jewish life at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and co-director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, which focuses on women in contemporary Judaism. She is the author of numerous books, including Jewish Life and American Culture (SUNY Series in American Jewish Society in the 1990s) and The Way Into the Varieties of Jewishness (2008). She is also an expert on Jewish identity, marriage and conversion. Contact 781-736-2065, fishman@brandeis.edu.
• Hasia Diner is a professor of American Jewish history, Hebrew and Judaic studies and director of the Center for American Jewish History at New York University in New York City. She is co-author of Her Works Praise Her: A History of Jewish Women in America From Colonial Times to the Present. She says a major problem facing American Judaism is keeping alive the excitement, loyalty and intensity of Jewish commitments needed to sustain the Jewish community. Contact 212-998-8988, hrd1@nyu.edu.
• Judith Hauptman is a rabbi and a professor of Talmud and rabbinic culture at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. She is an expert on women’s ordination, women rabbis and rites and rituals involving women. Contact 212-678-8905, juhauptman@jtsa.edu.
• Susannah Heschel is a professor of Jewish studies at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. She teaches courses in contemporary Jewish life and history and is also an expert on the Holocaust and on Jewish feminism. Contact 603-646-0475 (Jewish studies department), susannah.heschel@dartmouth.edu.
• Pamela S. Nadell is director of the Jewish studies program at American University in Washington, D.C. She is the author of several books on Jewish women and American Jewish history, including Women Who Would Be Rabbis: A History of Women’s Ordination 1889-1995. She teaches courses on American Jewish history, modern Jewish civilization, Jewish women’s history, the Holocaust and the history of Israel. She says that young Jews do not always see their Jewishness as a salient aspect of their overall identity and that American Jews need creative strategies to shape Jewish identity for the future. Contact 202-885-2425, pnadell@american.edu.
• Vanessa Ochs is an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She is also an expert on Jewish ritual practices, Judaism and healing and Jewish ethical practices. Contact 434-924-6722, Vanessa@virginia.edu.
• Riv-Ellen Prell is a history professor and chair of the American studies program at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She is an expert on women in Judaism and is the editor of Women Remaking American Judaism (2007). She says Jews should be concerned with effectively understanding the meaning of change in Jewish life, including intermarriage, falling birth rates and decline of traditional forms of association like synagogues or federations. She asks how should Jews best measure their vitality? Through synagogue membership or through the greater inclusion of women and gays? Contact 612-624-1658, prell001@umn.edu.
• Shuly Rubin Schwartz is the Irving Lehrman Research Associate Professor of American Jewish History and dean of the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies of The Jewish Theological Seminary. Schwartz is an expert on contemporary Jewish history with a particular emphasis on the role of women. Her book, The Rabbi’s Wife: The Rebbetzin in American Jewish Life, won the 2006 National Jewish Book Award in the area of modern Jewish thought. Contact 212-678-8826, shschwartz@jtsa.edu.

Languages

YIDDISH
(LANGUAGE OF ASHKENAZIC JEWS)

• Jeremy Dauber is an associate professor of Yiddish language, literature and culture at Columbia University. Contact 212-854-9608, jad213@columbia.edu
• Gennady Estraikh is an associate professor of Yiddish studies at New York University. He is a contributor to a Yiddish-language section of The Forward that aims to engage young Jews in learning Yiddish. Contact 212-998-9059, ge293@nyu.edu.
• Ruth Wisse is a professor of Yiddish literature at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. She received a 2007 National Humanities Medal for her work in Yiddish literature and contemporary Jewish culture. Contact 617-496-9050, wisse@fas.harvard.edu.

HEBREW
(LANGUAGE OF MIDDLE EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN JEWS)

• Rosalie Kamelhar is a professor of Hebrew and Judaic studies and director of the Hebrew language program at New York University. Contact 212-998-8982, rk4@nyu.edu.
• Gallia Porat is a lecturer in modern and biblical Hebrew at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. She has developed her own technique for teaching Hebrew to teenagers and adults. She has also taught Hebrew to new immigrants to Israel. Contact 650-725-2680, gporat@stanford.edu.
• Vardit Ringvald is a professor of Hebrew at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and is the director of a summer Hebrew language school run by Brandeis and Middlebury College in Vermont. Contact 781-736-2979, ringvald@brandeis.edu.

