Jewish Academic Hub (JAH)
The Jewish Academic Hub (JAH), housed within the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society (CSRS), provides an academic framework for research, dialogue, and community initiatives related to Jewish life and inclusion at the University of Victoria (UVic). It connects students, faculty, and staff engaged in examining Jewish identity, history, and experience in the context of contemporary higher education.
The Hub encompasses three initiatives: the Working Group to Address Antisemitism (WGAA), the Jewish Student Commons, and a postdoctoral research project on Jewish belonging. Together, these initiatives support careful inquiry and open conversation about the place ofof Jewish communities within universities and public discourse, with particular emphasis on pluralism, dialgue and care across differences.
Contact and Affiliation
The Jewish Academic Hub operates under the auspices of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria. We welcome collaboration with scholars, students, and community partners interested in the study of Jewish experience, antisemitism, and pluralism in higher education. For inquiries or participation in Hub activities, please contact inquiry@wgaa.ca.
Working Group to Address Antisemitism (WGAA)
The Working Group to Address Antisemitism (WGAA) was initially established by the Office of the President and the Office of Equity and Human Rights (EQHR) in 2024 to examine antisemitism at UVic and to advise on institutional responses. The WGAA now operates independently and is housed within CSRS, where it continues to serve as a forum for research, dialogue, and policy development.
Comprising students, faculty, and staff from across disciplines, the WGAA collaboratively identifies challenges and opportunities for addressing antisemitism and improving campus climate.
Current Members
- Lincoln Z. Shlensky (co-chair; Faculty, English; CSRS Advisory Council)
- Uri Oberlander (co-chair; Undergraduate student, Political Science)
- Lucas Duprey (Undergraduate student, Humanities)
- Gabrielle Eisenberg (Student, JD)
- Annie Konstantinov (Undergraduate student, interim member)
- Francis Landy (Emeritus Faculty, Religious Studies; CSRS Fellow)
- Beatrice McIntosh (Student, JD/JID)
- Charlotte Schallié (Faculty, School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures)
- Bryan Silverman (Staff, Psychology)
- Jordan Stanger-Ross (Faculty, History)
- Helga Thorson (Faculty, School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures)
Jewish Student Commons
The Jewish Student Commons is a student-led initiative that provides a forum for academic and cultural engagement among Jewish students and their allies. The Commons encourages critical exploration of Jewish identity, community, and tradition and supports discussion of complex or contested issues through structured conversation and collaborative learning.
Events may include seminars, teach-ins, and cultural gatherings. The Commons emphasizes careful, informed dialogue and reflection grounded in the principles of pluralism and academic inquiry. Students interested in convening or presenting sessions may contact inquiry@wgaa.ca
Jewish Belonging Research Project
The Jewish Belonging Research Project investigates Jewish people’s experiences of belonging, identity, sociality, and communal well-being at the University of Victoria. The project contributes to a deeper understanding of contemporary Jewish life within Canadian higher education and promotes dialogue and community-building among Jews, and between Jews and non-Jews, at UVic and beyond.
For more information please contact Lead Researcher Dr. Erika Finestone at erikafinestone@uvic.ca.