Courses by instructor: Ari Y. Kelman

Ari Y. Kelman – Ari Y. Kelman is an assistant professor of American Studies at UC Davis. He is the co-author of a number of influential studies of contemporary Jewish identity and culture including "The Continuity of Discontinuity," (2007) "Uncoupled," (2008) and "Jewish Cultural Events and Jewish Identity" (2006). He continues to consult with a number of Jewish foundations and communal organizations on projects ranging from mapping Jewish websites to conducting ethnographies of local Jewish communities. Outside of his role in the Jewish community, Ari has authored a book on the history of Yiddish radio in the United States, entitled “Station Identification,” and has edited a book on the work of Jewish American cartoonist Milt Gross, which will be out in December (makes a great chanukkah gift!). Together with Isa Aron, Larry Hoffman and Steven Cohen, he is a co-author of "Sacred Strategies: Transforming Functional Synagogues into Visionary Congregations" (Alban Institute Press, 2010), a national study of synagogue transformation projects. He has spoken and taught to audiences across North America, and has published widely both online and in print. Currently, Ari is working on a book about Evangelical Christian worship music, and you can follow him on twitter at aykelman. He lives in El Cerrito, California.