02/09 – Prof. Elisheva Carlebach Explores Women’s Power in Early Modern Jewish Communities – Columbia News.

Columbia historian Elisheva Carlebach explores the vital roles Jewish women played in early modern European communal life in her new book A Woman Is Responsible for Everything, co-authored with Debra Kaplan. Drawing on previously overlooked archival sources, the work highlights how women managed households and professions, led institutions, created texts and objects, and contributed economically and spiritually to their communities—from wealthy patrons to poor laborers. The book offers fresh insights into the kehillah, a thriving form of Jewish communal life from the early modern period. Read the full interview here. 

01/20 – Professor Mae Ngai interviewed on one year anniversary of the second Trump administration.

In the interview, Mae Ngai, discusses how Trump is using immigration and border issues as a political weapon, particularly by deploying ICE agents to Democratic cities and states. She highlights the potential for this tactic to intimidate voters ahead of the November midterm elections. Listen to the full interview here. 

In other news, Professor Mae Ngai was chosen as a Margaret Olivia Sage Scholar by the Russell Sage Foundation for 2026-2027. MOS scholars are nominated and selected by the foundation’s board of trustees on the basis of “outstanding career accomplishments.” You can read more about the scholars here.