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History & Art Hebrew U. PressReleases
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| The Editorial Board of HUAS: Valentina Calzolari (Geneva), Nina Garso?an (emerita, Columbia University), Robert Kraft (University of Pennsylvania), Theo M. van Lint (Leiden University), M.E. Stone (Editor) |
Armenian Paradigms by Gregory E. Sterling, edited by Michael E.
Stone
This pedagogical tool, now ready for publication, was assembled by
Professor Gregory E. Sterling of Notre Dame University, a student
in Michael Stone's course in Ancient Armenian in 2000-2001. The tables
will greatly facilitate the study of Ancient Armenian. The tables
Professor Sterling prepared were revised and amplified by Michael
Stone and reviewed by three senior Armenologists.
Publication of Student Articles
Four articles by Armenian Studies students are accepted for publication
in the highly-respected journal, Le Museon. These articles
were written in the context of Michael Stone's seminar in Armenian
manuscripts two years ago. Proofs of the first article, by Yoav Loeff
and Daniel Stokl have been read.
Translations of Three Poems by Frik Published
Three poems by the medieval Armenian poet Frik were translated into
English by Fr. Pakrad Bourjekian and Michael Stone, in the course
of Michael Stone's seminar(2000-1). The poems were published, with
annotations and introduction, in the literary journal Ararat.
Hebrew University Expedition to Armenia
Second Season's Activities
In October 2000 a Hebrew University Armenian Studies Program expedition
surveyed an ancient Jewish cemetery in Eghegis, Armenia. An agreement
made between the Armenian Studies Program, the Institute of Archeology
of the National Armenian Academy of Sciences, and the Diocese of Siwnik
of the Armenian Church which provides for the continued study of this
and similar sites and for general scholarly cooperation.
During the first two weeks May 2001 the Armenian Studies Program organized
a second season of excavations. In the course of the excavations another
twenty tombstones were discovered, including a number with inscriptions
or decoration. In accordance with the agreement made with the Institute
of Archeology of the Armenian Academy of Sciences, this was a joint
Israeli-Armenian expedition.
The history of the Jewish community of Armenia is thus being uncovered.
It is now known to have existed from the mid-thirteenth to the mid-fourteenth
century, when Eghegis was the regional capital.
The second season's work was sponsored by the Charles and Agnes Kazarian
Eternal Fund, the Ben Tzvi Institute, the Foundation for Biblical
Archeology with the Charles and Stella Guttman Foundation Inc., the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Publications and Publicity
The Eghegis discoveries aroused widespread interest. There have been
major articles in a number of magazines and newspapers. Both Michael
Stone and David Amit the Expedition's archeological director, have
been invited to lecture widely at major scientific gatherings on this
significant discovery.
The English report on the first season's work will appear in the spring
2002 issue of Journal of Jewish Studies and the report on the
second season is being prepared. A Hebrew report on both seasons is
in press in Pe'amim (Ben Tzvi Institute). An article in Armenian
by H. Melkonian and N. Hagopian is being prepared, for publication
in Patmabanaskirakan Handes in Yerevan.
Further Research and Plans
A small team will return to the site in August 2002 to finalize certain
points of excavation, documentation and photography. In addition,
arrangements will be made for the conservation of the site. A grant
has been received dedicated to the erection of a building on the site
to house the inscribed tombstones and small finds from the excavation.
For further details see the Armenian Studies Web Site: http://micro5.mscc.huji.ac.il/~armenia
Agreement with Yerevan State University: Study Group Planned
for Summer 2001
In October 2000 an Agreement of Cooperation between the Hebrew University
and Yerevan State University was signed in Yerevan by Rector Radik
Mardirossian. On January 11, 2001 it was signed in Jerusalem by HU
Rector Menahem Ben Sason.
The Armenian Studies Program presented the complete University of
Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies series and the new Hebrew
University Armenian Series volumes to Yerevan State University. Gifts
of Armenian books, particularly in the field of modern literature,
have arrived in Jerusalem from Yerevan State University.
Next will be the visit of a study group of Armenian Studies students
and associates to Yerevan in August, 2002 under the leadership of
Dr. Sergio La Porta. YSU is assisting in setting up the program, logistics
and lodgings.
