About the Center
The Center for Jewish Studies was founded in 1991 to coordinate and promote an interdisciplinary program in Jewish Studies. Jewish Studies brings together a variety of disciplines to interpret some 3500 years of the Jewish experience. The subject matter is by definition diverse, encompassing all aspects of the Jewish experience (for example, religion, culture, society, politics) as well as relationships with numerous cultures and societies in many periods in many parts of the world.
The Center has now in place a Certificate and a Major in Jewish Studies with a separate track in Education and Jewish Studies. Its aim is to achieve excellence in teaching, research and service to the field.
Photo by Kesha Thompson
The Center now offers a broad selection of courses at all levels. They are crosslisted with other departments (including English, French and Italian, German, Hebrew and Semitic Studies, History, Philosophy, Slavic Studies, Theatre and Drama, Law, and Political Science).
Along with achieving the needs of a full and comprehensive curriculum, the Center is engaged in offering a variety of outreach programs. Each semester, the Jewish Heritage Lecture Series brings notable and world renowned lecturers to the campus, speaking on diverse topics. The Center also offers to the public The Greenfield Summer Institute, taught by its faculty, on one particular subject or theme.