LADINO
(LANGUAGE OF SEPHARDIC JEWS)

• Gloria Ascher is an associate professor of German at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and the only American professor who offers regular college courses in modern Ladino. Contact 617-627-2036, gascher@tufts.edu.
• Isaac Jerusalmi is a professor emeritus of Bible and Semitic languages at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He wrote the introduction to Stanford University’s digitized Ladino library. Contact 513-221-7444 ext. 3263, hahamisaac@aol.com.

Prominent pulpit rabbis

• Newsweek magazine posted a Web-exclusive list of the 50 most influential rabbis in America on April 11, 2008.
• Rabbi Morris Allen heads Beth Jacob Congregation, a Conservative congregation in Mendota Heights, Minn. Allen is behind a push to make kosher food meet certain ethical standards, such as paying workers a fair wage. The result, Magen Tzedek, or “justice certification,” is gaining ground in many Conservative synagogues and households. He blogs about keeping ethically kosher. Contact 651-452-2226, mojo210al@aol.com.
• Rabbi Andy Bachman and his wife, Rachel Altstein, are leaders in the burgeoning emergent synagogue movement. They are founders of Brooklyn Jews, an informal congregation of young, urban Jews in the New York borough. In 2007, Andy became the head rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim, the borough’s largest Reform synagogue. He writes a blog that is widely read by young Jews. Contact 718-768-3814 ext. 206, abachman@cbebk.org.
• Rabbi Sharon Brous is the founder of IKAR, a Los Angeles-based progressive Jewish community focused sharply on social justice. Contact 323-634-1870, rabbibrous@ikar-la.org.
• Rabbi Barry Freundel is the leader of Kesher Israel, a Modern Orthodox congregation in Washington, D.C., whose members include a U.S. senator and a number of other government officials. The congregation maintains an eruv in the middle of the nation’s capital. Contact 202-333-2337.
• Rabbi Elyse Frishman is a Reform rabbi and spiritual leader of Barnert Temple in Franklin Lakes, N.J. She served as editor of the Mishkan T’filah, only the fourth prayer book in the 150-year history of American Reform Judaism. Contact 201-848-1800, rabbifrish@barnerttemple.org.
• Rabbi Laura Geller is the principal rabbi at Temple Emanuel, one of the largest Reform synagogues in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was among the first class of women rabbis to be ordained in the Reform movement. Contact 310-288-3742, rabbigeller@tebh.org.
• Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is a Reform rabbi who leads Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in New York City, the world’s largest synagogue for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews. Contact via Tasha Calhoun, 212-929-9498 ext. 17, tcalhoun@cbst.org.
• Rabbi Michael Lerner is the founder of Tikkun magazine and leader of Beyt Tikkun, a Renewal synagogue in Berkeley, Calif. He is the author of The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country From the Religious Right (2006) and Jewish Renewal: A Path to Healing and Transformation. Contact 510-526-6889, RabbiLerner@tikkun.org.
• Rabbi Naomi Levy is the founder of Nashuva, a Jewish worship community in Los Angeles. Levy is widely credited with finding innovative and creative ways of engaging unaffiliated and disaffected Jews with their faith. Contact return@nashuva.com.
• Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig heads Washington Hebrew Congregation, a Reform synagogue and the largest Jewish congregation in Washington, D.C. He is active in interfaith issues and helped organize what is called “the nation’s first Abrahamic Summit,” a meeting of Christians, Jews and Muslims for interfaith dialogue. Contact via Layne Weiss, 202-362-7100, lweiss@whctemple.org.
• Rabbi Rolando Matalon heads the Conservative Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City. He has been part of a team of rabbis that brought this synagogue from the verge of closing to a current membership of 1,800 households. He has brought his focus on social justice and peace to the forefront at B’nai Jeshurun. Contact 212-787-7600.
• Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis leads Congregation Valley Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Encino, Calif. He is the founder of the Jewish World Watch project, which works to raise awareness in synagogues about the genocide in Darfur. Contact 818-788-6000.
• Rabbi Toba Spitzer is president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the first openly gay woman to become its leader. She is the head rabbi at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in West Newton, Mass. Contact 617-965-0330.
• Rabbi David Stern is a Reform rabbi who heads Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, the Southwest’s largest Jewish congregation. He was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the 50 most influential American rabbis in 2008. Contact 214-706-0000 ext. 162.
• Rabbi Avi Weiss is the senior rabbi at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in the Bronx, an Orthodox synagogue. He originated the idea of “open Orthodoxy” – a progressive form of Orthodoxy that would expand the sources for interpreting Jewish law, support the state of Israel, expand the role of women, embrace pluralism and engage in political protest and activism. Contact 718-796-4730, hirshuli@yahoo.com.

Others of note

• Yehuda Berg is an Orthodox rabbi and founder of the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles. He is the author of The Power of Kabbalah, which popularized the ancient Jewish mystic text and its practices to many non-Jews. He has a weekly blog. Contact 310-657-5404.
• Sue Fishkoff is the author of The Rebbe’s Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch. She is a frequent contributor to The Jerusalem Post and other Jewish media. She lives in Pacific Grove, Calif. Contact via Random House publicity, atrandompublicity@randomhouse.com.
• Jen Taylor Friedman is one of the few known female Torah scribes in the world. Last year, she became the first female scribe to complete an entire Torah scroll, for the United Hebrew Congregation, a St. Louis Reform synagogue that commissioned it. She is also the creator of Tefillin Barbie, a version of the Mattel icon wearing a prayer shawl and sporting a Torah scroll. She is based in Brooklyn. Contact 718-664-4296.
• Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is a co-founder of Mechon Hadar: An Institute for Prayer, Personal Growth and Jewish Study, an independent minyan in New York City that has led to a network of similar, post-denominational minyanim across the country. He was named to Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36: The Next Wave of Jewish Innovators” (scroll down). Contact 212-284-6913.
• Joshua Ross is the founder of the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit agency that helps resolve contested divorces under Jewish law. He was named to Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36: The Next Wave of Jewish Innovators” (scroll down). Contact 646-796-4551.
• Todd Schechter is a documentary film maker and founder of the Jerusalem Project, a project that uses digital technology, including video, to bring Jews around the world together to talk about issues of concern to them. Part of the project is the Jewish Reconnection Project, videos of American and Israeli Jews. He was named to Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36: The Next Wave of Jewish Innovators”(scroll down). Contact 212-375-2620 ext. 227, todd@jewishreconnectionproject.com.
• Daniel Sieradski is the founder of Jewschool, a blog that covers everything from politics to religion to art from a Jewish perspective. It has 50,000 readers and contributors from 80 countries. He was named to Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36: The Next Wave of Jewish Innovators” (scroll down). Contact editor@jewschool.com.
• Rabbi Melissa Weintraub is a Conservative rabbi and co-founder/co-director of Encounter, a nonprofit that brings together Jewish and Palestinian leaders in an effort to foster better understanding and, eventually, peace. She was named to Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36: The Next Wave of Jewish Innovators.” Contact melissa@encounterprograms.org.
• Joey Weisenberg is music director of Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn, N.Y. He is a mandolin player who is bringing ancient Jewish nigunim, or wordless rabbinic hymns, back into synagogue music. He was named to Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36: The Next Wave of Jewish Innovators” (scroll down). Contact 718-875-1550, music@kanestreet.org.

