Jewish Studies
Administrative Information
Program Director: Prof. Jeremy Dauber, 319 Hamilton;854-9608; jad213@columbia.edu
Assistant Director: Sheridan Gayer, 511 Fayerweather;854-2581; sjg41@columbia.edu
Program Office: Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, 511 Fayerweather; 854-2581
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Affiliated Faculty Nehama R. Bersohn Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Elisheva Carlebach History Uri S. Cohen Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Yinon Cohen Sociology Jeremy Dauber Germanic Languages Miriam Hoffman Germanic Languages |
Rebecca Kobrin History Rina Kreitman Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Dan Miron Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Sam Moyn History Jonathan Schorsch Religion Seth Schwartz History Michael Stanislawski History |
The academic discipline of Jewish studies is an interdisciplinary field centered on the analysis and investigation of Jewish history, religion, language, and literature. The discipline ranges from the study of Jews and Judaism in antiquity to the present day. It explores Judaism not only as a religion, but as a civilization and culture.
A special concentration in Jewish studies is available for undergraduate students at Columbia College and the School of General Studies. The special concentration will allow students to draw upon classes in a wide range of departments across the university, including History; Sociology; Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies; Germanic Languages and Literature; and Religion. The program requirements for the special concentration are designed to provide Columbia students with the interdisciplinary knowledge necessary to study Jewish civilization both broadly and deeply.
The roots of Judaism lie deeper than one region, gender, language, or culture; and by studying the interconnectedness of these areas, the depth of student understanding across a range of spheres and disciplines greatly increases. The special concentration in Jewish studies enhances the current scholarly programs, adding to current Jewish studies courses' vitality as students come to each course with a deeper understanding and background based on their complementary coursework.
The special concentration in Jewish studies is not a stand-alone concentration. In order to graduate, a student must complete a concentration or major in addition to the requirements of the special concentration. Students wishing to complete a special concentration in Jewish studies work with a program adviser to decide upon course selection and sequencing. The program office provides and keeps on record a planning form to track the fulfillment of requirements for the special concentration.