Making the World a Better Place - Touro College

Dean of Touro’s Graduate School of Jewish
Studies Receives Prestigious Fellowship
Michael Shmidman, Ph.D., dean
of the Graduate School of Jewish
Studies, has been appointed an
Adjunct Fellow of the Herbert Katz Institute
of Advanced Jewish Studies at the
University of Pennsylvania for the spring
semester 2013. Dr. Shmidman joins a group
of approximately 25 other distinguished
scholars who hail from renowned
universities around the world.
The theme upon which the
fellows will conduct their research is
“Institutionalization, Innovation and Conflict
in 13th Century Judaism: A Comparative
View.” At the close of the year, the fellows’
research results will be presented at a twoday
public colloquium. The University of
Pennsylvania will publish selected work by
the scholars as part of its “Jewish Culture
and Contexts” series.
Both honored and excited, Dr.
Shmidman, who has served as dean of the
Graduate School of Jewish Studies since
1986, and was appointed Victor J.
Selmanowitz Professor of Jewish History in
2003, said, “The Center is dedicated to post-doctoral
research on Jewish civilization in all its historical and cultural
manifestations, and indeed has become a model for
institutions of its kind.”
Alan Kadish, M.D., president and CEO of the Touro
College and University System, praised Dr. Shmidman for his
“Dr. Shmidman joins a
group of approximately
25 other distinguished
scholars who hail from
renowned universities
around the world.”
deep intellect, commitment to Judaic
studies and for his numerous contributions
to the growth and academic reputation of
Touro College. “As founder and dean of the
graduate school, Dr. Shmidman has
created a highly-respected program that is
widely recognized for its rigorous standards
of scholarship and its successful alumni,”
Dr. Kadish said.
An ordained rabbi, Dr. Shmidman’s
primary areas of research are medieval
Jewish history and Maimonidean studies.
He often serves as a scholar-in-residence at
synagogues and Jewish communal
institutions. Among his many publications,
he edited and contributed to a two-volume
Festschrift—entitled Turim: Studies in Jewish
History and Literature Presented to Dr.
Bernard Lander—and co-authored a twovolume
Hebrew textbook on Maimonides
entitled Law and Philosophy: Perspectives
on Maimonides’ Teaching. He also
established the Touro College Press (TCP)
imprint and today serves as its editor. Most
recently, TCP published “The Lander
Legacy: The Life Story of Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander” (see story
Page 9).
Despite his many accomplishments, Dr. Shmidman is
humble about receiving this latest honor. Of the Fellowship,
he says, “This is very distinguished company. It’s nice to be
invited.” n
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