Ruth Wisse
Encyclopedia
Ruth R. Wisse is the Martin Peretz
Professor of Yiddish Literature
and Professor of Comparative Literature
at Harvard University
.
She is the sister of David Roskies, professor of Yiddish and Jewish literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
, but was then part of Romania
. She grew up in Montreal
, Canada
and earned her PhD
from McGill University
in 1969. As a professor, Wisse has previously taught at McGill
, Stanford
, New York
, Hebrew
and Tel Aviv
universities. While teaching at McGill, she developed a "pioneering" graduate program in Jewish studies."
She received one of the 2007 National Humanities Medal
s. The award cited her for "scholarship and teaching that have illuminated Jewish literary traditions. Her insightful writings have enriched our understanding of Yiddish literature and Jewish culture in the modern world."
She is a member of the Editorial Board of the Jewish Review of Books
and a frequent contributor to Commentary
. She dedicated her last book, Jews and Power, to the editor, Neal Kozodoy
.
Following protests and Harvard University's decision to cancel Marty Peretz's speech after Peretz wrote "Muslim life is cheap, especially to other Muslims", Wisse condemned "Groupthink" at Harvard and defended Peretz, saying that "to wish that Muslims would condemn the violence in their midst is not bigotry but liberality."
magazine in 1988. According to Alexander Cockburn
, Wisse is bothered by the "failure of nerve" of American Jewish intellectuals about "being squeamishness about the shootings and beatings meted out to the breeders."
Martin Peretz
Martin H. "Marty" Peretz , is an American publisher. Formerly an assistant professor at Harvard University, he purchased The New Republic in 1974 and took editorial control soon afterwards. He retained majority ownership until 2002, when he sold a two-thirds stake in the magazine to two financiers...
Professor of Yiddish Literature
Yiddish literature
Yiddish literature encompasses all belles lettres written in Yiddish, the language of Ashkenazic Jewry which is related to Middle High German. The history of Yiddish, with its roots in central Europe and locus for centuries in Eastern Europe, is evident in its literature.It is generally described...
and Professor of Comparative Literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
She is the sister of David Roskies, professor of Yiddish and Jewish literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Career
Wisse was born in Czernowitz in what is today UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, but was then part of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. She grew up in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and earned her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1969. As a professor, Wisse has previously taught at McGill
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, New York
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Hebrew
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
and Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
universities. While teaching at McGill, she developed a "pioneering" graduate program in Jewish studies."
She received one of the 2007 National Humanities Medal
National Humanities Medal
The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities, broadened citizens’ engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to important resources in the humanities.The award, given by the...
s. The award cited her for "scholarship and teaching that have illuminated Jewish literary traditions. Her insightful writings have enriched our understanding of Yiddish literature and Jewish culture in the modern world."
She is a member of the Editorial Board of the Jewish Review of Books
Jewish Review of Books
The Jewish Review of Books is a quarterly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs from a Jewish perspective. It is published in New York City....
and a frequent contributor to Commentary
Commentary (magazine)
Commentary is a monthly American magazine on politics, Judaism, social and cultural issues. It was founded by the American Jewish Committee in 1945. By 1960 its editor was Norman Podhoretz, a liberal at the time who moved sharply to the right in the 1970s and 1980s becoming a strong voice for the...
. She dedicated her last book, Jews and Power, to the editor, Neal Kozodoy
Neal Kozodoy
Neal Kozodoy is an American writer, journalist and editor.Kozodoy joined the staff of Commentary in 1966 and served as editor from 1995 to 2009. He continues as editor-at-large....
.
Following protests and Harvard University's decision to cancel Marty Peretz's speech after Peretz wrote "Muslim life is cheap, especially to other Muslims", Wisse condemned "Groupthink" at Harvard and defended Peretz, saying that "to wish that Muslims would condemn the violence in their midst is not bigotry but liberality."
Praise
According to one critic, Wisse's work has been characterized "by the sharpness of her insight, by her unwillingness to retreat from a skirmish and by the inability of even those who disagree with her to deny her brilliance."Criticism
Wisse has been criticized for writing that "Palestinian Arabs [are] people who breed and bleed and advertise their misery" in CommentaryCommentary (magazine)
Commentary is a monthly American magazine on politics, Judaism, social and cultural issues. It was founded by the American Jewish Committee in 1945. By 1960 its editor was Norman Podhoretz, a liberal at the time who moved sharply to the right in the 1970s and 1980s becoming a strong voice for the...
magazine in 1988. According to Alexander Cockburn
Alexander Cockburn
Alexander Claud Cockburn is an American political journalist. Cockburn was brought up in Ireland but has lived and worked in the United States since 1972. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair, he edits the political newsletter CounterPunch...
, Wisse is bothered by the "failure of nerve" of American Jewish intellectuals about "being squeamishness about the shootings and beatings meted out to the breeders."
Quotations
Books
- The Shlemiel as a Modern Hero
- If I Am Not For Myself: The Liberal Betrayal of the Jews
- The Modern Jewish Canon: A Journey Through Language and Culture
- Jews and Power
Books edited by Wisse
- Shtetl, and Other Yiddish Novellas
- The Penguin Book Of Modern Yiddish Verse (With Irving Howe)
- The Best Of Sholem Aleichem
- The I.L. Peretz Reader
Translated by Wisse
- The I.L. Peretz Reader, by Isaac Loeb Peretz
- The Well, by Chaim Grade, Original title: Der brunem