Ellen Kellman

Ellen Kellman is an Associate Professor of Yiddish in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University. She specializes in Yiddish language, literature, and cultural history, with a focus on 20th-century Eastern European Yiddish cultural movements and the history of Yiddish periodical press fiction. Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in Modern Jewish Literature, Yiddish advanced readings, and Jewish graphic novels.

Education:

• D.Phil., Columbia University
• M.A., Columbia University
• M.A., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• M.Phil., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• B.A., Goddard College

Research Interests: Dr. Kellman’s research bridges Yiddish literary traditions and modern Jewish cultural studies, emphasizing the intersection of print culture, migration, and identity formation. Her work explores how Yiddish press and graphic narratives reflect evolving Jewish ideologies across time.

Grants & Awards:

• Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture Grant (2008-2009)
• Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Award (2009)
• Posen Foundation Summer Seminar (2009)
• Center for German and European Studies Grant (2012)
• Brandeis Genesis Institute Grant (2016)
• YIVO Fellowships (2016-2017)

Professional Contributions: She has developed innovative curricula integrating Yiddish studies with contemporary Jewish literary forms, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to cultural heritage preservation.