The following are answers to questions often asked by prospective students and/or their parents about being Jewish at Knox:
Prepared by Penny Gold, Professor of History and Faculty Advisor to the club (1987-2008)
On a recent survey of graduating seniors, 5% of the students identified themselves as Jewish. Using that figure for the student body as a whole would indicate about 70 Jewish students out of 1,350 total. There are usually about 40 or so students on the mailing list for the Jewish Club (most of whom are Jewish, but not all). In any year the number of students actively involved in club activities are lower than that--in a slow year maybe 3-4 and in a good year maybe 10-15. So, the numbers are small. The up side is that a student interested in pursuing Jewish activities via the club has an easy time having his or her voice heard and in initiating projects.
The activities of the Jewish Club vary from year to year, according to the interests of the students in the club. As faculty advisor, I help generate ideas and set some things up. For example, during the High Holidays, I make sure that rides are available to services, and students are invited to my home for dinner on Erev Rosh Hashanah, and in some years to help build a sukkah. We often do a havdalah ceremony during Parents Weekend, and we sometimes get together with the student rabbi from Hebrew Union College who serves the local congregation. We also provide an opportunity for an informal gathering with the current visiting scholar from Israel (a different person each year). Other activities have included: student-cooked Shabbat dinners and bagel brunches, bringing in speakers or performers (sometimes in conjunction with other clubs, such as the Interfaith Club or the Islamic Club), participating in International Fair, informal discussions, and social get togethers.
How do other students get along with Jewish students?
I think it is rare that Jewish students get separated off (or separate themselves off) on the basis of being Jewish. My guess is that most students wouldn't know which other students were Jewish (unless they themselves were Jewish and made a point of finding out). I can remember only one act of anti-Semitism (a graffiti) in my 28 years at Knox. Ignorance about Jews and Judaism is quite widespread, but not antipathy. The midwest (and particularly the rural midwest) is quite different in this regard from the east coast. (I grew up in southern Connecticut.)
What Jewish Studies opportunities are available?
There are a small number of Jewish Studies course offerings available. I teach an introductory course on "Judaism, Christianity, and Islam" as well as two Jewish history courses ("Jews in America" and "The Bible in History"). Professor Natania Rosenfeld in the English Department teaches a course on "The Literature of the Holocaust" and also has a strong interest in American Jewish literature. Each year we have a visiting professor from Israel who teaches a course in the fall term. The courses have ranged in topic, including: "The Arab-Israeli Question," "Israel as Place," "Religion and State in Israel," and "Zionism and the Arab Question," "Judaism, Islam and Questions of Gender" (team-taught by two Israelis, one Jewish, one Palestinian), "Home and Exile in Jewish Literature." We also have endowment funds dedicated to Jewish Studies that enable us to bring speakers to campus, to support student travel to conferences for Jewish college students, and to sponsor student projects in Jewish Studies (e.g., participation in an archeological dig in Israel, summer study of Hebrew, supplementary funds for a junior-year abroad in Israel).
We unfortunately do not offer courses in Hebrew at Knox. But we do have funding available to help with the cost of studying Hebrew off campus. For example, one student recently took an intensive one-year course in the summer at the University of Chicago (which fulfilled the Knox language requirement), and another student recently spent her junior year at the University of Haifa. Each student received $2,000 to help with the cost of the off-campus program.
Is there a synagogue in Galesburg?
There is a small Reform congregation in town, not far from campus, and students are most welcome to participate there, whether in going to services or in helping out with the religious school. From time to time a student does get quite involved. A fair number of students attend High Holiday services there each year, and the congregational seder is well-attended by students. The congregation is served by a student rabbi from Hebrew Union College, who travels to Galesburg about once every three weeks.
Is it possible to sustain a sense of Jewish identity in an environment like that at Knox and in Galesburg?
There are easier places to be Jewish than Knox and Galesburg, but it can also happen that the smaller community can heighten a sense of Jewish identity. It worked like this for me when I came to Galesburg, and I've seen it happen to many students over the years. On the other hand, it can also happen that Jewish identity diminishes once one is away at from home, and I have seen that as well (indeed, this happened to me when I was an undergraduate, at a school that had a very large proportion of Jewish students and many Jewish resources--the University of Chicago).
More questions? Please don't hesitate to follow up with further questions. I would also be happy to put you in touch with some Jewish students currently at Knox, or to arrange for you to meet Jewish students during a campus visit.
Sincerely,