Montana State University will host peace and justice activist and scholar Penny Rosenwasser for a free public talk, “Hope into Practice: Jewish Women’s Voices for Peace, Justice and Human Liberation,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, in SUB Ballroom A. A reception will follow. As part of her visit, Rosenwasser will also be available to meet community members at a free public event on Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m., at Temple Beth Shalom, 215 W. Mendenhall.
Rosenwasser’s talk will draw on her award-winning book, “Hope Into Practice: Jewish Women Choosing Justice Despite Our Fears,” and will include campus members reading book excerpts. Since its publication, “Hope Into Practice” has won five awards, including the Association for Women in Psychology 2014 Jewish Caucus Award for Scholarship; the USA 2014 Best Book Award for Social Change; and honorable mention for non-fiction at the New York and San Francisco book festivals.
Rosenwasser is also the author of “Voices from a ‘Promised Land:’ Palestinian & Israeli Peace Activists Speak Their Hearts,” and “Visionary Voices: Women on Power.” She earned her Ph.D. at the California Institute of Integral Studies and is a founding board member of Jewish Voice for Peace, as well as former Jewish Caucus chair of the National Women’s Studies Association.
Rosenwasser’s talks are co-sponsored by the MSU offices of the president, diversity awareness and international programs, Women’s Center, MSU departments of political science, history, philosophy and religious studies, College of Letters and Science, Program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Queer-Straight Alliance. Additional support is given by Temple Beth Shalom, the Gallatin Valley Interfaith Alliance, the Community Mediation Center and Montana Chapter of the National Organization for Women.
For more information about Rosenwasser, her activism and scholarship, visit her website: http://pennyrosenwasser.com/.
