Awards offered in the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies

Philip Weiss Memorial Award

Established in memory of Philip Weiss by his wife, Rachel Weiss, the Philip Weiss Memorial Award totaling $500 is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence in Judaic studies courses, including languages. To be considered for the prize, students should submit an application which should include a final paper (or another project) in a given course and a brief personal statement.

Selection of the recipient will be made by the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies Scholarship Committee.

About Philip Weiss

Philip Weiss was born into a traditional Jewish family in Tuszyn, Poland in 1916. He escaped to the Soviet Union at the onset of World War II and thereby was the only survivor of a large family. He came to the United States with his wife Rachel and daughter Halina in 1962.

Weiss was known for his lively mind and keen sense of humor. He was widely read in Yiddish, Russian, Polish, and English.

The scholarship was given in reflection of his life-long appreciation for learning and education.


William S. Addelson Memorial

Through the generosity of Frances Addelson, this scholarship, named in memory of her son William S. Addelson ’67, will be awarded to an undergraduate who participates in an academic or volunteer program in Israel.


Middle Eastern Studies Senior Award

The Middle Eastern Studies Senior Award, offered in the amount of $500, honors a graduating Middle Eastern studies major or minor whose overall academic record and specific achievements show the most intellectual promise in the area of understanding the Middle East. The prize is awarded toward the end of the spring semester.