The University of Pennsylvania’s Jewish Studies program just received a large but undisclosed gift from one of its own.
Julie Beren Platt and Marc E. Platt, 1979 graduates, are donating to the school’s Penn Arts and Sciences Jewish Studies Program, the school announced in September.
Joshua Teplitsky, the Joseph Meyerhoff Chair in Modern Jewish History and Ruth Meltzer Director of the Jewish Studies Program, said there are two components to this gift that will radically expand the capabilities of the department.
“The first part is an endowed professorship, and the second part is a separate fund that is dedicated to supporting graduate student training. Those are two complementary ingredients in creating the long-term sustainability of Jewish Studies at Penn,” he said.
Teplitsky said that the endowed professorship will allow the school to determine what part of Jewish Studies it wants to expand. That professor will be responsible for large lectures and traditional seminars, as well as working with students in research.
Funds going to supporting graduate student training will also be a huge help for Penn’s Jewish Studies department.
“Becoming a scholar is a lengthy and heavy process that can be time-consuming, and we expect our graduate students to learn new languages, and that often requires them taking summer courses abroad in specialized places,” Teplitsky said. “Some graduate students, as they work on their dissertations, have to travel to archives around the world, and that can be really pricey. … I’m really excited. It’s also going to allow graduate student training to not just be a solitary activity.”
Teplitsky said that the gift will also allow the university to start a conference for graduate students in the field of Jewish studies from across the country. The idea is to have an annual meeting in Philadelphia where research will be presented and feedback can be exchanged. This will help expand the field of Jewish studies as a whole, not just at Penn.
Penn President J. Larry Jameson said that the gift will make waves at the University.
“Julie and Marc have been extraordinarily thoughtful and dedicated alumni leaders for decades,” he said. “We are grateful for their commitment and vision to advance Jewish Studies at Penn for the benefit of all. Their support will have an immediate and sustained impact on the field, enhancing education and scholarship at Penn and around the world.”
Professors agree.
“Jewish Studies are an integral part of Penn’s scholarship,” says Mark Trodden, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences and Thomas S. Gates Jr. Professor of Physics & Astronomy. “The creation of an endowed chair will fortify that historic strength, allowing us to recruit and retain scholars who will continue to grow the program.”
Julie Beren Platt currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and is also on the Penn Hillel National Board of Governors. Marc Platt serves on the Director’s Advisory Council for Penn Live Arts. The two have made numerous contributions to their alma mater, including the creation of the the Platt Student Performing Arts House and the Julie Beren Platt and Marc Platt Rehearsal Room in Houston Hall. They have also contirbuted to the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies.