A black and white photo shows a crowd of women and children at the Western Wall. Many wear head coverings and shawls. Some face the wall, while others face the camera. Hebrew inscriptions are visible on the large stone blocks of the wall.
Women praying at Jerusalem's Western Wall, between 1898 and 1946. (G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection/Library of Congress)
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Jewish Studies

Notre Dame's commitment to Jewish Studies

Notre Dame is host to a thriving network of research and programming in Jewish Studies. The existence of this network follows from the University’s commitment to cultivating and understanding the Church’s relationship with the Jewish people, and is supported by the generosity of a generation of donors. The Department of Theology hosts two endowed chairs in this field, with its Jewish Studies committee overseeing endowments dedicated to supporting a wide range of academic and cultural programs.

An interdisciplinary approach to learning

Jewish Studies offers a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum that spans various fields such as history, theology, and literature. Faculty in the Department of Theology and other disciplines guide student-oriented research and offer courses in the Hebrew Bible, Ancient Near East, the Dead Sea Scrolls, rabbinic literature, ancient liturgical poetry, Jewish-Christian polemic and dialogue, medieval Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah/mysticism, modern Jewish thought and theology, German thought and Judaism, and the state of Israel and the modern Middle East.

Engaging events and lectures

The annual Liss Lecture in Judaica is the flagship Jewish Studies event on campus. The inaugural lecture, delivered by Prof. Moshe Halbertal of Hebrew University in 2019, was entitled, “The God of the Rabbis.” Jewish Studies regularly sponsors lectures across the areas of concentration in Theology. It has also supported the biennial German Jewish Studies Workshop at Notre Dame. Faculty connected with Jewish Studies also teach and organize events at Notre Dame’s Jerusalem and Rome campuses.

Groundbreaking research opportunities

A bearded man in academic robes receives a diploma from another robed figure. A third person in academic attire adjusts the recipient's robe.
Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel receiving honorary degree from Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh. (1966)

Notre Dame’s dedication to advancing the field is further exemplified by our two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Jewish Theology and Culture. This prestigious fellowship, supported by the Department of Theology’s endowments, empowers emerging scholars to contribute to modern Jewish thought. The current fellow, Abigail Hayton, works on the study of Moses Maimonides by both Jewish and Christian Bible scholars in early modern England.

Unique student experiences abroad

Graduate students can immerse themselves in Jewish Studies beyond the classroom through our biennial six-week Holy Land summer experience, which focuses on biblical geography, history, and archaeology. For those seeking to enhance their language skills, we also offer limited funding to support summer language instruction in modern Hebrew, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Questions?

Contact  Prof. Jeremy Brown (jbrown48@nd.edu)

Upcoming Events

Faculty

  1. A man with light brown hair and round glasses wearing a white shirt and black blazer sits on a rock looking towards a beach with gentle waves. The turquoise water stretches to the horizon under a light blue sky.

    Jeremy Brown

    Jordan Kapson College Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies

  2. Headshot of a man with short brown hair, glasses, and a full beard. He is smiling and wearing a light blue button-down shirt and a dark blue and gray striped tie. The backdrop is a solid gray color.

    Daniel Machiela

    Professor

  3. A man with glasses, a white shirt, and a dark gray tie smiles at the camera. He is sitting on a bench in front of a light brown brick building with some greenery and small flowering plants behind him.

    Tzvi Novick

    Abrams Jewish Thought and Culture College Professor of Theology

  4. Headshot of a man wearing rectangular glasses, a dark gray suit jacket, and a white checked dress shirt with a dark patterned tie. He has short, light brown hair and is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression against a plain gray backdrop.

    Abraham Winitzer

    Associate Professor