Department of Jewish Thought

The Department of Jewish Thought is dedicated to studying Judaism as an intellectual, ethical and literary tradition, highlighting its importance to the development of Western civilization from antiquity until today. We work to foster inquiry and expand knowledge through scholarship and instruction that makes this tradition available to broader humanities.

Upcoming Events:

Inside the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process: A Lunch with David Makovsky

Join David Makovsky, who has been intimately involved with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process for more than three decades, for lunch at the University at Buffalo Hillel on Monday April 11th at Noon. Makovsky has worked as a journalist in Israel, in government as a member of then-Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace process team in 2013-2014, and at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at the Koret Project on Arab-Israeli Relations. He has published widely on Israel and Arab-Israeli relations and appeared frequently in media and before Congress. Makovsky has spent much of the past decade envisioning alternative territorial solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, many of them contained in the comprehensive Settlements & Solutions mapping project, which tracks developments in settlements over time and models different peace plans. He will speak to students about his career and answer any questions they have on Israel, Arab-Israeli relations, and the Middle East.

Free event for students and faculty at the University at Buffalo.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Alexander Green: via phone 716-645-0762 or via email agreen6@buffalo.edu

Ten Months In: Evaluating the Bennett-Lapid Coalition.

Since the latest parliamentary elections in March 2021, the world has looked upon Israel’s government wondering if the coalition would last. Almost a year later it is still standing and looks like it will remain intact until at least September 2023, when Yair Lapid is scheduled to take over as Prime Minister. Nonetheless, key issues remain that threaten the stability of the coalition. For example, recent settler violence in the West Bank, debates over the citizenship law, and balancing Israeli foreign vs. domestic policy, have all been contentious topics that have sparked inter and intra-party friction in the coalition. Furthermore, questions revolving around Netenyahu’s future in government threaten the sustainability of the coalition, as he is the paradoxical glue that is holding it together. With just a 1 seat majority in parliament, this coalition government cannot afford to lose one of its parties, or it will fall. Thus, these issues must be handled with extreme caution, or Israelis may head to their 5th election in two years.

Join us for a discussion with David Makovsky-- the Ziegler distinguished fellow and director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Project on the Middle East Peace Process. Dr. Makovsky has extensive experience covering events in Israel as a journalist, researcher, and advisor on peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and will provide crucial insight into the state of the Israeli coalition today.

Monday, April 11th at 7:30pm: Location: UB North Campus, O'Brian Hall Room 109

Free event for faculty, students and general public.  

For additional information, please contact Dr. Alexander Green: via phone 716-645-0762 or via email agreen6@buffalo.edu