| As
Israel's leading publisher of Jewish
historical texts, and the driving force
behind a wide range of educational projects,
the Zalman Shazar Center for Jewish
History has a mission: to bring the
Jewish past to life. Now, the Shazar
Center is poised to take on the future
from its new home in Jerusalem's Talpiot
neighborhood. This enlarged facility
is symbolic of the Center's ever-expanding
activities and will bring renewed energy
to the pursuit of the Center's primary
goal: to reinvigorate Jewish historical
consciousness by making the treasures
of Jewish history available to the general
public. During 30 years of fruitful
activity, the Shazar Center has continuously
reaffirmed its commitment to increasing
the understanding and appreciation of
Jewish history, and to preserving its
lessons for future generations. From
its new vantage point in sight of Jerusalem's
Old City walls, the Center is perfectly
positioned to delve into the Jewish
past, and to move forward to a future
of ever greater achievements. |
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| The
Zalman Shazar Center has published more
than 200 books - including scholarly
works, school textbooks and historical
novels. The Center issues some ten new
publications each year |
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 Leading
scholars from all of Israel's universities
come together at the Shazar Center to
create a portrait of the Jewish people.
The Center's recent publications testify
to the exciting breadth of research
being pursued under its aegis.
Recent publications in Hebrew include:
A series of monographs of prominent
Jewish cultural and religious thinkers
and leaders: Moshe Mendlshon, Yehuda
Hahasid, Rashi, Seadya Gaon, Harav Kuk,
Yehuda Hanasi, Herzl. More books in
this series are forthcoming.
Religious radicalism, editors: Meir
Litvak and Ora Limor
Kimmy Caplan: Internal Popular Discourse
in Israeli Haredi Society. |
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Textbooks developed by the Shazar Center
form the core history curriculum for
high school students throughout Israel.
The World and the Jews 1870 -1970
(2 volumes)
Holocaust and Memory
The Jewish People in the Middle Ages
The Jewish People, The Land of Israel
and the State of Israel
Additional textbooks are in preparation.
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The Shazar Center has published two
richly illustrated albums that introduce
the general reader to the diversity
and excitement of Jewish history:
The Jewish People in the Twentieth
Century:
a Pictorial History; and Jerusalem:
a Biography
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Historical
Novels for Youth |
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story of the Jewish people comes alive
in a series of historical novels published
by the Shazar Center. Aimed at young
readers, these popular books evoke vivid
images of Jewish life at different times
and places including 17th century Spain,
19th century Russia, and Jerusalem's
Old City during the 1948 War of Independence. |
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Shazar Center
translations enhance awareness of Jewish
history by bringing important foreign
language studies to the Hebrew speaking
public. Recent translations include
a study of Jews in the Balkans and a
multivolume history of German Jewry
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| The
Shazar Center hosts a wide range of
activities geared toward academics,
educators, and the general public. Organized
in collaboration with various universities
as well as Israel's Ministry of Science,
Culture and Sport, these activities
provide a forum for leading researchers
to share their findings with the wider
community. |
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The
Shazar Center holds an annual four-day
academic conference. Recent gatherings
have explored the treasures of Jerusalem's
libraries and book collections; the
historical impact of cinema and the
presentation of history in film; and
the roots of religious fundamentalism.
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True to its goal of being
a bridge to the community, the Shazar
Center has an open door policy toward
Israel's youngest historians -- the
high school and university students
who use the library and receive guidance
from the Center's staff and academic
associates. To encourage these young
scholars, the Shazar Center awards 15
prizes each year for outstanding student
research. |
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Courses
for Teachers and the General Public |
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The
Center offers enrichment courses for
teachers and the public. Taught by a
team of Shazar Center scholars, these
weekly lectures introduce the participants
to diverse topics such as Sephardic
Jewry, Jewish attitudes towards the
arts, and the role of Jewish women in
Eastern Europe. |
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Frequent
study evenings sponsored by the Shazar
Center bring Jewish History alive for
general audiences. These meetings with
prominent writers and thinkers provide
participants with a behind-the-scenes
look into the historian's laboratory
and offer the opportunity to participate
in the process of discovery. |
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The Zalman Shazar
Awards for Research in Jewish History
Established in 1983, a prize is
awarded to an outstanding achievement
in Jewish history. The prize is granted,
on the occasion of the memorial ceremony
for Zalman Shazar.
The Jacob Katz and Pinchas and Sheindel
Wald Grants
The Shazar Center annually awards
two doctoral grants to students who
have excelled in their studies. They
are named after the distinguished historian
Jacob Katz, and after Pinchas and Sheindel
Waldo |
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| The
Shazar Center library is an important
Jewish historical resource. Based upon
the private library of Israel's third
president, the late Zalman Shazar, the
library now boasts some 25,000 titles.
An expanded reading room in the Talpiot
facility is expected to increase public
awareness and utilization of this valuable
resource. |
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| The
Zalman Shazar Center Board of
Directors
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Mr.
Moshe Nativ, Chairman
Ms. Yael Alon
Prof. Isaiah M. Gafni
Prof. Joseph R. Hacker
Mr. Dov Mishor
Prof. Yosef Kaplan
Prof. Anita Shapira
Mr. Zvi Yekutiel, Executive Direcor
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