Read the most recent newsletter about the Department's Judaic Studies minor.

Department of Religious Studies' B.A. Minor in Judaic Studies

The Department of Religious Studies is home to the Aaron Aronov Endowment for Judaic Studies. The proceeds from this fund enable the Department to employ a scholar with expertise in studying the history, and contemporary forms, of Judaism. The fund also allows the Department to host a variety of visiting scholars and events, such as the yearly Aronov Lecture (inaugurated in 2002 by Prof. Martin Jaffee and followed in 2003 by Prof. Jonathan Z. Smith and in 2004 by Prof. Judith Plaskow. This has since become a yearly event with other speakers following.

Along with a B.A. major and minor in REL, the Department therefore also offers a minor in the study of Judaism. A total of 21 credit hours are required for this minor and courses that fulfill the requirements are regularly offered by the Department each semester (and often in the summer as well). In addition, students can petition for courses in other Departments to count toward the minor, such as classes on the study of antiquity, Hebrew language (taught through the Critical Languages Center), etc.

Along with REL majors, JS minors ar eligible each Spring to be considered for the Department's most prestigious award, the Silverstein Fellowship. More information on funding opportunities in Department can be found here.

For further details on the Judaic Studies minor requirements, visit our Degrees page.

Those students who are interested in learning more about our Judaic Studies minor may contact the Department's main office in Manly Hall, Rm. 212. You should also feel free to contact directly the Department's advisor for our JS minor, Prof. Steven Jacobs, who holds the Department's Aaron Aronov Endowed Chair dedicated to the study of Judaism.

For a list of recent and future events organized by members of the Department and sponsored by the generosity of the Aronov Endowment, please see the Events page.