Karaite Jewish University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karaite Jewish University is a non-profit corporation incorporated in California in November 2005 for the purposes of disseminating the study of Karaite Judaism. Karaite Jewish University is not accredited as an academic institution. However, it has been authorized by the Council of Sages of Universal Karaite Judaism to teach an Introduction to Judaism class for potential converts to Judaism according to the Karaite rite. Universal Karaite Judaism is the official body recognized by the State of Israel as representing Karaite Jews in matters of personal status. The university’s first “Introduction to Judaism” class began in February 2006 and ended in May 2007. Ten of the graduates from the course converted to Judaism together with their children under the auspices of Congregation Bnai Israel of the Karaite Jews of America in Daly City, CA on July 30, 2007.[1] These were the first official sanctioned conversions to Judaism according to the Karaite rite since 1465. On September 2, 2007 the university awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree in Education to Mourad El-Kodsi, historian and author of The Karaite Jews of Egypt[2] and The Karaites of Poland, Lithunia, Russia & Ukraine.[3] El-Kodsi was named Dean Emeritus of the University whose function will be to mentor the University’s graduate students.
