Harris Lenowitz
Encyclopedia
Harris Lenowitz is a professor of Languages and Literature at the University of Utah
. He specializes in Hebraic studies
, particularly the writings of the 18th-century Jewish false messiah Jacob Frank
and the use of Hebrew
in Christian art
in the West.
. He received his Ph.D. in Linguistics in 1971, also from the University of Texas at Austin. He remained at the university as a lecturer in 1971–1972. In 1972, he joined the faculty of the University of Utah as an assistant professor. He became an associate professor in 1976 and a full professor in 1989. Lenowitz has been a visiting professor at Hebrew University from 1980–1981; at Portland State University
in the summers of 1976, 1980 and 1984; at the University of Washington
in the summer of 1987; and at the University of Haifa
from 1995–1996. He received the PEN International Center Prize in Translation in 1978.
by Jacob Frank
; the translation is freely available online. He has also translated The Sayings of the Lord Yakov Frank. In addition, he is the author of The Jewish Messiahs: From the Galilee to Crown Heights, which was reviewed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
and several scholarly journals. The Jewish Messiahs was described in the Jewish Quarterly Review
as "the first text in English that focuses on primary texts relating to messianism as an active force in Jewish history" and in the Sixteenth-Century Journal as "a different and thought-provoking context to messianism and the context of messiah." Other works include seven additional volumes, approximately 20 scholarly articles, and 10 book chapters.
, then the University of Utah's dean of humanities, removed him from the governing committee, and in 2009 Lenowitz filed a lawsuit against Newman, claiming that Newman unfairly accused him of contributing to a hostile environment that had driven away several female faculty members. Lenowitz had previously denied Newman's claims, saying that the female faculty members had left for higher-paying posts at prestigious schools. The lawsuit has been dismissed.
Lenowitz is set to retire in the summer of 2011.
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He specializes in Hebraic studies
Hebraist
A Hebraist is a specialist in Hebrew and Hebraic studies. Specifically, British and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Hebrew language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when Hebrew was little understood outside practicing...
, particularly the writings of the 18th-century Jewish false messiah Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank was an 18th century Jewish religious leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of the self-proclaimed messiah Sabbatai Zevi and also of the biblical patriarch Jacob...
and the use of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
in Christian art
Christian art
Christian art is sacred art produced in an attempt to illustrate, supplement and portray in tangible form the principles of Christianity, though other definitions are possible. Most Christian groups use or have used art to some extent, although some have had strong objections to some forms of...
in the West.
Education and career
In 1966 Lenowitz received his B.A. in English from the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He received his Ph.D. in Linguistics in 1971, also from the University of Texas at Austin. He remained at the university as a lecturer in 1971–1972. In 1972, he joined the faculty of the University of Utah as an assistant professor. He became an associate professor in 1976 and a full professor in 1989. Lenowitz has been a visiting professor at Hebrew University from 1980–1981; at Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
in the summers of 1976, 1980 and 1984; at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in the summer of 1987; and at the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
from 1995–1996. He received the PEN International Center Prize in Translation in 1978.
Works
Lenowitz edited, translated and annotated The Collection of the Words of the Lord, a work originally written in PolishPolish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
by Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank was an 18th century Jewish religious leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of the self-proclaimed messiah Sabbatai Zevi and also of the biblical patriarch Jacob...
; the translation is freely available online. He has also translated The Sayings of the Lord Yakov Frank. In addition, he is the author of The Jewish Messiahs: From the Galilee to Crown Heights, which was reviewed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a major U.S. daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. Its area of domination is checked by its main rival, The Dallas Morning News, which is published from the eastern half of the Metroplex. It is owned...
and several scholarly journals. The Jewish Messiahs was described in the Jewish Quarterly Review
Jewish Quarterly Review
The Jewish Quarterly Review is an peer-reviewed academic journal which focuses on Jewish studies. It is published quarterly for the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The current editors are Elliott Horowitz...
as "the first text in English that focuses on primary texts relating to messianism as an active force in Jewish history" and in the Sixteenth-Century Journal as "a different and thought-provoking context to messianism and the context of messiah." Other works include seven additional volumes, approximately 20 scholarly articles, and 10 book chapters.
Lawsuit
Lenowitz formerly belonged to the governing committee of the University of Utah's Middle East Center, one of only a handful of such centers in the United States. Robert NewmanRobert Newman
Robert Newman is a British stand-up comedian, author and political activist. In 1993 Newman and his then comedy partner David Baddiel became the first comedians to play and sell out the 12,000-seat Wembley Arena in London...
, then the University of Utah's dean of humanities, removed him from the governing committee, and in 2009 Lenowitz filed a lawsuit against Newman, claiming that Newman unfairly accused him of contributing to a hostile environment that had driven away several female faculty members. Lenowitz had previously denied Newman's claims, saying that the female faculty members had left for higher-paying posts at prestigious schools. The lawsuit has been dismissed.
Lenowitz is set to retire in the summer of 2011.