Yale’s distinguished history of rabbinic and biblical studies dates to Ezra Stiles’ research on these subjects in the eighteenth century. Founded in 1979, the Program in Jewish Studies at Yale has since grown to be one of the world’s leading centers for the interdisciplinary study of Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history and culture.
Today, the Program in Jewish Studies offers an undergraduate major and opportunities for doctoral study. A large faculty in many disciplines and with areas of expertise that range from antiquity to the present teach about classic texts, material and visual culture, literature and film, history and philosophy, and more. The Program also supports robust offerings in the study of Hebrew and Yiddish and benefits from a vast Judaica library collection and expert librarians.
Synagogue tile with three pomegranates, from the Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos (Yale Art Gallery)
The Program emphasizes the ways in which Jews and Judaism have intersected with multiple peoples, polities, religions, cultures, philosophies, languages, and literatures across numerous continents over millennia. The Program in Jewish Studies is quintessentially inclusive and comparative, transnational and international.
Each year, the Program hosts an array of events - from public lectures and research workshops to student seminars and international conferences - that bring together students, faculty, postdocs, librarians, and others from across the university community and around the world to study Jewish history, cultures, and texts together in a collaborative environment.
Check out our upcoming events.
We look forward to welcoming you to Jewish Studies!
Explore exciting spring courses on everything from Jewish art in late antiquity to Jews in the Islamic world to the history of antisemitism to Yiddish short stories to the city of Jerusalem to Hebrew language and much more.
Learn more about our programs
Undergraduate majors specialize in two core areas of concentration and author a capstone senior essay. Graduate students balance disciplinary specialization with broad training in Jewish Studies. Supportive faculty teach courses across numerous departments.
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Fall Jewish Studies Pop-Up Exhibit held at the Beinecke
Students, postdocs, faculty, librarians, staff and community members gathered around rare books, manuscripts, and ephemera to celebrate the new year.
Program News
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Sarit Kattan Gribetz receives mentorship award from the Society of Biblical Literature
The award was bestowed by the Status of Women in the Profession Standing Committee and awarded at the annual SBL conference in Boston.
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Yale’s Program in Jewish Studies and the Yale Jewish Alumni Association host conference on resilience in Jewish tradition
Over 120 Yale alumni, students, and faculty members gathered together for a day of learning, reflection, and community building.
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YDS and the Program in Jewish Studies welcome Professor Ra'anan Boustan
Ra’anan Boustan discusses the importance of Jewish Studies at YDS and the archaeological riches at the Huqoq excavation site.
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