Chava Weissler papers
Collection
Identifier: COU:4302
Scope and Contents
Chava Weissler (1947-) is a scholar who studies the Jewish Renewal Movement, especially the organization called ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. During 2003, with a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Weissler observed Renewal congregations and retreat centers in Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado, California, and Washington State, and interviewed rabbis, teachers and ordinary members. In May of 2003, she delivered the Stroum Lectures at the University of Washington, sharing her insights on Jewish Renewal, and for the fall semester 2003, she was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dates
- 1962 - 2011
Biographical / Historical
Chava Weissler was born in 1947 in Washington, D.C. Weissler attended Brandeis University, where she majored in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, graduating summa cum laude with departmental honors in 1967. After this she became a secretary. She worked at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., in the administrative, press, and agricultural offices.
In the late 1960s, Weissler attended the School of Library Service at Columbia University. While in graduate school, she worked at the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1970, after receiving an M.S., Weissler worked at the Library of Congress, primarily in the Miscellaneous Languages section, cataloging Hebrew, Yiddish, and Albanian books.
In 1975, she began the doctoral program in Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Jewish Folklore. Weissler completed her dissertation, entitled “Making Judaism Meaningful: Ambivalence and Tradition in a Havurah Community,” in 1982. Upon completion of her degree in 1982, Weissler accepted the position of Mellon Preceptor of Modern Judaism in the Religion Department at Princeton University. In 1988, Weissler accepted a position at Lehigh University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion Studies, and as occupant of the Philip and Muriel Berman Chair of Jewish Civilization.
Weissler studies the "Jewish Renewal Movement," especially the organization called "ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal." During 2003, with a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Weissler observed Renewal congregations and retreat centers in Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado, California, and Washington State, and interviewed rabbis, teachers and ordinary members. In May of 2003, she delivered the Stroum Lectures at the University of Washington, sharing her insights on Jewish Renewal, and for the fall semester 2003, she was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
In the late 1960s, Weissler attended the School of Library Service at Columbia University. While in graduate school, she worked at the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1970, after receiving an M.S., Weissler worked at the Library of Congress, primarily in the Miscellaneous Languages section, cataloging Hebrew, Yiddish, and Albanian books.
In 1975, she began the doctoral program in Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Jewish Folklore. Weissler completed her dissertation, entitled “Making Judaism Meaningful: Ambivalence and Tradition in a Havurah Community,” in 1982. Upon completion of her degree in 1982, Weissler accepted the position of Mellon Preceptor of Modern Judaism in the Religion Department at Princeton University. In 1988, Weissler accepted a position at Lehigh University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion Studies, and as occupant of the Philip and Muriel Berman Chair of Jewish Civilization.
Weissler studies the "Jewish Renewal Movement," especially the organization called "ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal." During 2003, with a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Weissler observed Renewal congregations and retreat centers in Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado, California, and Washington State, and interviewed rabbis, teachers and ordinary members. In May of 2003, she delivered the Stroum Lectures at the University of Washington, sharing her insights on Jewish Renewal, and for the fall semester 2003, she was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Extent
21 linear feet (13 total boxes 12 record boxes, 1 box of other type) : Contains various papers, 118 cassette tapes, 15 VHS tapes, 8 DVDs, 61 CDs, 2 Floppy Discs, various ephemera, books, and various photo formats.
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Chava Weissler papers include materials from her scholarship career, including research conducted on the Jewish Renewal Movement, her dissertation, book, and lectures that she gave on the subject. The collection also includes some of her research, ephemera collected at various events and retreats, as well as audio and visual materials from her work in this subject area.
Arrangement
Series 1, Interviews
Series 2, Writings
Subseries 1, Notes
Subseries 2, Book
Subseries 3, Dissertation
Subseries 4, Lecture
Subseries 5, Articles
Subseries 6, Research
Series 3, Ephemera
Series 4, Audio and Visual Media
Series 5, Conferences/Retreats
Series 6, Magazines/Newsletters
Series 7, Books
Series 2, Writings
Subseries 1, Notes
Subseries 2, Book
Subseries 3, Dissertation
Subseries 4, Lecture
Subseries 5, Articles
Subseries 6, Research
Series 3, Ephemera
Series 4, Audio and Visual Media
Series 5, Conferences/Retreats
Series 6, Magazines/Newsletters
Series 7, Books
- Title
- The Chava Weissler Papers
- Author
- Processed by Samantha Mat, 2017; ArchivesSpace entry by Samantha Mat, 2017.
- Date
- 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, Special Collections & Archives Repository
