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PhD Research

• Postdoctoral Research
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At Hebrew University we welcome change-makers in pursuit of deeper knowledge and broader experience, those who are passionate about reshaping our future on a local and global scale. Through experiential learning, critical thinking, and cutting-edge PhD research, you’ll be challenged to ask questions, rethink traditional solutions, and incubate ideas to produce innovative answers to some of today’s most pressing and evolving challenges.

PhD Degree Frameworks Stages of PhD Studies Structured PhD Degrees Cotutelle Degrees Joint PhD Degree Studies Admission to PhD Studies  Tuition Fees Scholarships Student Support Services Your Future Further Information 

PhD Degree Frameworks

Hebrew University offers various PhD degree paths for you to choose from, ranging from customized to structured degree offerings. Our individual PhD framework offers a great deal of flexibility; you can design a customized PhD program tailored to your own research interests and pursuits. This path relies heavily on your initiative to seek out a suitable research supervisor at Hebrew University and develop a research proposal. To pursue this option, visit our How to find a supervisor section below.

Hebrew University also offers a broad range of year-round research opportunities, across all fields of study. We welcome you to explore our continuously updated research opportunity database to view the options posted by our faculty.

Finally, if you are interested in pursuing a pre-designed PhD program, Hebrew University offers a number of structured PhD programs that integrate supervised, hands-on doctoral research with courses, lectures and seminars throughout your PhD degree studies.

Whether you choose an independent or a structured framework, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct original, independent PhD research under the mentorship of a dedicated research supervisor, with the goal of making a marked contribution to knowledge in your chosen field. 

Stages of PhD Studies

The five-year track for PhD degree studies at Hebrew University includes two stages:

Stage A is the foundational stage, extending for a maximum of 18 months.  During this time, you’ll focus on the development of your research topic and questions, and begin to complete a minimum of 12 credits of academic courses required by your PhD track. When ready, under the guidance of your PhD supervisor, you’ll submit a research proposal that demonstrates a feasible plan with a likelihood for success.

Once your proposal is approved, you’ll enter Stage B of your doctoral studies, during which you’ll continue to complete the required credits of supplementary course studies related to your PhD, while conducting research and writing your dissertation. This stage is often marked with abundant professional development opportunities, as well as the ongoing guidance of your supervisor and your appointed Advisory Committee. This Committee, experts in your research field, will periodically review your work and advise you on your independent research progress, through to the successful submission of your PhD dissertation.

Once complete, your dissertation will be evaluated by two appointed referees. If corrections are required, you’ll be allotted additional time to submit a corrected version for re-evaluation and final approval. When approved, you’ll be awarded your official Doctor of Philosophy degree certificate in our annual graduation ceremony.

Detailed information on program requirements and dissertation guidelines can be found on the website of the Authority for Research Students.

Structured PhD Degrees

Duration:  Up to 5 years Faculty/school:  Faculty of Science, Einstein Institute of Mathematics Language:  English Location:  Edmond J. Safra Campus in Givat Ram  Application deadline:  Applications may be submitted year-round, though submission by January 31 is recommended for candidates wishing to begin their studies in the fall.  Later applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Program Details Ranked amongst the world’s top 25 mathematics research institutes, the Einstein institute of Mathematics offers candidates the opportunity to earn a PhD degree in a cooperative, immersive and stimulating environment, under the mentorship of leading scientists in the field. 

The Institute offers research opportunities in areas including the foundations of mathematics, logic, algebra, group theory, representation theory, differential geometry, algebraic topology, analysis, ergodic theory and dynamical systems, number theory, probability, combinatorics and game theory. Detailed information regarding these specific areas of research and their respective faculty can be found  here .

Program requirements include the completion of 12 academic course credits (each credit point is roughly 1 hour per week for a semester-long course), and the submission of a research thesis upon conclusion of the degree. Additionally, students participate in frequent lecture series on current topics in mathematics, ongoing exchange and collaboration with visiting researchers from around the globe, thematic workshops, global conferences, and more.  For general information regarding PhD degree studies at Hebrew University,  see here .

