Jere Bacharach

The Stroum Center thanks Professor Naomi B. Sokoloff for composing the following touching tribute to her recently passed good friend Professor Emeritus Jere Bacharach. Professor Bacharach was a committed scholar, teacher and colleague who will be greatly missed. ברוך דיין האמת.

Jere Bacharach, 1938 — Apr 9, 2023

Jere joined the UW faculty in 1967, was one of the founding members of the Jewish Studies Program, and for many years taught courses on Jews in the Muslim world.

His primary research interests were in the field of Islamic numismatics, and he was a highly accomplished scholar who received international recognition. Jere was best known, though, for his exceptional leadership and boundless energy. Among his many roles at UW, he served as Chair of the Jewish Studies Program. Other positions he held included Chair of the Department of History; Director of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies; and Interim Chair in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization. He also served terms as  President of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA), President of  Middle East Medievalists; President of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs; and Interim Director of the  American Research Center in Egypt  (ARCE).

Jere had a special gift for community building. He was generous with his time and supportive of colleagues, guiding them toward professional success and encouraging them to take on leadership positions of their own. Many found in him a remarkable mentor and a helpful friend – not to mention, also: an avid collector of neckties, a champion writer of thank-you notes, a superlative sender of postcards from places visited on his many travels, and a cheerful participant at countless faculty meetings where he indefatigably seconded motions to approve the minutes.

May these and other fond memories of him be of comfort to the mourners.

יהי זכרו ברוך