Discover what's happening at the Center for Judaic Studies, the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society and the Holocaust Awareness Institute. Read about Judaic Studies students and faculty, and join us for our many events and conferences, including the Fred Marcus Memorial Holocaust Lecture, the Vinnik Evening of Jewish Culture, the Week of Jewish Philosophy and the Hebrew Seminar, as well as frequent online exhibitions highlighting the collections in the Beck Archives.
RMJHS is excited to partner with Historic Denver on themuch-loved program series “Cocktails in Cool Places.” Join us at the Ironworks Building near lower Colfax and Larimer for a captivating evening inside the iconic Midwest Steel and Ironworks Building, built in 1903. Explore this true Denver landmark and dive into the rich heritage of the West Colfax neighborhood: RMJHS and the Beck Archives will offer an illuminating look at the early Jewish community that helped shape this vibrant area.
5:30 p.m. MT
Midwest Steel and Ironworks Building | 25 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80204
The RMJHS Book Club is reading "The Jew Who Would be King: A True Story of Shipwreck, Survival, and Scandal in Victorian Africa"
Join RMJHS and author and CJS Director Adam Rovner for a discussion of his latest book, The Jew Who Would be King. Rovner’s book tells the story of Nathaniel Isaacs—a nineteenth-century British Jew who helped establish the Zulu kingdom only to become a ruthless warlord and slaveholder. Purchase a copy of The Jew Who Would Be KingHERE
RSVP to joshua.furman@du.edu or 303-871-3085
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. MT
University of Denver Burwell Career Center, 2190 E Asbury Ave, Denver, CO
Sunday, September 14 & Monday, September 15, 2025
The 2025 RMJHS Annual Meeting presents RMJHS on the Road: Historic Jewish Trinidad, CO
Join the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society on the road as we explore Colorado Jewish history on location in Trinidad, CO! We’ll delve into the Jewish history of the town and learn about the restoration of Temple Aaron, which became a National Historic Landmark in 2024, and we’ll visit the Trinidad History Museum and other nearby sites.
This trip will include an overnight stay in Trinidad. Travel with RMJHS by bus from Denver or plan your own transportation and meet us there.
Details and registration coming soon! For more information, contact RMJHS Director Dr. Joshua Furman at Joshua.Furman@DU.edu.
Trinidad, CO
Vinnik Evening of Jewish Culture
Sandy Vinnik was a passionate advocate for the advancement of Jewish studies and a leader in the Denver Jewish community. As part of her work with the center, the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society and the Holocaust Awareness Institute, Sandy founded the Dr. Irwin E. Vinnik Fellowship for Advanced Study, providing funding for research and educational projects and learning trips to Israel. Sandy worked tirelessly to promote scholarship and understanding of Jewish culture. Each year, we honor her memory at the Vinnik Evening of Jewish Culture, which brings the community together for a night of film in partnership with the Denver Jewish Film Festival.
Conferences and Seminars
Center for Judaic Studies holds conferences and seminars to engage with the Denver Jewish community and beyond.
May 29: When Strawberries Bloom: The Creation of Golda Meir
Play by Mike Broemmel with Selena A. Naumoff as Golda Meir
April 10: Blind Spot: film screening and discussion
Leonard Gold (producer), Aliya Zigman (student), Daniel Bennet (Hillel of CO director)
Center for Judaic Studies, DU Hillel, Israeli-American Council
April 7-8: David Shneer Memorial Conference]
International conference dedicated to the memory and legacy of Dr. David Shneer, z”l, former director of DU’s Center for Judaic Studies and founding director of CU Boulder’s Jewish Studies Program.
Center for Judaic Studies, CU Boulder Program in Jewish Studies
April 2: An Evening of Art and Story: Frank Stella’s Had Gadya in Conversation
Panel discussion with Dr. Adam Rovner and Dr. Dean Sobel in the context of the exhibition of Frank Stella’s Had Gadya print series.
Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver Libraries
March 4: Guest Lecture, Postmodern Visions of Israel
Adi Keissar, Israeli poet, Bar-Ilan University
March 4: Guest Lecture, Multicultural Israel: Food, Film and Beyond
Dr. Roy Horovitz, Israeli actor and director, Bar-Ilan University
February 27: Exodus: One Story, Two Communities
Dr. Joshua Furman joined a talkback following a concert by The Spirituals Project
Center for Judaic Studies (sponsor),The Sprirituals Project - Lamont School of Music
February 26: The Middle East at a Crossroad: What Comes Next?