Study of Jerusalem's Kaghakatsi Dialect of Armenian
The project of recording and preserving a record of the unique dialect
of Armenian spoken in Jerusalem took a major step this summer. The
"kaghakatsi" dialect, still spoken only by a few surviving
senior members of the Jerusalem, was the form of Armenian spoken by
the old community of Jerusalem. It has never been studied previously.
The project was initiated at a meeting 1999 between Professor Y. Ziv,
President of the Israel Academy of Sciences; Professor Georg Brutian,
Vice President of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences; and Professor
Michael E. Stone. It is initiated, organized and forwarded by the
Armenian Studies Program.
Sponsored by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the National
Armenian Academy of Sciences, and the Armenian Studies Program of
the Hebrew University the project has the welcome support of H.B.
Torkom II, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. In summer 2001 Armenologist
Dr. Th.M. van Lint came to Jerusalem and lived in the Armenian Quarter,
as guest of the Patriarch. He conducted tens of interviews with the
kaghakatsi speakers still alive in Jerusalem. These were recorded
on audio disks and, together with Dr. van Lint's report, have been
forwarded to dialectologist Dr. Bert Vaux for study and analysis.
Library
The growth of the Armenian Studies Program and its student body create
an urgent need to increase our modest library collection. Some books
on Armenian topics are purchased from the general library budget,
but this limited sum is not adequate for keeping up with current publications,
not to speak of collection development. We have developed various
supplementary programs, such as our exchange programs with the Library
of Congress and other institutions.
H.B. Torkom II, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem donated a number of
volumes published by the Patriarchate's St. James Press, as have a
number of individuals and institutions. We are particularly happy
to acknowledge the gift by Aram J. Kevorkian of Paris announced in
the following letter.
My father Karnig Kevorkian, who edited and published the Groong weekly newspaper in Philadelphia for 43 years, left a number of books in Armenian. I would estimate that there are about 200 books, which have literary and historical interest.
He is also presenting his father's book Chnkushabadum, about
the Armenian community of Chnkush.
Appointments and Honors
Professor Michael E. Stone was awarded the Landau Prize for Sciences
and Research in the field of the Humanities for 2002. This is a new,
major prize for scholarly achievement and contribution to Israeli
society. Professor Stone is the first awardee in the Humanities.
Michael Stone Visits the USA
During the Fall, Professor Michael E. Stone was on leave at Harvard
University. Widely sought after as a lecturer, he spoke at Harvard,
Yale, Princeton, Duke University, Wayne State University and the University
of Michigan-Dearborn. He was featured speaker at the Annual Assembly
of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and
addressed the Armenian Library and Museum of America, St. John's Armenian
Church in Southfield, MI and Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge,
MA. In all these places he met with academic and communal leaders
and presented the work of our program.
Agreement with Dearborn
During his visit to the Armenian Research Center, University of Michigan-Dearborn,
Michael Stone had most fruitful talks with its Director, Professor
Dennis Papazian. They agreed on cooperation in a number of fields.
A joint conference will be held in 2003 on the theme of "Holy
Etchmiadzin," the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians and
a crucial center of Armenian religious and artistic life.
A draft agreement has been drawn up between the two institutions and
will be presented to the appropriate officials for approval.
Many New Books and Articles were Published by Armenian Studies
Faculty: They may be viewed on the Armenian Studies Web Site.
Research Themes
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Excavation of the Jewish Cemetery in Eghegis, Armenia.
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The major funded project is The Stories of Adam and Eve in Armenian Culture, directed by Michael E. Stone.
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Armenians in the Holy Land and the Georgians in the Holy Land
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Biblical Traditions in Armenian Culture and Related Topics
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Armenian Literature and Thought:
Public Lecture Series is sponsored by the Department in English, Armenian and Hebrew.
Friends of the Armenian Studies Program
This association of supporters of our work now numbers HOW MANY members. Contact is maintained through regular mailing of news about the Armenian Studies Program and of matters of Armenian interest in Jerusalem. Members visiting Jerusalem are welcomed. We encourage you to become a member and support our work. The achievements recorded in this report are only possible with the support of our Friends.
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More Information More information is available on the Web: http://micro5.mscc.huji.ac.il/~armenia
and from Professor Michael E. Stone, Department of Indian, Iranian
and Armenian Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
(stone@vms.huji.ac.il
-- Fax: +972-2-588 3584). |