Community Teaching

Professor Jassen is Ethel and Irvin Edelman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies and Chair of the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University. He is a popular and in-demand public lecturer. He has taught widely throughout the United States at synagogues, churches, museums, and community centers. He has extensive experience teaching in adult education settings and has frequently served as a scholar in residence. Dr. Jassen was recently the scholar in residence for an immersive week of learning at the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at Case Western University. He shared an opening and closing lecture as well as two separate three-session courses over four days. Full details can be found here.

Dr. Jassen utilizes a wide range of teaching techniques to engage with audiences and convey his enthusiasm for Jewish history and literature. He has a unique ability to make academic scholarship exciting, accessible, and meaningful.

Several of Professor Jassen's community lectures and media conversations can be viewed online

If you are interested in having Professor Jassen teach in your community as a scholar in residence, please contact him by email

Dr. Jassen teaching at the Institute for Advanced Studies (University of Minnesota)

Dr. Jassen on the CNN program Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery

Potential Topics for Community Teaching

What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls and Why Are they So Important?
Black Market Forgeries, and Tricksters: Trading Ancient Jewish Manuscripts
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of the Bible
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the History of Judaism and Christianity
Rediscovering the Lost Books of the Bible
Ancient Israel through Text and Archaeology
Biblical Characters Outside the Bible
Midrash and the Art of Jewish Biblical Interpretation
The Beginnings of Judaism and Christianity: Scholars, Soldiers, and Sectarians
Its the End of the World As We Know It: Jewish Perspectives
What does Judaism Believe about the Afterlife?
Prophecy in Judaism
Jewish Perspectives on War and Peace

Testimonials

"A rising star of the new generation of scholars, Alex Jassen is enthusiastic, engaging, and thought provoking. His discussion of ancient Judaism resonates with questions for our own day."

Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz

Director, The Jewish Publication Society of America

****

"I have been running the adult education program at Brotherhood Synagogue for over 10 years. Alex was a joy to work with from start to finish. He created the perfect class for the learners in my program and was easily adaptable to changes when events forced us to go online. His teaching style is inclusive and informative. A great mix for those who want more in-depth content and for those who want to just listen and learn for an hour."

Trudi Rae Bartow

Brotherhood Synagogue (New York City), Board member and former Congregational president

****

"He gave a terrific talk on a subject of great interest; the prior talk on the previous evening, was equally informative. More like this please!"

"Excellent speaker, material well organized, well versed in the subject."

"Outstanding lecturer. Remarkable mastery of subject."

"He was very knowledge and able to convey a difficult subject in a way that people could understand and enjoy."

"I liked him. He had a good sense of humor, seemed very approachable, happy to answer questions."

Adult Learners at Siegal Lifelong Learning Program, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Jassen Teaching at the Science Museum of Minnesota

"Dr. Jassen is a highly sought-after teacher in our synagogue’s adult education programs. His style, depth of knowledge and keen ability to connect with his learners provided for fabulous adult learning opportunities, from educational bus tours to mini-courses to study retreats."

Wendy Schwartz, R.J.E.

Adult Education Coordinator - Temple Israel, Minneapolis, Minnesota

****

"We are a group of about 23 couples, aged 55 to 75, generally retired professionals, most of whom have a strong Jewish background. We meet monthly and invite outstanding leaders to teach us about a range of subjects from a Jewish perspective. We really enjoyed Professor Jassen's interactive teaching style. He is one of a very few teachers whom we have invited back every year without fail!"

Tom Kafka - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Report abuse