Lecture Series, “Jews and Sports”
Led by Shawn Klein (ASU)
About the series: This series will explore Jews and sports, Jewish fandom and how sports affects our American-Jewish identity. Cosponsored with VOSJCC.
About Shawn Klein: Shawn E. Klein specializes in ethics, popular culture, and the philosophy of sport. He is the editor of several books including "Defining Sport: Conceptions and Borderlines" (Lexington, 2016) "Steve Jobs and Philosophy: For Those Who Think Different" (Open Court, 2015), and "Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts" (Open Court, 2004). He is the general editor of "Studies in the Philosophy of Sport," a book series from Lexington Books. He is editor-in-chief for Reason Papers: A Journal of Interdisciplinary Normative Studies. He has presented at numerous conferences on sports ethics, business ethics, pop culture and philosophy, and other topics. Klein blogs and podcasts at SportsEthicist.com. He has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, Bloomberg News, CNN, CNBC, ESPN, and other media outlets. Originally from Massachusetts, he is a fan of all things Boston sports. He lives in Phoenix, AZ with his wife, son, and several pets.
“American Jews and Sports Fandom”
Sunday, Jan. 25 | 10 - 11:30 AM | In person and Zoom | VOSJCC, Library (12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale)
Zoom Registration In Person Registration
About the lecture: While Jews have sought belonging in many ways: education, arts, entertainment, science—sports fandom presents a distinctive understanding of what it means to be Jewish in America. Being a fan isn’t just about watching games; it’s about the stories we tell about our teams, our communities and ourselves. We will explore what these narratives might say about American Jewish identity.
“What, if anything, is Jewish in Sport?”
Tuesday, March 24 | 7 - 8:30 PM | Zoom
Zoom Registration
About the lecture: There is no Talmudic tractate on sport. The Bible is mostly silent. Sholem Aleichem doesn’t write of games in the shtetl. Yet sports are far from absent in Jewish life. Is sport merely a neutral pastime picked up from other cultures or is there something Jewish in sport? This talk explores how Jewish thought and culture might engage with the meaning of sports and play. Can Jewish civilization offer a distinctive perspective on the role of sports and games in human life?