January 19, 2011 | Faculty

Kenneth Seeskin Receives National Jewish Book Award

Researcher earns top bid in anthologies and collections category

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Kenneth Seeskin, the Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization and chair of the department of religious studies, has been honored with a 2010 National Jewish Book Award from the Jewish Book Council.

"The Cambridge Guide to Jewish History, Religion, and Culture," co-edited by Seeskin, received first place in anthologies and collections. It was selected from many submissions as the best written, most comprehensive and engaging book in its category.

He will receive the award at the 60th annual National Jewish Book Awards ceremony on March 9 in New York City.

Seeskin is best known for his interpretation and defense of the rationalist tradition in Jewish philosophy, including such figures as Maimonides, Spinoza and Cohen. Some recent books also include "The Cambridge Companion to Maimonides" (2005) and "Maimonides on the Origin of the World" (2005).

Seeskin joined the Northwestern faculty in 1972 and has received several teaching awards since. He served as the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence from 1995-1998.

The National Jewish Book Awards is the longest-running program of its kind in North America. It is designed to recognize outstanding books, stimulate writers to further literary creativity and encourage the reading of worthwhile titles.