2003 Press
Releases
Hebrew Studies More Accessible in Armenia
Nov 17 2003
YEREVAN, Armenia - The University of Yerevan, upon approval and recommendation
of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia, recently published
the first ever Hebrew textbook in Armenian. This groundbreaking book was
authored by Arman Akopian, professional linguist and founder of the Faculty
of Hebrew Language at University of Yerevan.
With virtually all Hebrew textbooks in the CIS intended for Russian-speakers,
this textbook is important for Jews of Armenia, where many know Russian
very poorly. Publishers issued 350 copies of the 520-page textbook, for
the Jewish community, teachers of Hebrew, and Yerevan State University
students.
University students currently study Hebrew at the Oriental Languages Department
of the University of Yerevan. For their research papers some students
use the Jewish community's libraries, or receive consultations from the
Chief Rabbi of Armenia Rabbi Gersh Burshtein.
The University is also discussing with Rabbi Burshtein possibility of
reading lectures on the history of the Jewish people and Israel, as well
as the basic principles of the Jewish faith.
The new textbook clearly distinguishes between the language of the Torah
and spoken Hebrew. It has been highly praised by the Armenian Ministry
of Education.
On the basis of this textbook, Rabbi Burshtein further plans to develop
study guides for the study of Hebrew in Armenia's Jewish school.
(Source: http://www.fjc.ru/communities/news.asp?AID=102729&cid=84030&NewsType=80052)
Michael Stone to Give Lecture at the Library
of Congress
on October 23
"A Hidden Treasure: The Armenian Adam Epic by Arakel of Siwnik Is
Topic"
or
To view information from Africian & Midle Eastern Reading Room
October 2003
Professor Michael E. Stone in Washington and Philadelphia
Jerusalem: For the months of August-November, Professor Michael Stone
has taken the appointment of Distinguished Senior Visiting Fellow at the
John W. Kluge Center of the Library of Congress. Professor Stone is the
first appointee to this position.
In the course of his time in Washington he has worked closely with Dr.
Levon Avdoyan, Area Specialist for Armenia and Georgia and with Dr. Nira
Stone. He has been working chiefly on a manuscript of the "Adam Book"
of the medieval Armenian poet and scholar Adam of Siwnik. With Nira Stone
he has work on the description of two manuscripts of the Missal and also
has reviewed other parts of the rich holdings of the Library of Congress
in the Armenian area.
On 6-8 October he was visited in Washington by Prof. Theo M. van Lint,
Professor of Armenian Studies at Oxford University. During the consultation
topics such as the Hebrew University Armenian Series, aspects of the Association
Internationale des Etudes Arméniennes and cooperation in the study
of medieval Armenian Poetry were discussed.
Professor Stone gave two guest addresses at the University of Pennsylvania
on October 9. One dealt with the Aramaic Levi Document, an ancient Jewish
work of great importance. The other was in the context of the Philadelphia
Seminar on Christian Origins, and was devoted to the transmission of biblical
and parabiblical materials in Christian and Jewish circles down to the
Middle Ages. Naturally, much stress was laid on the Armenian transmission
of these materials. A number of Prof. Stone's former students (now professors)
and colleagues joined the graduate students and colleagues present. Some
of these had studied Armenian with him years ago and recalled their study
of Armenian with nostalgia. Such were Professor Benjamin G. Wright of
Lehigh University, Professor Martha Himmelfarb of Princeton University,
Professor Ann Matter of the University of Pennsylvania, Prof. Tzvi Abusch
of the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies.
Professor Stone was hosted by Professor Robert A. Kraft of University
of Pennsylvania who also serves on the editorial board of the Hebrew University
Armenian Series. Prof. Stone is Adjunct Professor in the University of
Pennsylvania, which made this visit a particularly enjoyable homecoming.
For more information contact the Armenian Studies Program at +972-2-588-3651
or JerusalemArmenian@h2.hum.huji.ac.il.
July 2003
Dr. Aram Topchyan appointed Research Fellow
at Hebrew University Armenian Studies Program
The
Armenian Studies program of the Hebrew University is pleased to announce
that Dr. Aram Topchyan has been awarded a Research Fellowship in Armenian
Studies for the spring term of 2003-2004. In May 2001, Dr. Topchyan successfully
defended his doctoral thesis, after having graduated from the Armenian
State Pedagogical University in 1983. His doctoral research was on the
Greek and Latin sources used by the renowned Armenian historian, Movses
Khorenatsi.
He is a Senior Researcher at the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, in Yerevan and is fluent in a number of Ancient and Modern Languages, including Greek, Latin, English, French and German. He has participated in a number of international research projects and has published articles in the field of Armenian Studies.
He will offer a course in the spring semester on "Historiographic Sources in Armenian down to the Crusades", in which he will present to historians the rich material preserved in Armenian. Hopefully this will raise consciousness of the value of the Armenian heritage for Middle Eastern History, as well as for the history of Armenia itself. His appointment is made possible by a grant from the Orion Foundation.
