YC Honors Its Scholars

On Thursday April 29, Yeshiva College honored the scholarship of three professors with a publishing celebration in Furst Hall. Professors Louis Feldman, Shalom Carmy, and Frank Felsenstein each discussed their recent works with students, faculty, deans, and university President Dr. Norman Lamm. Kicking off the event, Dean Norman Adler emphasized the importance of original work in academic life at Yeshiva College. He then introduced Dr. Lamm who congratulated the honorees and praised Professor Feldman for his inability to write a book less than 700 pages in length.

Dr. Feldman presented a short summary of his work on Josephus's interpretation of the Bible. He described many instances Josephus had changed Biblical accounts and perverted a good portion of historical fact. Feldman explained Josephus's portrayal of Joseph, for example, was in fact a depiction of Josephus's own history. Feldman summarized his findings regarding Josephus by explaining that he "would not [even] buy a used chariot from the man."

Rabbi Carmy next took the floor introducing the work he had edited on suffering in Jewish law and experience. Rabbi Carmy compiled essays he and other Jewish scholars had offered at a recent Orthodox Forum. Rabbi Carmy made special mention of the experiential element of the work, specifically his family's suffering in the Holocaust. In an emotional tribute, Rabbi Carmy described his love for teaching at Yeshiva University and the impact his students have continually had on his scholarship.

Dr. Felsenstein, an English professor at Yeshiva College and director of the new Honors College Program, described some of the difficulties in publishing his work on Anti-Semitic stereotypes in Seventeenth-Century English culture.

The event attracted a mix of more than 35 professors and students. The crowd included many regular members of the bi-weekly Dean's Table meetings. The three books were all available for purchase after the presentations. The honorees signed copies and enthusiastically answered students' questions concerning their works.