I first came to Purchase College as Coordinator of the Jewish Studies Program in the fall of 2001, just days before 9/11. It was quite a beginning, learning the ropes in the wake of a national catastrophe. But thanks to many supportive colleagues, all went smoothly. One of the most supportive was Professor Roberta Barkan, the founding director of the Program, who encouraged me as I moved towards the next steps for Jewish Studies. Professor Barkan had built the Program from the ground up, a remarkable accomplishment, and her foundations allowed me to take it to the next phase.