The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life brings insight, addresses ignorance, and builds hope in these challenging times. The Bildner Center, a cornerstone of campus cultural and intellectual life at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, is celebrating 25 years of fostering a beloved community through public programs that educate, engage, and entertain.
The work of the Center—and your support—is more critical than ever.
Since its inception, the Bildner Center has been a pioneering and vital presence at Rutgers, educating public school teachers on Holocaust history, presenting the visionary cinema of the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival, and sponsoring a range of compelling programs, including bringing Jewish and Arab American leaders together to discuss antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The Center brings a diverse array of speakers to campus who explore captivating and urgent topics, providing insights into our world and drawing connections to Jewish history, values, and traditions.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, lectured on “Confronting Religious Violence.” Culinary historian Michael Twitty, a Black, Jewish gay man, spoke of the relationship between food, culture, and social justice. Architect Daniel Libeskind explored how public memorials and buildings shape the memory of historical events. Bible scholar Robert Alter lectured on “The Pleasures and Perils of Translating the Bible” and will return to Rutgers in April to close out the anniversary year.
We live in a time where antisemitism is on the rise and ignorance about Israel and Jewish values, history, and culture is prevalent. The Center’s work creates a deeper understanding of the world and is committed to presenting the ideas, insights, and vision that will resonate with current students, the wider community, and the next generation.
The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life:
- Educates the university community and the public on the complexity of Jewish history, culture, and experience;
- Serves as an important campus and community resource for issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that Jews and Judaism are part of that conversation;
- Trains hundreds of public school teachers annually on the history of the Holocaust and genocide to increase tolerance and understanding;
- Advises the Rutgers administration on Jewish community issues, including addressing antisemitism on campus;
- Enriches the university’s research mission by bringing internationally-renowned scholars to campus.
- Supports students through internships, scholarships and merit awards
