The nature of self from a Jewish perspective

The Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder will host Professor Sarah Pessin, the Emil & Eva Hecht Chair in Judaic Studies and Director of the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver for an engaging multi-media examination of the nature of self from a Jewish philosophical perspective on Thursday, March 12 at 4 p.m. in the University of Colorado’s UMC room 247.

Her presentation, Hineni, Here I Am: Jewish Notions of the Self draws from the writings of such prominent thinkers as Martin Buber, Emmanuel Levinas and Moses Maimonides as Professor Pessin examines the nature of the sacred core of self in God and in ethical encounters across Biblical source texts and medieval theological poetry.

Professor Pessin joined DU’s Department of Philosophy and the Center for Judaic Studies in Fall 2004. In addition to serving as the current director for the Center for Judaic Studies, Sarah directs the new Holocaust project at DU which aims to re-invent Holocaust memorialization through the broadly humanist theme of “Tikkum Olam” (Repairing the World).

Her research covers various topics in Jewish and Islamic philosophy, mysticism and poetry, Neoplatonisms, medieval philosophy, comparative philosophies of religion, as well as topics in health and healing and cross-cultural dialogue. She is interested in the nature of the sacred and its relation to inter-human engagement and response. She also is interested in the relationship between meditative and anxious modes of religious encounter, and existential issues related to the theme of humor.

This lecture is free and open to the public. For questions or additional information, visit www.colorado.edu/jewishstudies, e-mail Jamie.Polliard@colorado.edu or call 303-492-7143.

March 4, 2009

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