York University, Open

Chair in Canadian Jewish Studies

J. Richard Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry

York University

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University invites applications for the J. Richard Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry to commence July 1, 2012. J. Richard Shiff QC, an alumnus of Osgoode Hall Law School, was a prominent businessman, teacher and philanthropist. Founded in 1997 by a generous donation from the Shiff family, the Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry was established to support excellence in teaching and research in Jewish Canadian Studies, and to act as a liaison between the academic world and the rest of the community in order to promote greater recognition of the importance of the Jewish experience in the larger Canadian context.

The Faculty seeks a scholar of international stature in an area of Canadian Jewish Studies, who will be responsible for teaching two full-year courses (or their equivalent) and the delivery of annual academic and public lectures. The holder of the Chair will join the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies as well as an appropriate academic department within the Faculty. The Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies is world renowned for excellence in Jewish education, modern Jewish studies, Jewish history, philosophy, sociology, languages, literature and religion. The Shiff Chair is a position at the rank of Full Professor or Associate Professor. Applicants should have demonstrated strengths in research in one of the Centre’s areas of strength, evidenced by a strong record of publication and research. A PhD is required at the time of appointment and preference will be given to applicants with experience supervising graduate students. We seek an individual who will pursue a vigorous research program in an interdisciplinary environment and can demonstrate a commitment to high-quality undergraduate and graduate teaching. The successful candidate must be eligible for immediate appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of research interests and selected publications, and arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly, by October 31, 2011, to: Patricia Burke Wood, Associate Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, S-949 Ross Building, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3.

York University is an Affirmative Action Employer. The Affirmative Action Program can be found on York’s website at www.yorku.ca/acadjobs or a copy can be obtained by calling the affirmative action office at 416.736.5713. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.