Dr. Mia Bloom is an International Security Fellow at New America and a Professor at Georgia State University. She speaks eight languages and has authored six books on violent extremism, including Dying to Kill and Bombshell. Her most recent book, Veiled Threats, coming out Winter 2025, explores the diverse roles of women involved in jihad. Mia has held appointments at Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, and McGill, and serves on several Counter-Radicalization boards. She holds a PhD from Columbia University and advanced degrees from Georgetown and McGill. Contact: miambloom@me.com
Dr. Marcy Braverman Goldstein is the Director of Academic Affairs at the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values where she works to expose and oppose radical ideology and systemic anti-semitism in Higher Education. Her doctoral research in Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, focused on Hindu traditions in India and America. For twenty years she taught world religions at UNC Charlotte, UC Riverside, American Jewish University, and Davidson College. As a Club Z Educator, she teaches 8th-12th graders about Jewish history, Israel, and activism. As Founder of Sanskrit Revolution, she teaches the language and history of yoga at certification programs nationwide. Along with Dr. Brandy Shufutinsky, she will be launching a new podcast, In Doctrine Nation: Examining Radicalized Education.
DR MARCY BRAVERMAN GOLDSTEIN’S LECTURE TOPICS
Mika Hackner is the Senior Research Associate at the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values. She has a PhD in Politics from Brandeis University where her research focused on internal challenges to liberal democracy. Her work at JILV continues that theme – focusing on ideological challenges to liberalism particularly as it relates to and/or causes antisemitism. Social media: X: @mikahackner Contact: mika@jilv.org
DR MIKA HACKNER’S LECTURE TOPICS
Dr. Shale Horowitz is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His research has examined international and ethnic conflict; the politics of international trade and finance; and the politics of market transition and institutional change. He is the author, co-author, or co-editor of five books and over 50 academic articles. His current research interests include ethno-territorial wars and Chinese politics. He regularly visits Israel. Contact: shale@uwm.edu
DR SHALE HOROWITZ’S LECTURE TOPICS
Dr. Olga Kirschbaum-Shirazki is a historian, editor and co-founder of Tel Aviv Review of Books, and Visiting Fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute. She received her PhD in Modern European history from New York University focusing on inter-group and inter-faith relations as well as nationalism, colonialism, and international politics in the modern period. Contact: olga.kirschbaum@gmail.com
DR OLGA KIRSCHBAUM-SHIRAZKI’S LECTURE TOPICS
Dr. Moskalenko is a social and clinical psychologist studying radicalization, political violence, self-sacrifice, and disinformation. She is a Senior Research Scientist at Design Services Group (DSG), a Research Fellow at Georgia State University, and a subject matter expert at NATO, the European Commission, and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism’s Behavioral Insights Hub. Dr. Moskalenko has published over 70 peer-reviewed academic papers and several books, including the award-winning Friction: How Conflict Radicalizes Them and Us and Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon.
DR. SOPHIA MOSKALENKO’S LECTURE TOPICS
Dr. Andrew Pessin is Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Studies at Connecticut College and Campus Bureau Editor of the Algemeiner. His many books include Anti-Zionism on Campus, Poisoning the Wells: Antisemitism in Contemporary America, and The Jewish God Question, as well as several novels. His most recent novels are Nevergreen, a satirical account of campus cancel culture and its deleterious impact on the Jews, and Bright College Years, about the shortest, gladdest years of life and their impact on our future trajectories. Long ago he enjoyed some moments of fame portraying “The Genius” on the David Letterman Show. More information about him and his work may be found at www.andrewpessin.com. Contact: andrew.pessin@gmail.com
DR ANDREW PESSIN’S LECTURE TOPICS
Scott A. Shay, Chai Mitzvah’s Board President, is a businessman, thought leader and author of three books. Scott’s most recent book, Conspiracy U: A Case Study (Wicked Son, 2021), challenges the proliferation of anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories championed on college campuses from the far-right and far-left. His second book, In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism (Post Hill Press, 2018), explores the most common critiques of monotheism and incorporates Jewish, Christian, and Muslim voices. His first book, Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry (Devora, 2007), focuses on the core issues facing American Jews. Scott has been a long time Jewish activist and has served on the boards of local, national, and international Jewish organizations. Scott has been very active on college campuses and high schools, educating students and alumni about the impact of Anti-Zionist Conspiracy Theories. He is taking his message into the business world as well. More information about him and his work may be found at www.scottshay.com. Contact: info@scottshay.com
West Hartford, CT
860.206.8363
info@chaimitzvah.org
Copyright © 2024 Chai Mitzvah. All rights reserved. Website designed by Addicott Web.