Dr. Vadim Putzu

Details

Education

• PhD, Jewish Thought, 2015, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion – Cincinnati

• MA, Comparative History of Religions, 2005, University of Lausanne – Switzerland
• BA, Philosophy, 2002, University of Turin – Italy

Teaching

• Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

• Judaism
• Between Faith and Reason: Topics in Jewish Philosophy
• Divine Invasions: Religion and Science Fiction
• From Ezekiel to Madonna: Jewish Mysticism
• Intoxicating Religions: Wine and Beer in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• A Booted History of Judaism (STFD Program in Italy)
• The History, Religions, and Politics of Israel (STFD Program in Israel)

Research and professional interests

• Kabbalah
• Jewish and Western Esotericism
• Philosophy
• Religion and alcohol
• Religion and Science Fiction

Awards and honors

• Visiting Research Fellowship, The Haifa Center for Mediterranean History, University of Haifa, Israel, 2022
• Visiting Fellowship, Department of Philosophy and Education, University of Turin, Italy, 2021-2022
• Award for Excellence in Study Away Programming, Cultural Competence category, Missouri State University, 2018
• International Travel Award, Missouri State University, 2017
• Study Away Exploratory Fund, Missouri State University, 2016
• Presidential Fellowship, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 2009
• Doctoral Fellowship for research in Israel, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008-2009
• The Jacob Ziskind Memorial Fellowship, School of Graduate Studies, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, 2006-2008
• Ralph Irwin and Julia Winter Cohen Fellowship, School of Graduate Studies, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, 2004-2006
• Fondazione Collegio San Carlo Grant, Scuola Internazionale di Alti Studi Scienze della Cultura, Modena, Italy, 2002-2003
• Primo Levi Foundation Prize for outstanding undergraduate thesis in Jewish Studies, Fondazione di Cultura Ebraica “Primo Levi”, Florence, Italy, 2003