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. Dr. Nahshon will speak about Jews and Shoes at the Library of Congress on December 11.

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).