Prof. Donald Weber (Lucia, Ruth, and Elizabeth MacGregor Professor of Englis
h at Mount Holyoke College)
Thursday, March 23, 2017 @ 5:00pm
201 Fisher-Bennett Hall, 3340 Walnut Street, University of Pennsylvania
Prof. Donald Weber is Lucia, Ruth, and Elizabeth MacGregor Professor of English at Mount Holyoke College. He is the author of Haunted in the New World: Jewish American Culture from Cahan to The Goldbergs. He writes frequently on Jewish American literature and popular culture for The Forward, Tikkun, and other publications.
“On and Off the Derech [path, or way]” explores an emerging literary genre, what Tablet Magazine calls “ex-frum” narratives: stories of Jewish turning away from strict religious subcultures, as well as stories of re-turn to the ultra-orthodox fold. Drawing on recent novels, memoirs, and film documentaries, the presentation situates this rich zone of contemporary Jewish American expressive culture through personal narrative and cultural analysis.
Co- sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program and the Department of Religious Studies.