Jewish Studies is a particularly worthwhile and effective area of study within a liberal arts education, but also offers many points of entry to other academic disciplines. It is integral to understanding major moments in the formation of Christianity and Islam as well as distinct episodes in the history and literatures of the modern Middle East, Europe, and America.
Students of all backgrounds will find in Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt a wide array of material and methodologies, presented by scholars of exceptional teaching ability. . To sharpen their grasp of the field, students may utilize the fine resources of the Zimmerman Judaica collection as well as the opportunity to study abroad in Prague and Israel, pursue internships locally or nationally, do research in archives overseas, or participate in archaeological excavation at Megiddo, Israel. Students will also benefit from the program’s lively schedule of visiting scholars, lectures, and conferences that aim to explore multiple perspectives current in the study of Judaism.