Presented by Dr. Steven Windmueller
Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies, Jack H. Skirball Campus, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Delve into the transformative landscape of Jewish identity and community in the twenty-first century. As we navigate this era, it is crucial to recognize the five pivotal factors reshaping the American Jewish experience: technology, demography, generational behavior, religious culture, and the concept of the sovereign self.
Dr. Windmueller will share insight into how these elements influence both personal and collective identities within the Jewish community. For instance, the advancement of technology has not only altered the way we communicate and connect but has also redefined the avenues through which Jewish learning and practice occur. Similarly, demographic shifts are bringing forth a more diverse array of voices and experiences that enrich the tapestry of Jewish life.
Join us to discover a deeper understanding of these extraordinary and challenging features of the “new” American Jewish experience, as well as projections for the future of Judaism in an ever-changing world. Your participation will not only enrich your own understanding but will also contribute to the collective exploration of what it means to be Jewish in contemporary society.
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Thank you to our generous program sponsors, Sue and Tom Schick, for helping bring this program to our community.
Dr. Steven Windmueller is an Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Prior to coming to HUC, Dr. Windmueller had served on the staff of the American Jewish Committee (1969-1972), directed the Albany (NY) Jewish Federation (1973-1985), and the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee) of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation (1985-1995).
During his tenure at the College, Dr. Windmueller served for ten years as the Director of its School of Jewish Nonprofit Management and in 2005 was named to the deanship of the LA campus (2006-2010). In 2009 he was named to an endowed chair and in 2014 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Hebrew Union College.
The author of four books and numerous articles, Professor Windmueller holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. His research has been primarily focused on Jewish communal trends, anti-Semitism, and Jewish political behavior. His articles have appeared in several secular and Jewish publications.
He recently served as guest editor for USC’s Casden Institute, producing The Impact of Donald Trump’s Presidency on American Jews and Israel, (2021) and is now focused on producing a volume analyzing 21st Century American Judaism and continues to write on Jewish political behavior for the Times of Israel and other publications in advance of the November 2024 elections.
Dr. Windmueller serves as a Fellow of the Jerusalem Institute of Public Affairs and as a Board Member of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State, Los Angeles. For the past eight years, he has been on the faculty of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, teaching across the globe.
We extend a special thank you to Andrew R. Ammerman for sponsoring our Spring 2025 program lineup. He dedicates the semester’s learning in loving memory of Josephine and H. Max Ammerman and Stephen C.