Professor David Ellenson, right, then director of the Schusterman Center,
with founding director Professor Ilan Troen, left.
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With deep sadness, the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University announces the passing of Rabbi David Ellenson, PhD, who was director of the Center, and visiting professor in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University, from 2015-2018.
Professor David Ellenson was President, and later Chancellor of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he also taught for decades. Ordained as a rabbi by HUC-JIR in 1977, David received his PhD from Columbia University in 1981. He was a prolific and internationally admired scholar, who wrote and edited numerous books and over 300 articles and reviews. His research covered many fields within modern Jewish history and thought, including the history of the development of modern Jewish religious denominations, and the dynamic relationship between Jewish tradition and modernity. He was a visiting scholar at very many universities in the USA, Israel, and Europe. A fuller account of his academic career and his other contributions, circulated by Dr. Andrew Rehfeld, current president of HUC-JIR, is available here.
After decades of outstanding achievement, we were blessed that David considered it the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to spend time at Brandeis. During his tenure as the director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, David taught students from the undergraduate to the doctoral level, and supervised a number of PhD dissertations. He championed the expansion of important areas of Israel Studies such as the study of Sefardi and Mizrachi history and halacha. He also presided over a wide range of programs. In 2017, under David’s leadership, Brandeis hosted the annual meeting of the Association of Israel Studies and one year later he convened a conference in celebration of the center’s 10th anniversary. With Michael Marmur, he edited an important collection on American Jewish Thought Since 1934 for Brandeis University Press. Prof. Lisa Lynch, who was provost of Brandeis during David’s time here, rightly called him an “extraordinary man.”
It is a remarkable testament to David’s spirit that, while he was admired as a prolific scholar of the highest caliber, he is perhaps remembered even more for his endless kindness, generosity, emotional openness, and good humor. Even years after leaving Brandeis he held regular meetings with his former students and staff. He was a wise and compassionate guide to countless students and colleagues, and shone with care and respect for everyone he came across. It is exceedingly rare for such a gifted orator to be such an attentive listener, for a single individual to have such a brilliant mind and such a generous heart.
Many alumni of Schusterman Center programs have already written with their fond and lasting memories of David. Notes of condolence sent to [email protected] will be collated and sent to his family.
The funeral will be held at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 10. It will be livestreamed here. Shiva will be held at Rodeph Sholom, Monday through Thursday 4-7 p.m., with prayer services at 6 p.m. on each of those days.
We extend our deepest condolences to David’s family. He will be deeply missed. May his memory be a blessing.
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Schusterman Center for Israel Studies • Brandeis University |
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415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453 |
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