LUNCH AND LEARN, IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICA 250
The Life and Legacy of Rebecca Gratz
Monday March 9th, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
In-person only
$28/person until March 1st
$30/person starting March 2nd
THE UPTOWN
319 York Road
Jenkintown
Speaker: Alison Joseph, PhD
In honor of Women’s History Month, Rebecca Gratz’s 245th birthday, and America 250, Gratz Director of Digital Scholarship Alison Joseph explores the life of Rebecca Gratz (1781–1869), a pioneering Jewish educator and philanthropic leader in 19th-century Philadelphia. Centered on the Rebecca Gratz Correspondence, a groundbreaking digital project bringing together 800+ letters written over nearly 70 years, the talk highlights Gratz’s civic influence, relationships, and lasting impact on early American society.
Parking and entrance in the rear.
Please enter the parking lot from Leedom Street. The easiest way to park is to download the Park Mobile account in advance. Gratz staff will be outside to assist with parking.
Kosher lunch is provided.
Alison Joseph is Director of Digital Scholarship and Associate Professor of Bible at Gratz College. She previously served as Director of Digital Projects at the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, where she led the creation of digital archives and the translation of print scholarship into digital formats. She is the author of numerous publications, including Portrait of the Kings: The Davidic Prototype in Deuteronomistic Poetics, which received the 2016 Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise. Dr. Joseph earned her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds additional degrees from Emory University, Barnard College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Gratz College invites a range of voices to our programs, and the positions expressed by speakers are their own. While not all events aim to represent the full spectrum of perspectives on issues, we encourage thoughtful engagement and respectful dialogue.