Registration Now Open!
July 17-20, 2023
23rd Annual
Greenfield Summer Institute
“Jews and Leisure”
From weekly Shabbat to vacations in the Catskills, Jewish leisure takes distinctive forms. Treat yourself to this year’s Greenfield Summer Institute for four days of learning and socializing on the UW-Madison campus. Join us as distinguished scholars from across fields explore Algerian villas, Sephardic barbeques, European taverns and cafés, New York City dance halls, Florida beaches, and of course, mahjong, to consider the many ways that Jews have rested, relaxed, reconnected, and restored their spirits. You can view the full schedule of events here.
As in past years, the Institute will take place in the comfortable setting of Grainger Hall, home of the UW School of Business.
Register Now!
See below for information regarding registration, accommodations in Madison, and the full schedule of events.
2023 Program and Registration Info
Register now!
Click here to register through our online system
Registration Rates
- Full registration package (in-person): $235
- A la carte registration (in-person): $60 daily for Monday-Wednesday programming, $40 for Thursday programming, $25-35 per meal
- Online attendance registration package: $175
Note that the rates for the in-person options increase after July 3rd.
Payment by credit card or check is possible through the online registration form.
Please note that you will still need to register online even if you choose to pay by sending a check through the mail.
Program and Schedule
View the full schedule of events, which includes detailed information about each session and the speakers, here.
Can’t travel to Madison?
All sessions will be live-streamed via Zoom — register for the “online attendance” registration package to participate in Greenfield remotely.
Travel & Lodging
Parking at Grainger Hall
Parking at Grainger Hall must be purchased in advance. For more information, click here.
Lodging in Madison
The Institute has blocked rooms at three nearby hotels:
- Fluno Center ($149)
Book online: click here
608-441-7117
Must book before June 16th! - Hampton Inn & Suites ($169)
Book online: click here
Book by phone: 608-255-0360
Must book before June 17th! - Graduate Madison ($179)
Book online: click here
Book by phone: 608-257-4391
Must book before June 25th!
Please note: if booking by phone, you must reference the “Greenfield Summer Institute” room block to receive the discounted rate
In Review: 2022 Institute
Last July marked two firsts for the Greenfield Summer Institute – the first Institute to be held in-person since 2019 and the first Institute to be held in a hybrid format. While the majority of the crowd attended in-person, it was wonderful to have a group participate online as well.
Last year’s Institute was centered around the theme of the Jewish family and featured renowned scholars from the UW and beyond, including Annie Polland (Tenement Museum), Rabbi Vanessa Ochs (University of Virginia), Joshua Shanes (College of Charleston), and Jordan Rosenblum (UW-Madison). The speakers covered topics such as Jewish wedding ceremonies across the ages, Yiddish cookbooks and newspapers, race and diversity in the Jewish family, dating and marriage in the Orthodox community, and the tradition of crafting family heirlooms. Of course, the highlight of the program was found between sessions, when attendees had a chance to mingle together with friends new and old. We look forward to seeing everyone again this year – in-person or online – for the 2023 Greenfield Summer Institute!
About the Greenfield Summer Institute
As the premiere outreach event of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies, the Greenfield Summer Institute demonstrates our commitment to lifelong learning and testifies to the vision, legacy, and generosity of Center founders Laurence Weinstein and George Mosse. The Greenfield Summer Institute was the brainchild of Larry Greenfield, a member of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies Board of Visitors, who first proposed the idea of an adult summer institute in the mid-1990s. The first Greenfield Summer Institute in 2000 brought together people from the Madison community and beyond to participate in a unique blend of continuing education, entertainment, and fellowship. Now underwritten by the generosity of Larry and Ros Greenfield, the Institute showcases the research of UW–Madison faculty and acclaimed Jewish studies scholars from around the country.
Each year the Institute’s lectures center around a theme. In addition to lectures that explore the year’s theme in depth, the Institute also features concerts, dinners, and other opportunities to socialize.
Past Greenfield Summer Institutes
Click below to donate to the Greenfield Fund in Jewish Studies: