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Date: February 2, 1998
Peter Schäfer Appointed Perelman Professor of Judaic Studies
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Peter Schäfer, a world-renowned specialist in ancient Israel, Rabbinics and early Jewish mysticism has been appointed as the first Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Judaic Studies at Princeton University. Director of Berlin's Institute for Judaic Studies since 1984, Schäfer is internationally regarded as one of the finest scholars in Jewish studies.
At Princeton, Schäfer will join the Ronald O. Perelman Institute for Judaic Studies, which, along with the chair, was endowed by financier Ronald O. Perelman, whose philanthropy has encompassed many of the nation's most prominent cultural and educational institutions. Created in 1995, the institute is designed to bring together leading scholars to examine Jewish history, religion, literature, thought, society, politics and cultures through such academic and scholarly activities as courses, lectures, seminars and conferences.
"For the past several years, Ronald Perelman's extraordinary generosity has been helping us to realize our goal of establishing Princeton as a leading center for the study of one of the world's great civilizations," said Princeton President Harold T. Shapiro. "And we are especially delighted to welcome Dr. Schäfer, whose highly acclaimed scholarship has already made such enormous contributions to this important field."
The 1994 recipient of Germany's coveted Leibniz prize, granted to that nation's most innovative scholars, Schäfer is fluent in English and Hebrew as well as Aramaic and several other languages. Born and educated in Germany, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg and also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he is frequently in residence. The author of numerous articles and books, Schäfer is editor of the Jewish Studies Quarterly and also serves as co-editor for several projects: a history of ancient Judaism and early Christianity, texts and studies in ancient Judaism as well as in medieval and modern Judaism, and a translation of the Jerusalem Talmud.
Schäfer, who has taught at universities in both Germany and the United States, has been a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton for three years, during two of which he served as Mellon Professor. As Perelman Professor of Judaic Studies at Princeton, he will help guide the program and teach a variety of courses in fields ranging from religion to history and from Near Eastern studies to the history of modern Jewish scholarship.
Ronald Perelman is chairman and chief executive officer of MacAndrews & Forbes, a diversified holding company with interests in consumer products, financial services and publishing. Well known as a creative leader and generous supporter of philanthropic endeavors, he is president of the board of trustees of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and serves on the boards of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, The University of Pennsylvania and The New York University Medical Center, among others. He is also the founder of the Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program, which focuses on the causes and treatment of breast and ovarian cancers.
The gifts that established the Perelman chair and institute are part of Princeton's Anniversary Campaign, launched in 1995 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the University's charter. While efforts are continuing to raise additional support for the institute, the Campaign has already raised more than $530 million. The University is seeking to raise a total of $750 million by the year 2000 to strengthen Princeton's programs of teaching, research and campus life.
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