Ithaca College

Ruth Ellen Gruber coined the term “Virtually Jewish” to describe the way that so-called “Jewish space” in Europe is often filled by non-Jews.

Ruth Ellen Gruber
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Center for Natural Sciences 112
Ithaca College

Ruth Ellen Gruber is an American writer, photographer, broadcaster, and independent scholar living in Europe. For nearly 20 years, she has chronicled Jewish cultural developments and other contemporary European Jewish issues. She coined the term “Virtually Jewish” to describe the way that so-called “Jewish space” in Europe is often filled by non-Jews. More than half a century after the Holocaust, countries where Jews make up just a tiny fraction of the population, products of Jewish culture (or what is perceived as Jewish culture) have become very viable components of the popular public domain. But how can there be a visible and growing Jewish presence in Europe, without the significant presence of Jews? In Virtually Jewish Ruth Ellen Gruber explores this phenomenon, traveling through Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and elsewhere to observe firsthand the many facets of a remarkable trend.

See www.ruthellengruber.com for more information.

Co-sponsored by Jewish Studies, Hillel, the Department of History, and the Department of Politics. For further information, please contact Rebecca Lesses, assistant professor of Jewish Studies (274-3556 or rlesses@ithaca.edu).

Free and open to all. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Affirmative Action at 607-274-3909 (voice), 607-274-1767 (TDD), or bleblanc@ithaca.edu as much in advance as possible.