Rice Jewish Studies

Rice Jewish Studies The Program in Jewish Studies has over ten affiliated faculty members primarily from the humanities and social sciences.

Our faculty offer classes in numerous academic disciplines, including art history, languages, literature, music, philosophy and religious studies. Noted for their intellectual breadth, diverse methodologies and academic rigor, our courses span from the beginner’s to the advanced level and are appealing to students from all backgrounds. Our undergraduate and graduate students pursue an interdiscipl

inary course of studying Judaism which crosses boundaries between departments and schools. Our Program also benefits from one of Rice’s traditional strengths, an intimate learning environment within a vibrant university in which students enjoy close contact with their professors and have the opportunity to learn of their cutting-edge research.

Our new STJA exhibit "The Soviet Jewry Movement in Houston" explores Houston's place in the national Soviet Jewry moveme...
09/01/2026

Our new STJA exhibit "The Soviet Jewry Movement in Houston" explores Houston's place in the national Soviet Jewry movement. Individuals and organizations across the city organized and advocated for Jews experiencing religious persecution in the USSR. This exhibit focuses in on Houston Action for Soviet Jewry (HASJ) organization, Houstonians' travels to the USSR, and youth involvement including organizing protests and bar/bat mitzvah "twinning" with Soviet youths.

This exhibit highlights STJA materials from the Dan and Ellen Trachtenberg Papers, the Joyce Gilbert Papers, the Dolores Wilkenfeld Papers, the Judith Goldman Soviet Jewry Collection and the Weiner Family Papers. Check it out on the 1st floor of the Fondren Library

Thank you to our amazing Katz Family Archivist, Katie Webber, for researching and creating this exhibit.

STJA was pleased to host Dr. Rainbow's students from the University of Houston today. Their enthusiasm and engagement ma...
06/23/2026

STJA was pleased to host Dr. Rainbow's students from the University of Houston today. Their enthusiasm and engagement made for a wonderful discussion about Jewish Houston during World War II.

There's nothing we enjoy more than opening our archives, sharing community stories, and helping students connect with the past. Thanks for spending part of your summer with us. We hope to see you again soon!

University of Houston Jewish Studies Fondren Library

What an incredible finale to the STJA Archival Fellows Program!Our Fellows wrapped up the week with thoughtful, engaging...
06/13/2026

What an incredible finale to the STJA Archival Fellows Program!

Our Fellows wrapped up the week with thoughtful, engaging presentations that showcased the hard work and dedication they brought to their research. These young scholars explored the role of early Galveston Jews in shaping Jewish life in Texas, examined the contributions of women to the Galveston Jewish community, and investigated the lasting impact of Rabbi Henry Cohen on both Jewish and civic life in Galveston.

They also analyzed how religious leaders became advocates for social change through prison reform efforts and the Open Forum movement, and considered the complexities of balancing Jewish and American identities.

Most importantly, they leave the program with new research skills, a deeper appreciation for local history, and a greater understanding of the vital role archives play in preserving community stories.

Congratulations, Fellows, and thank you for your hard work. We can't wait to see where your learning takes you next!

riceuniversity

Today, the STJA Archival fellows began to dive into their research as we prepare for tomorrow’s presentation. The fellow...
06/12/2026

Today, the STJA Archival fellows began to dive into their research as we prepare for tomorrow’s presentation. The fellows are researching and using real archival documents to prepare a presentation on Galveston Jewish history and are applying the skills and knowledge they’ve gained throughout the week. We also explored the Rice University campus and deepened our history of the university.

Day 2 of the STJA Archival Fellows Program was packed with discovery!This morning, Fellows explored documents related to...
06/09/2026

Day 2 of the STJA Archival Fellows Program was packed with discovery!

This morning, Fellows explored documents related to the Galveston Movement and discovered how Rabbi Henry Cohen helped shape the experience of Jewish immigrants arriving in Texas.

Katz Family Archivist Katie Webber then introduced Fellows to the world of archives: past, present, and future. From organizing collections to preserving community stories, she shared how archivists make historical research possible.

The day concluded with a hands-on examination of materials from STJA's Galveston Jewish collections. Fellows stepped into the role of researchers, uncovering clues from original documents and asking thoughtful questions along the way.

We're continually impressed by their curiosity, insight, and enthusiasm for discovering history.

Thank to the support of Richard Schechter for this program!