Career & Networking Our graduates benefit from the broad applicability and high value of advanced knowledge of mathematics. Some can be found among the faculty of leading research institutions in Israel and abroad. Others pursue careers in the private sector in a variety of industries including the computer and technology sector, biological, cognitive and medical research, and economics and finance industries.

The Einstein Institute of Mathematics and its Faculty The Einstein Institute of Mathematics is one of the world's leading research institutes. Founded in 1925 as part of the inauguration of the Hebrew University, its  faculty  and graduates include many of the world's leading mathematicians. Their achievements have been recognized by prestigious prizes including the Nobel Prize (in economics), Fields medal, Wolf and Israel Prizes, and numerous other  awards.

Research areas  represented at the Institute include foundations of mathematics, logic, algebra, group theory, representation theory, differential geometry, algebraic topology, analysis, ergodic theory and dynamical systems, number theory, probability, combinatorics and game theory. The Institute offers B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees (some of which are available primarily in Hebrew), hosts postdocs and visiting researchers from around the globe, and sponsors numerous seminars, workshops and conferences annually. Institute members are active in a variety of projects and initiatives to promote mathematics amongst students, teachers and the general public.

Admissions Requirements Admission to PhD studies in mathematics is determined case-by-case, and is based on academic background and merit. Applications should be submitted via email to  [email protected] , with the following subject line: “Application letter for Last Name, First Name.” The application email should include the following:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Official transcripts  from your master's degree.
• Statement of research interests  (maximum 2 pages). This should not be a research proposal, but rather a statement of the applicant’s interests and the level of knowledge in the area of interest.  
• Names of three potential advisors.  The applicant should emphasize in the statement of research interests how the proposed research relates to the suggested potential advisors. (This proposal is not binding and, if accepted, the student may work with other faculty members). 
• Two or more recommendation letters . The recommenders should submit their letters directly to  [email protected]  (as opposed to sending them to the applicant for submission), with the subject line "Recommendation Letter for Last Name, First Name." Applicants are encouraged to solicit letters from researchers who have had prior interaction with our department.

Once candidates complete the application process within the institute, the next step is to  apply for admission  as a PhD candidate through Hebrew University’s  Authority for Research Students , the academic body that oversees PhD studies at the university.

Tuition & Scholarship Students admitted to PhD studies in mathematics will receive:

• Full tuition scholarship
• Living stipend (with a supplement for families)
• Support toward housing expenses
• Local health insurance coverage
• Stipend for travel to/from Israel

Subject to successful academic progress, the above-detailed support will be provided for three years. In some cases, candidates may request a 4 th  year extension.

Further Information

Duration:  5 years, direct PhD track Faculty/School:  The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences Language:  English Location:  Edmond J. Safra Campus Application Deadline:  February 28, 2022  

Program Details As a global leader in computational neuroscience, The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) boasts one of the most diverse PhD programs in the field, anchored in an interdisciplinary approach to neuroscience that combines theoretical, biological and cognitive perspectives. Our intensive 5-year direct PhD program offers a deep and comprehensive understanding of the brain’s functions. Over the course of your studies, you’ll learn computational neuroscience and its application in understanding how the nervous system orchestrates disparate functions including perception and action, learning and memory, thought and creativity. You’ll attend courses such as “Theoretical Neural and Cognitive Sciences” and “Machine Learning and Information Processing,” and conduct hands-on thesis research under the supervision of our leading brain researchers. In the spirit of international collaboration, you’ll benefit from scholarships and travel fellowships to attend international conferences and visit brain research centers around the world. For additional information about our direct PhD program in brain sciences and specific courses of study, please visit  here .

Career & Networking At ELSC, we prepare our students to take on leading roles within the international brain research community. Through exposure to the various disciplines and access to some of the world’s leading brain researchers and their work, you’ll solidify your research goals and begin to determine your future career path. Over a third of our PhD program graduates have gone on to become independent researchers in neuroscience at leading Israeli and global universities. Over 40% of our graduates have attained professorships with institutions around the globe, and most others have secured senior positions in the high-tech industry.

The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and its Faculty Located in the heart of the Edmond J. Safra campus, ELSC is home to world-renowned scientists, stellar faculty, and talented postdoctoral scholars and students from across the globe, all of whom comprise our internationally acclaimed brain research community. Encompassing a broad range of disciplines including anatomy, physiology, computer science, physics and cognitive sciences, ELSC sustains a strong interdisciplinary foundation upon which leading scientists from these varying disciplines conduct groundbreaking research on the relationships between brain computations, neuronal circuits, and behavior.

