Biography

Dr. David Weinfeld is a scholar of North American Judaism and Jewish history with a focus on ideas of diversity and the intersection of religion, race, ethnicity, and culture. He received his PhD in Hebrew and Judaic Studies and History from New York University. Prior to coming to Rowan, Dr. Weinfeld taught at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Toronto, Queens College, Temple University, and NYU. At Rowan, he teaches courses in Jewish and religious studies employing contemporary and historical perspectives.

His first book, An American Friendship: Horace Kallen, Alain Locke, and the Development of Cultural Pluralism, was published by Cornell University Press. This book tracks the development of the idea of cultural pluralism--the precursor to modern multiculturalism--through the friendship of the two 20th century American philosophers who came up with the term, Jewish immigrant Horace Kallen and African American Alain Locke.

Dr. Weinfeld is currently working on two large research projects. The first is on Southern Jews and the Lost Cause, looking at how Jews in the American South participated in Confederate commemoration. The second is on the rise and fall of 20th century Jewish-Christian interfaith organizations in the United States and Canada, specifically the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews.

Book:

An American Friendship: Alain Locke, Horace Kallen, and the Development of Cultural Pluralism (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2022)

Peer-Reviewed Articles:

“Isaac Leeser and Slavery: A Match Made in Richmond,” in American Jewish History (accepted, forthcoming, 2023)

“Two Commemorations: Richmond Jews and the Lost Cause during the Civil Rights Era” in Southern Jewish History, Vol. 23 (2020)

“The Maccabaean and the Melting Pot: Contributionist Zionism and American Diversity Discourse, 1903-1915,” American Jewish Archives Journal, Vol. LLX, No. 1 + 2, (December 2018), pp. 1-37

“Les Intellectuels in America: William James, The Dreyfus Affair, and the Development of the Pragmatist Intellectual” Journal of American History, Vol. 105, No. 1 (June 2018), pp. 19-44

Chapters in edited volumes:

“Post-Script: Thin Canadian Culture, Thick Jewish Life,” in No Better Home? Jews, Canada, and the Sense of Belonging, ed. David Koffman (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2020)

“Isolated Believer: Alain Locke, Baha’i Secularist,” in New Perspectives on the Black Intellectual Tradition, eds. Keisha N. Blain, Christopher Cameron, and Ashely Farmer (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 2018)

“Asians and Affirmative Action on Campus: An Historical Canada-US Comparison” in “Too Asian?” Racism, Privilege and Postsecondary Education, eds. RJ Gilmour, Davina Bhandar, Jeet Heer, and Michael C.K. Ma (Toronto: Between the Lines Press, 2012), Chapter 2.