Great 1st day for the STJA Fellows. We had a crash course in Galveston Jewish history and examined archival documents re...
06/08/2026

Great 1st day for the STJA Fellows. We had a crash course in Galveston Jewish history and examined archival documents related to the Jewish community’s response to the Galveston Storm 1900. Thank you to the Woodson Research Center archvisits Rebecca Russell, Traci Patterson and our own Katie Webber for showing the Fellows around the reading room. They loved getting to examine some of the rarest artifacts in the Woodson's collections including a letter written by Abraham Lincoln and getting to hold a real Noble Prize.

The Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives is thrilled to welcome our 2026 STJA Archival Fellows to cam...
06/08/2026

The Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives is thrilled to welcome our 2026 STJA Archival Fellows to campus this week! Nine outstanding high school students from across the Houston area will spend the next five days exploring archival work and uncovering the rich history of the Jewish community of Galveston. Through hands-on research in the Congregation B’nai Israel Collection, they’ll dive deeply into primary sources and historical storytelling. Join us in giving a warm welcome to our 2026 STJA Archival Fellows!

Thank you to for their support with this program!

The Program in Jewish Studies was delighted to host 24 faculty from institutions across Texas this weekend for the May m...
05/04/2026

The Program in Jewish Studies was delighted to host 24 faculty from institutions across Texas this weekend for the May meeting of the Texas Jewish Studies Triangle. We spent the day at the Woodson Research Center exploring the Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives.

STJA curator Melissa Cohen-Nickels guided the group through the history of the Archives and shared current initiatives in the morning, followed by hands-on archival programming in the afternoon. Participants engaged directly with materials documenting the Houston Jewish community’s response to World War II, bringing history to life in meaningful ways.

It was inspiring to see so many ideas emerge about how to engage university students in rigorous historical research and archival work. Katie Webber, the Katz Family Archivist, led two excellent sessions on oral histories and utilizing university archives, helping us better understand both the creation of oral histories and their unique value in interpreting the past. She also explored how university archives across the state can be integrated into the classroom.

We look forward to building even more partnerships between STJA and institutions across Texas. Thank you to program chairs Matthias Henze (Rice University) and Chad Spigel (Trinity University)!

Jewish American Heritage Month SpotlightThis May, we celebrate the individuals who helped shape Jewish life in Houston a...
05/03/2026

Jewish American Heritage Month Spotlight
This May, we celebrate the individuals who helped shape Jewish life in Houston and beyond. Today, we highlight Mitchell (Michael) Louis Westheimer (1831–1905). Yes, that Westheimer!

Born in Baden, Germany, Westheimer arrived in Texas in the 1850s and built a life defined by entrepreneurship, community leadership, and generosity. A successful businessman and miller, he owned a flour mill, worked as a hay merchant, and even helped build Houston’s first streetcar rails. Fluent in seven languages, he frequently served as an interpreter for the local bank and post office, connecting communities in a growing city.
Westheimer and his wife, Babette Betty Hirsch, raised a remarkable family of sixteen children, including orphans and relatives. On their land, known as the Westheimer Plantation, he demonstrated a deep commitment to education by building a schoolhouse for his children and opening it free of charge to others in the community at a time when Houston had no public schools.

A dedicated member of Congregation Beth Israel, Westheimer served as an officer and trustee, helping guide one of Texas’s oldest Jewish congregations. His lasting impact can still be seen today: in 1895, he donated land for what would become Westheimer Road, now one of Houston’s most recognizable thoroughfares.

From education to infrastructure, Michael Westheimer’s legacy reflects the enduring impact of Jewish contributions to Houston’s growth and community life.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month. The Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives would like to highlig...
05/01/2026

May is Jewish American Heritage Month. The Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives would like to highlight Jews in the South Texas Jewish community. Today we begin with Rebecca Sakowitz Nathan (1887-1974). Born in Russia and raised in Galveston since the age of 2, Rebecca moved to Houston with her husband Max Nathan in 1909.
Rebecca was active in Houston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women for five decades and served as president in 1926. During her tenure she helped create the Council House, more affectionately known as Happy House, in Houston’s 6th Ward. The Happy House focused on immigrant families in the community, regardless of religion, who needed help. Children played at Happy House after school, learned music, art, dance, and sports. Adults could take ESL classes and engage in job training programs. Rebecca ran the house for 10 years, even after her time as president of NCJW. When the house was eventually closed she turned her attention to similar work with the YWCA and served on their board for decades.
Rebecca was a champion for interfaith initiatives.

She founded the Round Table of Christians and Jews which later became a section of the National Council of Christians and Jews in 1937 and Co-Chaired the Temple of Religion for Texas Women’s Advisory Committee during the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.
Through her leadership and vision, Rebecca Sakowitz Nathan helped shape a more inclusive Houston, one story we are proud to preserve and share. You can learn more about Rebecca at the South Texas Jewish Archives at

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