Regional sources

IN THE NORTHEAST

• Roger Brooks is a professor of Judaic studies at Connecticut College in New London, Conn. He teaches courses in rabbinic law, the Talmud and the Mishnah and has worked with the Holocaust Educational Foundation. Contact 860-439-2030, roger.brooks@conncoll.edu.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford is in Hartford, Conn. Estelle Kafer is executive director. Contact 860-727-6171, ekafer@jewishhartford.org.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven focuses on the Jewish culture and history in and around New Haven, Conn. Rhoda Zahler is president. Contact 203-392-6125.
• Jon Levisohn is an assistant professor of Jewish education at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and assistant academic director of the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education. Contact 781-736-2941, Levisohn@brandeis.edu.
• Annelise Orleck is a history professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. She is an expert on Jewish-American immigrants, especially Soviet immigrants. Contact annelise.orleck@dartmouth.edu.
• Rabbi Rifat Sonsino is a Reform rabbi and an adjunct faculty member at Boston College, where he teaches a number of courses on Judaism, including Jewish spiritual paths and Jewish theology. Contact sonsino@bc.edu.
• Yesodot is a nonprofit that works to build community foundation and support for Jews with disabilities or special needs by providing them with resources and assistance. It is based in Boston. Contact 617-399-3299.

IN THE EAST

• The Berman Center for Jewish Studies is at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. Laurence Silberstein is director. Contact 610-758-4869.
• Jeremy Dauber is the acting director of the Columbia University Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, where he specializes in Yiddish and Yiddish literature. Contact 212-854-9608, jad213@columbia.edu.
• Sharon Flatto is an assistant professor in Judaic studies at Brooklyn College in New York, where she specializes in modern Jewish thought and the Kabbalah. She teaches courses in modern Jewish history and thought and in Hasidism. Contact 718-951-3989, sflatto@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
• Gershon Greenberg is a professor in philosophy and religion at American University in Washington, D.C., where he specializes in Jewish philosophy and thought, especially in America. Contact 202-885-2912, greenbe@american.edu.
• Jonathan Helfand is a professor of modern Jewish history at Brooklyn College in New York, where he teaches a course in Jewish customs. Contact 718-951-3993, jhelfand@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey serves the communities of Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. It is in New Brunswick. Contact 732-249-4894.
• The Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest concentrates on the Jewish experience in Essex, Morris, Sussex and portions of northern Union counties of New Jersey. Howie Kiesel is president. Contact 973-920-2995.
• Rebecca Kobrin is an assistant professor of history at Columbia University in New York City. She is an expert on Jewish immigration from Europe and author of the forthcoming book Between Exile and Empire: East European Jewish Migration and the New Jewish Diaspora. Contact 212-854-9017, rk2351@columbia.edu.
• Joanna Michlic holds a chair in Holocaust studies and ethical values at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where she teaches courses on the history and meaning of the Holocaust and on genocide in the 20^th century. Contact jom207@lehigh.edu.
• David Ruderman is director of the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Contact 215-238-1290.

IN THE SOUTHEAST

• Rabbi Martin Beifield Jr. leads Congregation Beth Ahabah, a Reform synagogue in Richmond, Va. He is an expert in Jewish-Christian relations and the impact of the Holocaust. Contact 804-358-6757, rabbi@bethahabah.org.
• Andrea Greenbaum is an associate professor of English at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. She is the editor of Jews of South Florida and is also an expert on Jewish graphic novels. Contact 305-899-3410 (department), agreenbaum@mail.barry.edu.
• Jonathan Hess is director of the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Its faculty members are drawn from the humanities and social sciences. Contact 919-843-9160, jmhess@email.unc.edu.
• Jack Kugelmass is an anthropology professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he is also director of its Jewish studies center. He specializes in American and European Jewry, Israel and Jews in New York. Contact 352-392-9247, jkugelma@jst.ufl.edu.
• Sharon Miller is the principal of Ben Gamla Charter School in Hollywood, Fla., the first publicly funded Hebrew-language school in the U.S. Contact 954-342-4064, smiller@bengamlacharter.org.
• Julian Henri Preisler is an archivist and genealogist in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia. He runs a Web site about West Virginia Jewish history. Contact 304-274-5122, jhp1963@yahoo.com.
• Rabbi Ari Sytner leads Brith Sholom Beth Israel in Charleston, S.C. It is the oldest Orthodox congregation in the South and among the oldest Ashkenazic congregations in the U.S. Contact 843-577-6599, astyner@bs-bi.com.
• Kenneth Wald is a professor of political science at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he teaches a course in Judaism and politics. He is the author of several books, including Religion and Politics in the United States. Contact 352-273-2391, kenwald@ufl.edu.

