University establishes Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies

Lois Pope LIFE Center: Breaking new ground

University establishes Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies The University of Miami is establishing a Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies (CCJS), which will become one of the first academic teaching and research centers in the United States focusing primarily on 20th century Jewish studies as well as trends affecting the future of the Jewish people. The center will be a resource dedicated to the academic pursuit of studying and exploring all aspects of modern Jewish society and culture in an effort to foster within South Florida and the world a better understanding of the contemporary Jewish experience. "Establishing an academic center dedicated to contemporary Jewish studies has been a dream of ours at the University for many years," says President Edward T. Foote II. "The University of Miami has a long tradition of involvement with South Florida's Jewish community, a large Jewish student population, and strong ties to Israel." By concentrating on the 20th century, CCJS will examine an important historical period that includes the birth of Zionism through the horrors of the Holocaust and the creation of the State of Israel into the present. These momentous events signify two pivotal themes in Jewish history and particularly in shaping the lives of Jews today, according to Haim Shaked, director of the CCJS and the holder of the Dr. M. Lee Pearce Chair in Middle East Peace Studies at the University. "The new center will provide international standards of academic excellence," says Shaked. "It will incorporate existing relevant activities at UM and strive to expand them in its area of interest. Also it will emphasize dialog with, and outreach to, the South Florida community." The center, which will have a multidisciplinary focus, will be affiliated with both the College of Arts and Sciences for studies involving the Holocaust and general Judaic knowledge as well as the School of International Studies for studies focusing on Israel. A broad spectrum of faculty members from the history, literature, art, music, religion, sociology, geography, political science, and international studies departments will be involved in teaching and researching a wide variety of issues particular to the Jewish culture. Among the issues the center will explore will be the role of religion vs. secularism, the roles of tradition and modernity in Jewish life, the complexities of the Israel-Diaspora relationship, Jewish demographic trends and population movements, and continuity and change in Israel's policies and politics. "The thrust of this center, and what will make it special, is the contemporary Jewish experience, which has much to teach all of us about humanity," says Executive Vice President and Provost Luis Glaser. "This century was a tumultuous time in world history, a period of extraordinary achievement in the Jewish community and of extraordinary horror. We expect the center to be an asset not only to the academic community but also to the broader community of South Florida." CCJS officials hope that the center will lead to the University offering bachelor's, master's, and possibly doctoral degree programs in contemporary Jewish studies through the University's existing Judaic Studies programs. In addition, lectures and conferences will be held throughout the year featuring political and religious experts from the University, throughout the United States and abroad. "The Jewish community worldwide deserves a resource that will bring outreach, teaching, and scholarship to new levels," says Leonard Miller, chairman of the Board of Trustees. "This is a moment of profound importance for our community and for the University of Miami." Ultimately, CCJS seeks to create a resource where current and future generations of students can learn about Jewish politics, history, culture, and religion through traditional and more innovative methods. CCJS officials hope to organize study abroad programs to Israel and expand the Hebrew language offerings at the University.

Lois Pope LIFE Center: Breaking new ground The School of Medicine, which has led a multidisciplinary research assault on spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders, is consolidating and expanding these efforts with the construction of the Lois Pope LIFE Center. Benefactors, state leaders, and neuroscientists celebrated a public-private partnership as ground was broken on the site at the corner of Northwest 14th Terrace and Northwest 11th Avenue at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Philanthropist Lois Pope and the State of Florida each has given $10 million to build the 115,000-square-foot Lois Pope LIFE Center. The new center will be the hub of the University's neuroscience research effort and will house The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. "I hope my efforts awaken others to understand that making a difference in the world is the right and responsible thing for each one of us," says Pope, widow of   founder Generoso Pope. "No matter what age or physical challenge one may face, you can make a difference in some capacity." Pope heralds the cause of her friend Christopher Reeve, who has inspired her one-woman campaign to help find new developments in the field of spinal cord injury. She also has a major commitment to support the study of a wide range of other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. Statistics show neurological disease is the third leading cause of death and has an increasing impact on the population as it ages. To this end, Pope created 20 Lois Pope LIFE fellowships in the neurosciences at the University. Her generous donation of $10 million in 1996 is the largest private gift ever made to the University for spinal cord injury and nervous system injury. "We are deeply grateful that Mrs. Pope has made this splendid commitment," says President Edward T. Foote II. "Her generosity provides the facilities and training essential to finding a cure for spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders." State University System of Florida Chancellor Adam Herbert says, "It is always impressive to see efforts from the private sector unite with those in the public arena to support a cause that has the potential to change so many lives. We applaud the generosity of philanthropists such as Pope and the dedication of the University of Miami School of Medicine in its search for answers to such significant medical challenges." Founded in 1985, The Miami Project's extensive research efforts span many disciplines, including basic science, clinical, and rehabilitation research. Research accomplishments include comprehensive studies of human spinal cord tissues after injury, as well as studies of human nervous system cells in the laboratory. Such studies have provided direct evidence of regeneration of adult human central nervous system tissue. To exploit this potential for repair, scientists have developed techniques to grow millions of growth-supporting cells, with the goal of one day grafting a patient's own cells into his or her spinal cord to promote regeneration.

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