Center for the Study of Judaism and Jewish Culture
Geifman Endowment in Judaica
The Geifman Endowment in Judaica was established in 1992 by late Rock Island residents Gerry and Morris M. Geifman. Through their generosity, Augustana College offers a juried student competition titled "A Response to the Holocaust" and co-sponsors a yearly guest lecture in Judaic Studies and Culture.
Funded by the endowment, Augustana's Tredway Library maintains a large, growing collection of materials related to Jewish culture and the Holocaust. In cooperation with the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, the Geifman fund supports the yearly Yom Hashoah observation by sponsoring the service's guest speaker on campus.
Gerry and Morris M. Geifman Scholarship
The Gerry and Morris M. Geifman Scholarship is a merit-based award of $1,000 presented to an incoming, first-year or transfer Jewish student at Augustana College, renewable annually. Participation in Hillel is required for recipients.
The scholarship is awarded to students entering Augustana in even-numbered years. The deadline is March 8, 2025.
Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies
Supported by the Geifman Endowment, the Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies is an annual competition for Augustana students with awards up to $500. Submissions may include essays, research papers, poetry, drama, film, artwork, musical composition, or other creative expressions that focus on the European Holocaust from 1933-1945.
Past winners and applicants may submit new work. The deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Faculty members of The Center for the Study of Judaism and Jewish Culture serve as adjudicators. Depending upon the format, submissions will be evaluated according to depth of research, scholarly writing style, and creativity. The Augustana Honor Code guidelines apply to all submissions.
Past winners of the Geifman Prize
Holocaust survivor and Yom Ha’Shoah speakers
Ida Paluch, a survivor of the Nazi-run Sosnowiec ghetto in Poland during World War II, was the Quad Cities Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Ha’Shoah) speaker in 2021.
Rodi Glass, child survivor of the Westerbork concentration camp in The Netherlands, was the Remembrance Day speaker in 2022.
Bernie Ludran, president of the Friends of Camp Ritchie and the son of a Camp Ritchie soldier, gave a presentation in 2024.
The Stone Lectureship in Judaism
The Stone Lectureship in Judaism was established in 1983 by family and friends of Dr. and Mrs. Alex B. Stone. The purpose of the endowment is to provide a yearly lecture and an expanded program in Judaic studies at Augustana College. The Stone Lectures began in 1984 with Herbert Weinberg of Hebrew University.
Here is a list of all lecturers.
Center for the Study of Judaism and Jewish Culture board members
David Schwartz, associate professor of communication studies (co-director)
Wolff, assistant professor of religion (co-director)
David Ellis, professor of history
Heidi Storl, professor of philosophy
Chris Strunk, professor of geography
Pamela Trotter, professor of chemistry and biochemistry
Mike Wolf, professor of geology