IN THE SOUTH

• The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Miss., works to bring educational and rabbinic services to isolated Jews and Jewish communities in a 12-state Southern region. Macy B. Hart is president. Contact 601-362-6357, hart@isjl.org.
• Rabbi Brian Glusman leads Temple Beth-El, the largest Conservative synagogue in Birmingham, Ala. He is a native of Alabama and a fourth-generation Birmingham resident and can discuss the history and diversity of the Jewish community there. Contact 205-933-2740, rabbi@templebeth-el.net.
• Oliver Leaman is director of the Jewish studies program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Contact 859-323-2272, Oliver.Leaman@uky.edu.
• David Patterson is director of the Jewish studies program at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. He is an expert on the Holocaust and serves as an adviser to two U.S. Holocaust museums. Contact 901-678-2919.
• Rabbi Y. Kliel Rose leads the West End Synagogue (Khal Kodesh Adath Israel) in Nashville, Tenn., a Conservative synagogue whose membership includes born Jews, Jews by choice, interfaith couples, natives of Nashville and Jews from Iran, South Africa, South America, the former Soviet Union and almost every state in America. Contact 615-269-4592 ext. 11.
• Michael Weil heads the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. The federation is working to revitalize the local Jewish community in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which cut the city’s Jewish population by one-third. Contact 504-780-5603, Michael@jewishnola.com.
• Lee Shai Weissbach is a history professor at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He is an expert on small-town Jewish life in America, especially in the South. Contact 502-852-6817, weissbach@louisville.edu.

IN THE MIDWEST

• Rachel Baum is an adjunct assistant professor and coordinator of the Jewish studies major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She teaches multiple courses on the Holocaust, contemporary American Jewish identity and Jewish feminism. Contact 414-229-6500, rbaum@uwm.edu.
• The Chicago Jewish Historical Society chronicles the history, life and experience of that city’s Jews. Contact 312-663-5634.
• Michael Eppel is a senior lecturer in Middle Eastern studies at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He teaches courses on the history of the Middle East, including the Israeli-Arab conflict and the history of Israel. Contact 612-624-2800, meppel@umn.edu.
• Judith Katz is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Among her areas of expertise is representation of Jews in the arts and popular culture. Contact 612-624-4914 (department).
• Rabbi Harold Loss leads the 12,000 members of Temple Israel, a Reform congregation in Bloomfield, Mich. Contact 248-661-5700, hloss@temple-israel.org.
• Shaul Magid is a professor of Jewish studies and religious studies at Indiana University in Bloomington. Among his specialties are Jewish ethics, and contemporary conceptions of Jewish religiosity, renewal and fundamentalism. Contact 812-322-5505, smagid@indiana.edu.
• Anthony Michels is an associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches a course called “The American Jewish Experience: From Shtetl to Suburb.” Contact 608-265-2521, aemichels@wisc.edu.
• Deborah Dash Moore is director of the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She teaches a course in American Jewish history and is an expert on women in Reconstructionist Judaism. Contact 734-647-7862, ddmoore@umich.edu.
• The Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies is at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It maintains a list of faculty from across the school. Kenneth Goldstein is director. Contact 608-265-4763.
• Gary G. Porton is a professor of religious studies, history and literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he teaches courses in American Judaism, Jewish customs and ceremonies and the Holocaust. Contact 217-244-3072, gporton@uiuc.edu.
• Mark Roseman is a professor of Jewish studies and history at Indiana University in Bloomington, where his specialties include the history of the Holocaust. Contact 812-855-8325, marrosem@indiana.edu.
• Linda Schloff is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She is director of the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives and an expert on the history of Jews in that region. Contact 612-625-0192, schlo025@tc.umn.edu.

