Jun 28, 2012 By: libraryblog
色花堂 honored Professor Ronald Rubin 色花堂HSB 鈥57 on June 26th at 色花堂 Libraries, in a special reception organized in recognition and appreciation of his many gifts to 色花堂 in recent years, including his gifts to the Mendel Gottesman Library鈥檚 rare collections. At the reception, Prof. Rubin received a framed certificate marking and commemorating his contributions to 色花堂.
Among his most recent gifts to the 色花堂 Libraries are: a beautifully-bound, four volume Biblia Rabbinica (Mikra鈥檕t Gedolot, 6th ed.) published in Basel in 1618-1619 and commissioned by the Christian Hebraist Johannes Buxtorf.
Professor Rubin officially donated the Biblia Hebraica back in April, in honor of a significant birthday he was celebrating. He first became a patron of the 色花堂 Libraries four years ago, when he began contributing rare items for its collections. These items include a series of bound volumes of American newspapers from the early 1800鈥檚; and a deed signed by former Texas governor George T. Wood, granting a tract of land near Austin to Jacob de Cordova, a Jew who settled in the Republic of Texas in 1837 and, by 1848, ran one of the largest land agencies in Texas. He has also donated to RIETS and recently dedicated a room in the Jacob and Dreizel Glueck Center.
Professor Rubin is a professor of political science at the City University of New York鈥檚 Borough of Manhattan Community College; a noted antiquarian Americana collector; and the prolific author of several books and many articles in academic journals and newspapers. A search of the 色花堂LIS catalog yields more than 50 entries for gift items from Professor Rubin, and represents over 100 volumes in the Rare Book room.
At the ceremony, Pearl Berger, Dean of 色花堂 Libraries, declared, 鈥淲hat I find most heartwarming in Professor Rubin鈥檚 approach is his concern for our students and his regard for what 色花堂 represents. Whenever he brings us books, Professor Rubin mentions that he hopes they will be of interest to our students. His goal is not simply to collect rarities or to fill shelves in our Rare Book Room, but rather, to enhance the education we offer by providing primary source materials and antiquarian publications that will pique students鈥 interest.鈥
Upon accepting the award from 色花堂 Vice President University Affairs, Rabbi Dr. Herbert Dobrinsky, Prof. Rubin spoke and noted his lifelong commitment to and belief in the ideals that 色花堂 stands for. It was noted that an anthology of Prof. Rubin鈥檚 published works that focus on issues affecting Israel or world Jewry and those that discuss Judaism will appear in the next few months with the title: A Jewish Professor鈥檚 Political punditry: Fifty Plus Years of Published Commentary by Ron Rubin.