ELSC houses a number of expertise centers including a neuroimaging unit, a core microscopy unit, a fabrication lab, and a vector core facility, making our ultra-modern research facilities and state-of-the-art laboratories part and parcel of the ELSC research experience for faculty and students alike. To learn more about our distinguished faculty and the ways in which they are revolutionizing neuroscience research at ELSC, please visit  the Center’s website .

Admission Requirements ELSC welcomes direct PhD applicants who present proof of:

• A bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, engineering, computer sciences, and medicine.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 85.
• English Language Proficiency: International students who are not native English speakers are required to complete one of the following exams: TOEFL (minimum score of 89), IELTS (7), AMIR (220), AMIRAM (120), or European standards (B2). Candidates whose previous studies are from English-speaking institutes in countries such as UK, USA, Australia, etc. are exempt from presenting proof of English proficiency.

In addition, applicants must submit the following application materials:

• One-page statement of scientific interests
• Official transcripts from each university attended
• Two academic letters of recommendation

Applications to the ELSC direct PhD program are submitted online. For additional information and details on how to apply, please visit  here .

Tuition & Scholarships

• Full tuition scholarships are granted during the first two years of study, and are extended for three additional years following acceptance and registration for PhD studies.
• Stipends of approximately 7,100 NIS per month are offered during the first 2 years, and approximately 3,100 NIS per month is awarded for the following 3 years once a candidate has registered for PhD degree studies.
• Additional support is granted to candidates by the labs (up to 10,000 NIS).
• Annual travel grants are awarded for the purpose of attending international conferences and visiting collaborating labs abroad.

In addition, ELSC encourages its students to apply for prestigious doctoral scholarships from both Israeli and international organizations. For further information regarding tuition and financial aid, please visit the  scholarship page  on the program’s website.

• Prof. Yonatan Loewenstein, Program Head:  [email protected] .
• Ms. Nili Vershov, Program Coordinator:  [email protected] .
• Program Website

Cotutelle Degrees

If the prospect of conducting a portion of your PhD research at an additional university abroad interests you, a Cotutelle program may be worth considering. Cotutelle, the French term for ‘joint enrollment,’ is a framework that enables you to complete your PhD studies in Israel and abroad, offering you joint research supervision by a faculty member at each university, and awarding you a PhD degree from both institutions upon successful completion. Learn more about Cotutelle degrees at Hebrew University here .

Joint PhD Degree Studies

In addition to the Cotutelle framework, Hebrew University offers established joint PhD degree programs across all fields of study, run in collaboration with existing partner institutions worldwide.You’ll be jointly enrolled at two universities and required to spend a minimum of one year at each institution, gaining exposure to varying technologies, research methods, and academic perspectives under the supervision of faculty from both institutions. Upon successfully completing the program, you’ll earn a joint PhD degree from two universities. Learn more about our various joint PhD degree programs here .

Admission to PhD Studies 

To be admitted to PhD studies at Hebrew University, you’ll be required to complete the following steps:

The university offers a wide range of PhD studies acrossapproximately 80 fields. We welcome you to explore our full list of departments in order to determine the best fit for your academic aspirations and research goals.

After identifying your preferred research topic, your next step is to secure a supervisor to oversee your PhD research. This is an independent process meant to be completed at your own initiative. Keep in mind that it is a competitive one, as our renowned researchers receive a high volume of applications from around the globe. To get you started, we’ve put together some helpful tips on How to Find a PhD Supervisor .

Once you’ve identified your preferred field of research and secured your PhD supervisor, your next step is to apply for admission as a PhD candidate through Hebrew University’s Authority for Research Students , the academic body that oversees PhD studies at the university. The Authority for Research Students is divided into two committees:

• Humanities and Social Sciences : Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Education, Social Work, and Business Administration.
• Experimental Sciences: Natural Sciences (including Mathematics), Engineering and Computer Sciences, Brain Sciences, Agriculture (including Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, and Environment) and the Medical Sciences (including Dental Medicine Sciences, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, Public Health and Occupational Therapy).

