Jewish Studies

TheJewish Studies program offered by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem will expand your knowledge of Jewish history, literature, philosophy and culture, and enhance your language, research and writing skills. You’ll enjoy an intimate learning environment with small classes taught by experts in the field.

The flexible nature of the Jewish Studies program from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , which includes a large number of elective credits, allows students to design a program of study most suited to their specific interests within the field of Jewish Studies. In addition, the program provides students with grounding in Modern Hebrew as well as the opportunity to immerse themselves in a Hebrew-speaking environment.

Key Facts

The program is divided into two main periods: Ancient to Early Medieval, and Late Medieval to Modern.Offered by the Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS) and Mandel Institute of Jewish Studies, the M.A. in Jewish Studies is designed to prepare you for an advanced academic degree in the field.

The program consists of required and elective courses taken over two academic years (four semesters in total). Each academic year runs from October – June. While you will take courses from all time periods (Ancient, Medieval and Modern), you will be required to specialize in one period.

Why M.A. in Jewish Studies?

• Deepen your understanding of Jewish civilization and culture from ancient times to the present

• Study with top researchers and build a solid base for further academic study in the field

• Live in Jerusalem, a city steeped in more than 3,000 years of Jewish history and home to dozens of religious sites, libraries, archives, museums, research institutes and nonprofit organizations.

Courses include:

• The program consists of required and elective courses taken over two academic years (four semesters in total). Each academic year runs from October – June. While you will take courses from all time periods (Ancient, Medieval and Modern), you will be required to specialize in one period.

• Elective course offerings include cross-listed courses from our M.A. in the Bible and the Ancient Near East, M.A. in Israel Studies, and M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Students also take elective courses taught in English at the various departments of the Hebrew University’s Faculty of the Humanities. Students with a high enough level of Modern Hebrew may take courses taught in Hebrew as well.