Yaron Frid reviews Jews and Shoes (Berg, 2008), a new book conceived and edited by Dr. Edna Nahshon, associate professor of Hebrew, in the August 22 edition of Haaretz. The book, which will be available in the U.S. in October, can be preordered from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Library of Congress has invited Dr. Raymond Scheindlin, professor of Medieval Hebrew Literature and director of the Shalom Spiegel Institute of Medieval Hebrew Poetry, to discuss his book, The Song of the Distant Dove: Judah Halevi's Pilgrimage, on September 8. Dr. Scheindlin was also recently elected vice president of the American Academy for Jewish Research.

Dr. Shira Epstein, assistant professor of Jewish Education, will attend the Conversation: Jewish in America, a gathering of American Jews who are leaders or potential leaders in their respective fields to talk about the future of Jewish life in America from September 16-18 in Atlanta.

Dr. Ismar Schorsch, chancellor emeritus and Rabbi Herman Abramovitz Professor of Jewish History, has been elected president of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, the only international body dedicated solely to advancing Jewish cultural activities. The foundation was established by Dr. Nahum Goldmann in 1965 with reparation funds from the Government of West Germany.

Dr. Leonard Levin, assistant professor of Jewish Philosophy, recently translated The Classic Jewish Philosophers from Saadia to the Renaissance and Philosophy of the Bible as Foundation for Jewish Culture, both by Eiezer Schweid. He also translated the forthcoming The Reasons for the Commandments in Jewish Though From the Bible to the Renaissance by Isaac Henemann (Academic Studies Press, 2008).

Dr. Levin's newest book is Seeing With Both Eyes: Ephraim Luntshitz and the Polish Jewish Renaissance (Brill, Summer, 2008). In addition, he is editor of the English translation of The Idea of Modern Jewish Culture (Academic Studies Press, 2008).

Rabbi Michael B. Greenbaum, vice chancellor and assistant professor of Educational Administration, was named one of Newsweek's "Top 50 Influential Rabbis of America." In addition, Ramah: A Paradigm," an essay by Rabbi Greenbaum, will appear in the forthcoming volume of Ramah at 60.

Dr. Edna Nahshon, an associate professor of Hebrew whose specialty is Jewish theater and performance, has received support for her forthcoming book, Jews and Shoes (August 2008) from the Littauer Foundation.

Dr. Burton Visotzky, Nathan and Janet Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies, has just published his first novel, A Delightful Compendium of Consolation: A Fabulous Tale of Romance, Adventure and Faith in the Medieval Mediterranean (Ben Yehuda Press, March 2008).

Dr. Alan Mintz, Chana Kekst Professor of Hebrew Literature and chair of the Department of Hebrew Language, has received a grant from the Littauer Foundation in support for An Anthology of American Hebrew Literature, his forthcoming book which he is co-editing with Yaron Peleg.

Everyday Jews: Scenes From a Vanished Life, (Yale University Press), edited by Dr. David Roskies, Sol and Evelyn Henkind Professor of Yiddish Literature, is available for purchase.