Details regarding admissions and criteria for international students can be found on the website of the Authority for Research Students. Note that policies and procedures may differ slightly between the Humanities/Social Sciences and Experimental Sciences tracks.

Finally, upon successful admission to PhD studies at Hebrew University, the Authority for Research Students will issue you a formal letter of acceptance. (Keep this handy, as you will need it when applying for your student visa). Additionally, you will be required to register annually as a Hebrew University PhD candidate.

Tuition Fees

Detailed information regarding tuition fees and payment schedules for PhD candidates at Hebrew university can be found here , on the website of the Student Administration.

Scholarships

A range of scholarship funding is available for PhD students, either through the research budget of your supervisor, or through internal and external funding schemes. We’re approaching the launch of our brand-new scholarship portal in English, and we encourage you to check our website regularly for updates in this regard. Till then, you are welcome to discuss these possibilities with your supervisor, or to consult with the Authority for Research Students.

Student Support Services

Hebrew University proudly offers ongoing social and logistical support through our Office of Student Life , dedicated to assisting you from the moment you are admitted to studies at Hebrew University. From pre-departure preparations to visa applications, health insurance coverage and housing inquiries, our devoted Student Life team is here to answer all of your questions and provide you with essential information to make your relocation as smooth as possible. Once you arrive in Jerusalem, and through to the completion of your degree, the Student Life staff will remain a constant in your HUJI experience, continuing to support you and provide access to enriching social activities, cultural excursions, and more. 

Your Future

Through PhD research at Hebrew University you’ll learn to navigate the professional world with integrity and confidence. The majority of PhD degree holders in Israel have earned their degrees at Hebrew University, and our alumni hold key positions on a global stage in academia, public service and the business sector. As a PhD graduate, you’ll be skilled at critical inquiry, innovative thinking, deep analysis and creative interpretation.

Once a Hebrew University alum, we’ll continue to support you as a dedicated member of our ever-growing alumni community. You’ll have access to career support and guidance, practical resources, and countless networking opportunities with fellow graduates and professional mentors. To get involved, visit our alumni page for further details.

Further Information 

Interested in learning more? Feel free to contact the Authority for Research Students with any questions you may have.

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Student-specific joint PhD degree programs for students enrolled at the Hebrew University and a university abroad.

Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies

Welcome to the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies. 

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We offer a minor in Israel Studies and many of our courses are crosslisted with other departments.  We also maintain a graduate program offering the M.A. and Ph.D, through partnerships with other academic departments.  We create a dynamic student experience through innovative courses, thought-provoking programs by prominent guest lecturers, academic conferences, and meaningful study-abroad opportunities.

We are producing and promoting non-partisan, scholarly research that will inform and inspire today’s thought leaders and decision makers. We invite you to be a part of the growth of the Gildenhorn Institute and look forward to your participation in upcoming Israel studies special events, which we hold throughout the academic year.

Students work closely with our distinguished faculty to gain a broad understanding of Israel in all its variety. 

The Gildenhorn Institute serves as a resource center whose work has a tangible impact on real issues with consequences for real people. We provide resources and information for students, faculty and guests.

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The Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies is dedicated to study and research on Israel in all its variety, but also to presenting political, cultural, and general interest programs featuring Israel and its place in the Middle East. The Institute was established in 2006 and has made a significant place for itself on the UMD campus, in the Washington, D.C. policy community, and in the expanding field of Israel Studies.

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Schusterman Center for Israel Studies

The central mission of the Schusterman Center is to promote exemplary teaching and scholarship in the field of Israel Studies. One pillar of this mission is nurturing the next generation of Israel scholars. To this end, the Center supports doctoral students enrolled in Brandeis University's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences whose research focuses on the modern State of Israel,  in fields such as anthropology, history, sociology, politics, Middle East studies, Israeli art, literature and culture.  These Schusterman Scholars, as our doctoral fellows are known, form a vital part of our intellectual community, alongside our core faculty and our visiting scholars and artists.

Want to join them? Learn about our doctoral fellowships and how you, too, can apply to be a Schusterman Scholar. 