The appointment of the renowned historian and historical geographer Professor
Robert Hewsen as a Lady Davis Visiting Professor for the spring term has
already been announced. Professor Hewsen will teach a course on "The
Christianization of Armenia". Thus, the spring term promises to be
a rich and exciting one in the Armenian Studies program. Persons not students
of the University can enroll through in these and other Armenian Studies
courses through the Extension Studies program.
Further Information: N. Yacoubian, (02) 588-3651; JerusalemArmenian @h2.hum.huji.ac.il
May 2003
Armenian Priest Graduates Hebrew University
Father
Pakrad Bourjekian, a priest of the Armenian Patriarchate, is the first
priest to graduate with the BA degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
He was awarded his degree on the 22nd of May, 2003. The ceremony was attended
by His Beatitude, Patriarch Torkom II Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem and H.E. Bishop Aris Shirvanian.
Father Pakrad's studies were supported by a Fellowship program established by the May & Samuel Rudin Family Foundation of New York, under the visionary leadership of Mr. Jack Rudin. The fellowships are designed to enable young priests to supplement their seminary education by exposure to an academic environment of the highest level. The fellowships at the Hebrew University are designed to strengthen the warm and fruitful relationships that have developed over the years with the Armenian Patriarch and the institutions of the Armenian Quarter.
Father Pakrad, who was born in Lebanon, received his seminary training at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, where he was ordained into the priesthood. He is continuing his studies for the MA degree in the Armenian Studies Program of the University led by Professor Michael E. Stone. Four other priests are at varying stages of their University education under this program.
April 2003
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Armenian Studies
Institute of Africian and Asian Studies
presents:
'MEMORY ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH,
THE CALL IS TO LIFE AND LIVING'
An evening in commeration of the Armenian
Genocide
on the 30th of April 2003 at 1800
in the Library Hall
Beit Belgia, Givat Ram
March 2003
Hebrew U. Armenian Studies Program hosts Armenian students
JERUSALEM, Israel - A lively crowd of seniors from the Armenian Patriarchate's St. Tarkmanchatz High School were inducted into college life on 30 March 2003. Hosted by the Hebrew University's Armenian Studies Program Director Professor Michael E. Stone and Armenian Studies lecturer Dr. Sergio La Porta, the students were offered a comprehensive tour of HU's Mount Scopus campus. They were informed of the university's admissions requirements and procedures by Ms. Orit Krakover of the HU admissions office.
Professor Stone explained the valuable role the Armenian Studies Program plays at HU and in the community. Dr. La Porta illustrated in a practical way how Armenian language, history and culture are taught and studied.
Armenian Studies Administrator Narineh Yacoubian organized the successful and informative visit in conjunction with Very Rev. Father T'eodoros Zakarian (principal of the Armenian high school), Mr. Eghia Dikranian (head master), and several HU administrative offices.
March 2003
Professor Stone shares insights
into oldest Armenian inscriptions in Israel
One-week prior, on March 26, the International Research Group in Epigraphy of the Holy Land enjoyed an edifying presentation by Professor Stone on the oldest Armenian inscriptions in the Holy Land, dating back as far as the seventh century.
The lecture focused on three main collections of inscriptions:
A) Pilgrim graffiti in Nazareth and Sinai, some of which date from before the mid-fifth century. They are the oldest Armenian writing in the world.
B) The Mount of Olives and Musrara mosaics, including the famous Bird Mosaic, discovered in 1896, and the new Eustathius mosaic which was unearthed in 1991-92 and dates back to the latter part of the seventh century.
C) A small wall graffito, discovered near the Jaffa Gate. This graffito serves as the oldest documentation of the Armenians living close to the present-day Armenian Quarter.
The Research Group is working at HU's Institute of Advanced Studies this year.
March 2003
Celebrating The Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land
On March 25, Dr. Bruria Bitton-Ashkelony chaired an evening of celebration and captivating lectures in honor of the publication of the fourth volume of the HU Armenian Series, The Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, published by Peeters in Leuven, Belgium. Despite dreadful weather conditions, over 150 persons attended.
The work is the first in English to provide detailed insights into the history, culture and customs of this ancient Armenian community. It covers diverse Jerusalem-Armenian topics including early inscriptions and mosaics, the community's dialect, pilgrimage, new archeological discoveries casting light on Jerusalem Armenian history, and the contribution of Jerusalem Armenians to life in modern North America. The volume includes rich illustrations and maps.
Talks included Professor Stone's discussion of the role of writing in Armenian culture in light of the existence in Nazareth of the oldest Armenian writing in the world; Professor Ora Limor's lecture on the attitudes of Western pilgrims and travelers towards Armenian and other Eastern Christians from early centuries through the Crusader period; Professor Nurit Canaan-Kedar's presentation about the Armenian potters in Jerusalem and the development of their art. Professor Canaan-Kedar was also celebrating the publication of her latest work The Armenian Ceramic of Jerusalem: Three Generations.
