Hadassah-Brandeis Institute

This residency provided artists the opportunity to be in residence at Brandeis University while working on a significant artistic project in the field of Jewish gender studies, and to produce an exhibit for the Kniznick Gallery at the Women’s Studies Research Center (WSRC) at Brandeis University. It ran from 2008 to 2017.

The HBI Project in Latin American Jewish & Gender Studies (LAJGS) was an initiative for the study and exploration of Jewish life and gender in Latin America (Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean) and among Latin American Jewish immigrants worldwide. It ran from 2018 to 2022.

We wanted to create an online magazine that would offer an opportunity to explore what Jewish experts, authors and scholars are discussing around the world. Rather than providing lengthy tomes, we wanted to provide short intriguing essays from various perspectives, and offer ways to learn more when possible. We aspired to create a non-intimidating world of learning that would get Jewish women talking.

Launched in February 2009, the mission was to introduce a new dimension to Holocaust studies – interdisciplinary research on the histories and representations of East European Jewish families and children from 1933 to the present. In particular, the project aimed to explore the experience of childhood, motherhood and fatherhood in specific geographical locations and in a transnational context.

Established in 2006 by Elaine Reuben to honor her parents, Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben, and her grandparents, Susie Green and Harry Reuben, Bessie Goldberg and David Rifkin, the series focuses on literary works that can embody and connect the varieties of Jewish women’s experiences, speaking for the many whose names and stories are now lost.

The Donna Sudarsky Memorial Working Papers Series showcased the works of HBI Scholars-in-Residence. As part of their residency, each Scholar submitted a working paper reflecting the work they completed while at HBI. The papers demonstrated the variety of ways that our scholars further HBI's mission to develop fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide.

In 1999, HBI began producing a 12-month, Hebrew/English calendar featuring Jewish women around the world. Our overarching goal was to bring a fresh look at Jewish women’s experiences, achievements and work into the daily lives of calendar users. Calendar themes focused on activist artists, athletes, scientists, leaders, rabbis, writers, and craft artisans.

Transcripts of conferences held each year from 2003 to 2005, with speakers and scholars from around the world, included:

• International Intermarriage Roundtable Conference

• Choosing Limits, Limiting Choices: Women’s Status and Religious Life

• Double or Nothing: Jewish Families and Mixed Marriage in the United States

Esther’s Legacy is a collection of 140 men’s and women’s personal thoughts, observations, memories and descriptions on the holiday of Purim. Written by people from nearly 100 Jewish communities, the collection strives to represent the diversity of worldwide Jewry while exploring the commonalities of celebrating Jewish life — and Purim in particular.

“In Other Words” is a recording of American Jewish women writers reading from their works and represents a modest start in establishing a record of their voices. Our writers include poets, essayists, performance artists, novelists and writers of non-fiction; they represent a wide range of ages, styles and experiences. CDs are available directly from HBI, email us for information.