WELCOME TO THE JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM

FALL 2024 Classes

Intro to Jewish Religion, Culture, and People: Jews and Their Neighbors

Advanced Judeo-Spanish Seminar: Ibero-Jewish Voices from the Margins

Powerlessness and Superpowers: Comic Books & Jewish Identity

Crossing Borders, or, How to Translate Hebrew Literature?

History of Modern Israel: From the Emergence of Zionism to Our Time

Gender, Religion, and Law: The Case of Israel

Fascism and Propaganda: Politics and Culture in 20th Century Germany

In Treatment: Freud and His Cultural Legacies

Article: Can Berkeley become the next center for Yiddish studies?

CJS faculty lecturer Alec Burko recently spoke with The Forward (Forverts) about the possibility of a Yiddish renaissance at UC Berkeley. To read this article in English, click here.

Academic Degree Programs

DESIGNATED EMPHASIS (DE) FOR PhD STUDENTS

The DE in Jewish Studies provides curricular and research resources for students who want to concentrate on Jewish Studies within their respective disciplines and have their work formally recognized in their degree designation. Designed to bring together faculty and students from different departments, the DE is administered by the Graduate Group in Jewish Studies and provides a unique context for rigorous cross-disciplinary research. Students applying to the DE must be prepared to integrate high-level research in Jewish Studies into their coursework, qualifying exam, and dissertation. Click here to learn more.

MINOR IN JEWISH STUDIES FOR UNDERGRADUATES

The minor in Jewish Studies is designed to give students an overview of some of the major themes in Jewish Studies, and cultivate the potential of budding Jewish studies scholars among the undergraduate population. In addition to gaining a certain minimum breadth of acquaintance with the field, students have the opportunity to explore a particular interest among the varied topics and areas presented by Jewish Studies. The Jewish Studies minor is open to all UC Berkeley students. Click here to learn more.

Videos

The Debate Over Anti Zionism and Antisemitism: Understanding the Terms and Stakes

Anti-Zionism on Campus: Legitimate Protest or Dangerous Hate Speech?

God’s Body in Pain: Disability and Divine Solidarity in Jewish Text and Tradition

Blood Libel: On the Trail of An Antisemitic Myth

Fashion Metropolis Berlin 1836-1939: The Rise and Destruction of the Jewish Fashion Industry

Guides who Helped Jews Flee from France to Spain across the Pyrenees: 1940-1944

Upcoming Events