Dr. Micheline Ishay (DU), Amb. Gary Grappo (DU), Dr. Ahmed Abdrabou (DU), Dr. Lawrence Garber (DU)
Center for Judaic Studies, Center for Middle East Studies
November 2: 6th Annual Vinnik Evening of Jewish Culture
Film screening: Sabbath Queen and conversation with director Sandi DuBowski
Center for Judaic Studies, 47th Denver Film Festival
October 28: “Race & Space in Africa: An International Roundtable”
Milo Gough (Oxford University), Kimberly Jones (DU), Maik Nwosu (DU), Trishula Patel (DU), Adam Rovner (DU)
Center for Judaic Studies, Department of History, Department of English & Literary Arts
October 7: Vigil for the victims and hostages of October 7
Center for Judaic Studies, Hillel of Colorado – DU, DU Chabad, Jewish Students’ Alliance
September 24: Roundtable “The Middle East in Review: One Year After October 7”
Dr. Micheline Ishay (DU), Amb. Gary Grappo (DU), Dr. Ahmed Abdrabou (DU), Dr. Aaron Pilkington (USAFA)
Center for Judaic Studies, Center for Middle East Studies
September 19-21: Israel-America Council Annual Conference
Assistant Teaching Professor of Hebrew Michal Lev led a group of students to Washington D.C. to attend
September 13-29: Wheat Ridge Theater Company presents Bad Jews
Play by Joshua Harmon
Center for Judaic Studies (sponsor), Wheat Ridge Theater Company
June 5: Film screening: Supernova: The Truth About October 7
Ofri Reiner, Nova Festival survivor
Center for Judaic Studies, Israel-America Council, ADL, Jewish Community Relations Council, Hillel of Colorado, DU-Chabad
May 22: Dedication of the Dr. David Schneer Memorial Library
Personal academic library of former CJS director Dr. David Schneer
March 7: Guest Lecture, Multicultural Israel: Food, Film and Beyond
Israeli author and screenwriter Noa Yedlin (Stockholm)
March 7: 5th Annual Vinnik Evening of Jewish Culture
Author Noa Yedlin’s Stockholm – Screening of the limited series and discussion
Center for Judaic Studies, Denver Film
February 28: Occupation, War in Gaza, Prospects for Peace
Dr. David Kretzmer (Department of Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem) in conversation with Dr. Micheline Ishay (DU Center for Middle East Studies)
Center for Judaic Studies, Center for Middle East Studies
February 20: Annual Breck-Martin Lecture
"Home, at the End of the World" with Dr. Kathleen Belew
Center for Judaic Studies, Department of History
February 7: Sexual Violence on October 7: A Battle for The Truth
Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kadari (Bar-Ilan University Law School, UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) in conversation with Dr. Micheline Ishay (DU Center for Middle East Studies)
Center for Judaic Studies, Center for Middle East Studies
February 6: Guest Lecture, Multicultural Israel: Food, Film and Beyond
Todd Hasak-Lowy (Art Institute of Chicago)
February 6: Guest Lecture, Jewish Humor: Origins and Meaning
Todd Hasak-Lowy (Art Institute of Chicago)
Center for Judaic Studies, English & Literary Arts
January 22: Guest Lecture, Multicultural Israel: Food, Film and Beyond
Israeli filmmaker Barak Heymann
January 17: Panel Discussion: 100 Days Later: The Israel-Hamas War
Ahmed Abdrabou (DU), Micheline Ishay (DU), Gary Grappo (DU), Karim Mattar (CU Boulder), Jonathan Sciarcon (DU)
Center for Judaic Studies, Center for Middle East Studies
May: Panel Discussion: The Holocaust in Comic Books and Graphic Novels
Selena Naumoff (DU), Erin Christian (Teacher)
Holocaust Awareness Institute, BMH-BJ Synagogue, Denver
May: Panel Discussions: The Comics Code Authority; Historic Events in Comic Books & Graphic Novels; The Holocaust in Comic Books and Graphic Novels, Volume II
Selena Naumoff (DU), Erin Christian (Teacher)
Holocaust Awareness Institute, Phoenix Fan Fusion Convention
April: Panel Discussion: The Holocaust in Comic Books and Graphic Novels
Selena Naumoff (DU), Erin Christian (Teacher)
Holocaust Awareness Institute, LINC Library Greeley, CO
March 3: Colorado Council on the Social Studies Annual Conference
Survival & Witness information table
Holocaust Awareness Institute, Colorado Council on the CSS, History Colorado
February 12: Holocaust Education Professional Development Workshop
“Introduction to IWitness: Using Visual History in the Classroom"
Holocaust Awareness Institute, USC Shoah Foundation, Colorado Holocaust Educators
January 29: International Holocaust Remembrance Day Program
“War Crimes, Social Influence & Justice: Lessons from the Holocaust for Today” with Kathrin Janzen (University of Vienna), Hans-Christian Jasch (German Federal Ministry of the Interior), Matt Wynia (CU Anschutz Center for Bioethics & Humanities)
Holocaust Awareness Institute, CU Anschutz Center for Bioethics and Humanities
January 29: International Holocaust Remembrance Day Salon
Kathrin Janzen (University of Vienna), Hans-Christian Jasch (German Federal Ministry of the Interior)
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