Joe Hodes
This summer will see the arrival of Professor Joseph R. (Joe) Hodes who will begin the Fall semester at Old Dominion University in the History Department teaching three courses. Currently a visiting professor at Tulane University where he has been teaching The Arab Israeli Conflict, History of Modern Israel, History of the Jews in the Islamic World, Jewish Civilization and a History of Islam, Professor Hodes has taught widely about Jews throughout Europe, North America and the Islamic world and came to Tulane from SUNY Binghamton.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Professor Hodes’ principal research focus has been on Judaism in the modern period with an emphasis on Israeli, Sephardic and Mizrahi history. His book, From India to Israel, examines a Jewish community that lived in India amongst Hindus and Muslims for almost 2,000 years without persecution, and their absorption into the state, upon arriving in Israel. Following his Master degree work in Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University he was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and has been the recipient of numerous significant awards for his research and teaching. His doctoral work included several extended stays in India and he traveled extensively throughout the Muslim Middle East over the course of the three years spent living in Israel.
The Tidewater Jewish community will be pleased to welcome Professor Hodes and his young family, excited to note the commitment of ODU to its Judaic Studies program and the work of the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding.
The efforts of Dr. Austin Jersild, chairman of the Department of History; of Dr. Charles Wilson, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters; and of Farideh Goldin, director of IJIU have been instrumental in advancing this program which promises to greatly enhance Judaic studies, both on campus and within the community.