Alum Gift Supports Feinberg Lecture

An annual gift from Dr. Sidney Peerless and his late wife, Miriam Peerless, will support the 29th Annual Feinberg Memorial Lecture in Judaic Studies to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26 in 400 Tangeman University Center.

Dr.Sidney Peerless

One of the oldest continuous academic lectureships in Judaic studies in the United States, the Feinberg events have been sponsored by the Peerless family in memory of Miriam Peerless’ internationally renowned father, Rabbi Louis Feinberg, an influential thinker in the early 20th century. The lecture series began as a gift from Feinberg’s daughter and son-in-law to promote efforts to introduce Jewish thinkers to the campus and the community.

Peerless, a 2003 Distinguished Alumnus of McMicken College, graduated in 1944 in fewer than four years in order to advance rapidly to the College of Medicine and ultimately to assist in the war effort. Richard Freidman describes him as a long-time friend of the department and the college: “The philanthropic energies of Sidney Peerless reach to the local, national, and international community. He has an abiding interest in assisting others in need, whether with the goods of life, education, or health. The Department of Judaic Studies is honored to have Dr. Peerless as one of its important and significant friends.”

Derek Penslar

This year’s Feinberg lecturer is Derek Penslar, Zacks Professor of History and director of the Jewish Studies program at the University of Toronto. He will discuss “Power without Land: Jews and the Military in Modern Times.” Author and editor of several books, Penslar has centered his research on the history of modern European Jewry, Zionism, and the state of Israel. His current projects include a documentary history of Zionism and a book about Jewish involvement in modern warfare.

The event is free and open to the public. Additional information is available by calling the Judaic Studies office at 513-556-0351.