Lifelong Learning Lectures
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Jews are what Jews Eat: Community Construction, Social Belonging, and Jewish Foods
Join Dr. Jacob Ari Labendz (Ramapo College) for an exploration of how Jews and non-Jews have sought to mark the essence and social boundaries of Jewishness through food—from cultivation, through preparation, to consumption. Topics will include Judaism's complex system of laws and traditions around food, attempts to police community boundaries and assert the nature of Jewish difference through food restrictions (or their inversion), inter-communal and intra-Jewish tensions as expressed through contests over food, and the rising trend of Jewish veganism. No experience necessary. Questions are most welcome! Dr. Jacob Ari Labendz directs the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey. He researches Jewish life in communist Central Europe after the Holocaust, and contributes actively to discussions of antisemitism, nationalism, and Jewish belonging. In addition to his articles, book chapters, and reviews, he has published two edited volumes: Jewish Property after 1945 (Routledge, 2017) and, with Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, Jewish Veganism and Vegetarianism (SUNY, 2019). Jacob earned his PhD from Washington University in St. Louis under the direction of Dr. Hillel Kieval. He has held research and teaching positions at Youngstown State University, Penn State, Charles University in Prague, and the Center for Research on Antisemitism in Berlin. Jacob grew up in Montville and is pleased to have returned after 27 years with his wife Meg and their dogs, Charlie and Buster. |
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Diwali, diaspora and the celebration of community
As of 2023, Diwali is now the 12th federally recognized holiday in the US. Despite India being a land of a thousand celebrations, Diwali continues to feature as that quintessential “Indian” festival across television shows and films from India; it is also considered the most secular celebration across India. Join Dr. Ruma Sen as she traces the growth of the Indian community in the US, specifically in the NY-NJ metropolitan area. She will discuss the central role of Diwali in shaping the Indian-American identity, the role of the Indian diaspora in the larger NY/NJ metropolitan area, and explore the ways in which the Indian ethos is increasingly inserting itself into the public discourse. There will be time for a Q&A. Dr. Ruma Sen is a Professor of Global Communication and Media Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Her areas of scholarship include decolonization of migration narratives and transnational flows of neoliberalism. Recent publications include essays on the transnational iconicity of Priyanka Chopra and on mediated narratives of Muslims and the politics of exclusion in India. Dr. Sen teaches courses in intercultural communication, race, gender, and media studies and communication for social change. She has given lectures at universities in India, Turkey, Fiji and the UK, and led a study abroad program in India. |
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Happiness and Well-Being through Community Engagement
Community engagement allows us to deepen connections with others, improve our mental health, and flourish across the lifespan. This presentation will explore the critical role that community plays in human well-being, happiness and flourishing. Drawing from the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, we will highlight the profound impact that strong social connections and a sense of belonging have on mental health, life satisfaction, and overall human development. We will discuss how being part of a supportive community can buffer against stress, provide a sense of purpose, and foster feelings of security and self-worth. We will briefly examine the negative consequences of social isolation and loneliness, which have been linked to a range of physical and mental health issues. Practical strategies for cultivating a stronger sense of community in one's life will be discussed. Dr. Lysandra Perez-Strumolo is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Ramapo College, where she teaches undergraduate courses in the psychology program. Dr. Perez-Strumolo leads the Ramapo Wellness Lab in psychology, which engages undergraduate students in studying wellness. At Ramapo, she has also served as Director of Faculty Development. Dr. Perez-Strumolo is a NJ licensed clinical psychologist and she provides psychological services to children, adolescents, and adults in northern New Jersey. Her scholarship is focused on the application of positive psychology research in the treatment of trauma and related disorders. |