IN THE SOUTHWEST

• The Council for Jews With Special Needs provides programs, resources and support for Jews with disabilities to help them meet their spiritual needs. Becca Hornstein is executive director. It is based in Scottsdale, Ariz. Contact 480-629-5343, becca@cjsn.org.
• The Dallas Jewish Historical Society focuses on the history of Jews in Dallas. Debbie Tobias is executive director. Contact 214-239-7120, dtobias@djhs.org.
• Henry Eaton is an associate professor of history at the University of North Texas in Denton. He is an expert on the Holocaust and the history of anti-Semitism. Contact 940-565-3392, heaton@unt.edu.
• Rabbi Russell Fox leads Emanuel Synagogue, a Conservative congregation in Oklahoma City. He teaches classes on Torah, Jewish mysticism, Jewish identity, and Judaism and the environment. Contact 405-528-2113 ext. 302, emanuel_office@coxinet.net.
• Rabbi Tracee Rosen leads Congregation Kol Ami, a blended Reform and Conservative congregation in Salt Lake City. Contact 801-484-1501 ext. 24.
• Norbert Samuelson is a professor of religious studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, where he is an expert in Jewish philosophy and thought. Contact 480-965-9655 or 480-965-7145, samuelso@imap4@asu.edu.
• Rabbi Jonathan Schick is an adjunct philosophy professor at the University of North Texas in Denton. He is an expert on Jewish education and has served as headmaster of two Jewish prep schools. He writes a monthly ethics column. Contact 214-587-3960, jds@goalproject.com.
• Rabbi Chaim Schmukler and his wife, Devorah Schmukler, direct Chabad of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The goal of Chabad, a Hasidic organization, is to strengthen the spiritual practices of all Jews, but especially the unaffiliated. Contact 505-880-1181 or email via Web site.
• Shmuel Shepkaru is an associate professor of Judaic history at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where he teaches a course on Jewish mysticism. Contact 405-325-6508 (department).
• Alan Steinweis is a professor of modern European history and Judaic studies at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He is an expert on the history of Nazi Germany and has edited a volume on the Holocaust published by Yad Vashem. Contact 402-472-3257, aes@unlnotes.unl.edu.

IN THE WEST/NORTHWEST

• Mira Amiras is a professor of humanities at San José State University in California. She teaches courses in Judaism, Zionism and the state and Jewish mysticism, among others. Contact 408-924-364, mira.amiras@sjsu.edu.
• Paul Burstein is chairman of the Jewish studies program at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is an expert on the American Jewish community. Contact 206-543-7088, burstein@u.washington.edu.
• Carol Edelman is an associate professor in sociology and social work at California State University, Chico. Part of her research and teaching focuses on Jewish response to the Holocaust and to 20^th-century genocide. Contact 916-898-4646, cedelman@csuchico.edu.
• Rabbi Daniel Fink leads Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, a Reform congregation in Boise, Idaho. He is an expert on Jewish environmentalism. Contact rabbidan@ahavathbethisrael.org.
• Yechiel Shalom Goldberg teaches in the Jewish studies program at California State University, Long Beach, where he specializes in the study of Jewish mysticism. Contact 562-985-1541, ygoldber@csulb.edu.
• The Jewish Historical Society of Napa Valley chronicles Jewish life and history in the Northern California winemaking region. Contact 707-251-9092.
• Rabbi Mendel Lifshitz and his wife, Esther, direct Chabad Jewish Center of Idaho in Boise. The center is part of Chabad Lubavitch, a New York community of Hasidim. Contact 208-853-9200.
• The Montana Association of Jewish Communities is an umbrella organization of small Jewish communities throughout the state. It is overseen by Congregation Aitz Chaim and the Great Falls Hebrew Association. Contact 406-216-5071.
• David N. Myers is a history professor and director of the UCLA Center for Jewish Studies in Los Angeles. He is at work on a major history of the Jews of that city. Contact 310-825-3780, myers@history.ucla.edu.
• Rabbi Stephen Pearce leads Congregation Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue and San Francisco’s largest Jewish congregation. Contact 415-751-2511.
• The Progressive Jewish Alliance is an organization of Jews who wish to see a greater presence of progressive Judaism in the work for social justice. It was started in Los Angeles and now has a branch in the San Francisco Bay Area. Contact 323-761-8350.
• Michael Weingrad is the first full-time professor of Jewish studies at Portland State University in Oregon. He is an expert on modern Jewish literature and culture. Contact weingrad@pdx.edu.

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This source guide was published, in part, by a generous grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, with the support and encouragement of Michael Cummings.