![[ Jewish Studies at U.C. Davis ]](/images/mainheader.gif)
Jewish Studies at the University of California, Davis is an interdisciplinary program that offers a dynamic approach to the study of Jewish culture. The Program has grown to approximately 25 courses annually in history, religion, film, culture, literature, sociology and politics. Our courses offer insight into the relationships between Jewish identities, histories and representations as well as the cultures in which Jews have been embedded.
We offer the study of classical Jewish texts, introducing students to traditional methods of learning as well as modern critical analyses. We also offer two years of Hebrew language study. Students can choose to minor in Jewish Studies.
Our program is largely grounded in the modern era with foci on the Holocaust, images and representations in literature and in film, secular Jewish culture, the history of modern Israel, the Middle East conflict as well as contemporary Jewish identities and communities. Courses in Jewish Studies are offered in the Departments of History, Religious Studies, Comparative Literature, Sociology as well as Political Science.
The Jewish Studies faculty is committed to a scholarly approach in our courses, our research, our colloquia and our conferences. Our courses are complemented by a Jewish Studies Lecture Series, visiting speakers and a conference. (See Events).
From the Chair
Reflections on a New Year
I am looking forward to what promises to be a lively year based on excellent courses, a Jewish Studies lecture series featuring our own faculty, a one-day conference, several visiting scholars as well as our first annual presentation of student papers at the end of the year. In addition to our core faculty, we have a superb group of lecturers working with us this year. Our courses continue to span a broad range of topics and disciplines, from film to political conflict. We are planning a conference next quarter on "American Jews: Contemporary Challenges." Please join us for all these events which are free and open to the public. As always we are grateful to the Koret Foundation, the Osher Foundation, the Taube Foundation, the Posen Foundation and Eda Pell for their ongoing support of our program.
Wishing you a good year,
Diane Wolf
Credit:
The logo at the top of the page is adapted from the constructivist-inspired title page of a Hebrew poetry collection, published in Berlin with a Moscow and Leningrad imprint, in 1926. The title page, and much else besides, is on exhibit at Yale University, A Great Assemblage.
The Jewish Studies Minor is made possible in part through the generous support of the Koret and Osher Foundations.