Schupf '57 Gives College Jewish Video Collection
By ERICA GORDON-MALLIN, Contributing Writer
Trustee H. Axel Schupf '57 recently donated the Jewish Heritage Video Collection, featuring close to 200 videos about Jewish issues or videos with Jewish directors and actors, to the College.

"We now have almost every video you could think of that is related to Judaism," said Adriane Sandler '02, president of Hillel.

Dean of Students Ben Lieber said that College librarians are still at work cataloging the videos. Throughout the next few months, the collection will be transferred to the Center for Religious Life. The complete collection will be available through the College library's online catalog.

"The collection comes complete with handbooks for film groups, and is built around ten courses, such as American Jewish Comedy, American Jewish directors, and so on," said Hillel Coordinator Nathan Margalit.

Margalit said that Hillel hopes to organize a small film festival featuring some of the films in the coming semester.

"Some of the films are unique," said Margalit. "In fact, there are about 10 films of which there are no other copies in the area. This is the only way that people would have access to them. It's unusual for an academic library to receive a collection of this kind."

Schupf, who now works in investment counseling in New York City, has donated the collection in the name of his two daughters, Elisabeth Schupf Lonsdale '81 and Katherine Schupf Kim '87.

According to Lieber, Schupf has a long history of giving to the College.

Schupf provided funds for the William Schupf Asian Languages and Civilizations professorship, which he endowed in honor of his parents.

He also funded renovations to the Red Room, which is now known as the Cole Assembly Room. Schupf made that donation to honor the memory of former College President Charles Cole '27.

"Amherst is one of [Schupf's] greatest passions," said Lieber. "Often, when Amherst needs help and support, someone will get a call from him."

Additionally, Schupf has been instrumental in funding the Center for Religious Life. "He wanted it to be a space for all faiths," said Margalit.

Schupf currently co-chairs the Capital Campaign with Trustee Chuck Lewis. The campaign has already exceeded its $200 million fundraising goal for general contributions to the College, though it was not slated to reach that figure until 2002.

With the donation of the video collection, students will be able to browse many different titles.

"The collection is really great," said Hillel board member Stacey Kennard '03. "They have everything-even 'Fievel Goes West!'"

Schupf said that he hopes that students will take advantage of the collection.

"You are all very lucky to be at Amherst," he announced at a Hillel dinner that he attended last Friday. "Enjoy it. Use the resources."

Issue 07, Submitted 2000-10-25 15:02:17