JEWISH CULTURE on CD-ROM

Jewish cultural studies are becoming increasingly popular at Monash, with students able to call on the latest technology as well as the Laura and Israel Kipen Judaica Collection for their research.

The Encyclopaedia Judaica, a series of weighty tomes which outlines the story of Jewish civilisation, has long been an essential tool for any student of Jewish culture. But students now have another, high-tech option - the CD-ROM version of the encyclopaedia.

The CD-ROM is the brainchild of Israel-based Monash alumnus Mr Gary Leibler (BEc/LLB 1990), who, along with the New York distributor of the printed version, Mr Moshe Heller, has revolutionised the way Jewish culture is delivered.

It was not a task for the faint-hearted - the 16-volume encyclopaedia packs in more than 25,000 entries written by 1800 contributors.

With the hard-copy version originally published in 1972, the pair felt it was time the Encyclopaedia Judaica was brought up to date. Says Mr Leibler: "I had thought of updating the encyclopaedia while I was at university, but only upon arriving in Israel did I realise the benefits presented by recent technological advances."

Numbers increasing

The development coincides with rising interest in Jewish studies. Since the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation opened at Monash in 1992, students numbers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, have steadily increased. Subjects such as the Holocaust, offered at Clayton campus, can attract up to 100 students at each lecture, and centre director Professor Bernard Rechter says the CD-ROM version of the Encyclopaedia Judaica is enormously beneficial: "It gives access to a huge range of aspects of Jewish culture and a civilisation which is very diverse."

While acknowledging the advantages of new technology, Melbourne businessman and philanthropist Mr Israel Kipen sees books as an essential asset for higher learning. Mr Kipen was instrumental in establishing the library's Judaica Collection, which has been well-used by students of Jewish studies. And especially popular? The Encyclopaedia Judaica.

- Peta Kowalski

Professor Bernard Rechter, left, Mr Gary Leibler, and Monash librarian,
Ms Grace Giannini, with volumes from the Laura and
Israel Kipen Judaica collection.
Jewish culture is now available via a range of sources.

For details on how to support the work of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, call Professor Bernard Rechter on (03) 9905 2160.

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