The Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Jack Miller Center, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that students learn the history and principles at the heart of American political life. The financial support will fund a new guest-lecture series, titled “Jewish Ideas and American Government,” for the 2020-2021 academic year. Under the direction of Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of the Straus Center, and Dr. Neil Rogachevsky, associate director, the series will welcome eight esteemed scholars to lecture on topics such as religion and the American founding, the Declaration of Independence and the family in Lockean liberalism and Judaism. Focusing on political thought as well as Judaism, Christianity and other religious traditions, the lecture series aims to provide Yeshiva University students with a wide view of politics and religion in the American tradition. “I am delighted to partner with the Jack Miller Center for this important initiative,” said Dr. Rogachevsky. “Our students are uniquely placed to engage, at a high level, with themes surrounding religion and politics in America. The opportunity for them to interact with some of the country’s most distinguished faculty working in this area will be a great boon to the entire Yeshiva University community.” The Jack Miller Center partners with faculty, administrators and donors to transform student access to education in American political thought and history, an education the Center believes is necessary for informed civic engagement. By receiving this grant, Yeshiva University joins a list of many distinguished academic institutions that have worked with the Jack Miller Center, including Columbia University, the University of Notre Dame and Yale University.  

Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia