INDIANAPOLIS-Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, has awarded its annual doctoral dissertation grant to a researcher studying American Jewish philanthropy, service and activism in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Moshe Kornfeld, a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Michigan's Department of Anthropology, is the 2013 Lake Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship recipient. He is also an affiliated doctoral student at Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. Kornfeld, holds a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Rochester and a master's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan.
The Lake award, which includes a $22,000 stipend, is presented annually to a doctoral candidate working in the field of faith and giving or religion and philanthropy. The one-year grant supports the recipient's final year of research and dissertation writing.
"I could not have been more pleased to hear that I was selected as the 2013-14 Lake Doctoral Dissertation Fellow," Kornfeld said. "Hearing this news was truly one of the highlights of the past year. I am excited for the opportunity to complete my doctoral work while participating in this vibrant intellectual community. I am extremely grateful to Lake Institute for its support and to the selection committee for its faith in my scholarship."
The award will allow him to focus exclusively on research and writing during the 2013-14 academic year, the fellow said.
"Additionally, my research will surely be enhanced by the intellectual exchange that I will enjoy as a result of my affiliation with Lake Institute on Faith & Giving," Kornfeld said.
Kornfeld's dissertation, "The Chosen Universalists: Jewish Philanthropy and Youth Activism in Post-Katrina New Orleans," explores his interest in the responses and adaptations of faith groups to broader cultural, political and economic realities. It is based on two years of research on American Jewish philanthropy in New Orleans.
One of the hallmarks of the American Jewish community has been its dense network of philanthropic agencies that have tended to focus on Jewish communal concerns. In the past quarter century Jewish social justice activists have challenged this status quo, Kornfeld said.
"Collectively, Jewish social justice activists seek to redefine American Jewish philanthropy in a more universalist light. Thus, my research will contribute to our understanding of the ways in which intrafaith debates are expressed through and in relation to philanthropic activities and institutions," Kornfeld said.
Kornfeld's related ethnographic experiences include a six-week research trip to study Israeli non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nepal and India; a research trip to Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage in Uman, Ukraine; and a three-month stay with Abayudaya Jewish Community in Mbale, Uganda.
About Lake Institute on Faith & Giving
A groundbreaking program, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy fosters greater understanding of the ways in which faith inspires and informs giving within the major religious traditions. It does so through educational forums, research into the dynamic relationships between faith and giving, assistance to donors and thoughtful conversations among individuals, families and faith communities on issues related to faith, money and giving as a way to nurture cultures of generosity.
About Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The nation's first school of philanthropy, the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change in the world. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and the Women's Philanthropy Institute.