Our Current Schusterman Scholars

Maham is a PhD candidate in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and is writing her dissertation on the legal history of Israel from 1992 to 2013. Her research stems from her interests in comparative citizenship, universalism and inclusivity in nation-states, and courts as political institutions. In Spring 2021, she taught “Defining Status in the Modern State,” an original interdisciplinary course on citizenship, nationalism, indigeneity, and migration. She received her BA in International Studies from the University of Chicago, where she wrote her thesis on citizenship law in Bangladesh. She has previously worked at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and at the American Bar Foundation. She currently teaches History of Israel at SUNY Albany.

Inbar Shifrin is a PhD student in Musicology. She has a BA in musicology, sociology and anthropology and an MA in musicology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Her research involves the contemporary musical choices in synagogues and Jewish music renewal in Israel and their mutual relations with congregations in the US.   Before coming to Brandeis she worked in the Music and Social Development Lab at Haifa University, where she conducted experiments regarding synchronization and its effect on group activities. She also led food tours in downtown Haifa. Her research interests include Voice communities, liturgical music, Jewish identity and gender relations and roles in the Jewish communities. She is i nterested, as well, in other factors contributing to the change in the objectives and content of the local Jewish prayer. For example, the current search for secular spiritual experiences as well as the rising popularity of religious pop music, when those Israeli trends and others challenge the binary categories of secular and sacred.  She is also a Shofar blower and loves to give workshops on Shofar blowing. 

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The Israel Studies Program  of the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Washington promotes the academic study of the histories, cultures, and politics of the State of Israel, Zionism in its various forms and iterations, and the communities of British and Ottoman Palestine, in regional and comparative perspective.

Through engaging academic programming for campus and community audiences and opportunities for student funding and support, the program lends critical insight into unfolding conversations, many with relevance far beyond Israel , about nationalism, liberalism, citizenship, globalization, technology, religion, ethnicity, migration, and the military.

Israel Studies prides itself on dynamic partnerships with other programs on campus, particularly the Sephardic Studies Program , the Middle East Center , the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures , (which offers Hebrew and other Middle Eastern language programs), and the Interdisciplinary Near and Middle Eastern Studies Ph.D. Program . Israel Studies engages and welcomes the participation of people from diverse personal backgrounds, academic disciplines, and political perspectives related to Israel/Palestine, encouraging connections between those who may not normally learn with or from one another.

Latest in Israel Studies

What is an ostracon? How the “scrap paper of the ancient world” offers glimpses of life in biblical times

Pieces of broken pottery ("ostraca") were commonly used to write letters, receipts, and notes in the ancient world, and these fragments show how biblical writings connect to real-world concerns of the time, writes graduate fellow Corinna Nichols.

The Sudan-Israel normalization process: A tactical move but a strategic hazard

Under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Israel and Sudan are close to establishing historic diplomatic ties — but outside of the democratic process. Graduate fellow Yasir Zaidan explains.

Ethics and animals in the Bible: Why ancient Israelites thought of birds as moral examples to follow

Though present-day moral philosophers might disagree, in ancient times, animals like birds were seen as tuned in to the divine will and exemplars of right living. Graduate fellow Forrest Martin explains.

Study the histories, societies, cultures, and politics of the State of Israel through our range of courses. Learn more.

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Make a gift to support Israel Studies at the University of Washington and Israel-related scholarship and programming. Learn more >

The Israel Studies Program brings scholars, writers, and thinkers from diverse disciplines to campus to explore issues related to the State of Israel. View events.

Student Research

Graduate students from across the University conduct research on a wide range of topics in Israel Studies. Learn more about our students.

About the Israel Studies Program

Photo by Katherine Turner.

Housed in the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies, part of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies , the Israel Studies Program brings together distinguished faculty with expertise in modern Israel and offers students multiple disciplinary perspectives on the Israeli state, including history, sociology, law, environment, technology, science and culture.

Center for Israel Studies

You are here: american university college of arts & sciences meltzer schwartzberg center for israel studies (cis).

Meltzer Schwartzberg Center for Israel Studies

In 1998, Shimon Peres inaugurated the first center for Israel Studies in the country at American University. The center sponsors frequent public programs, including conferences, discussions, lecture series, performances and exhibits, in addition to the Minor in Israel Studies.

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• Video: Dennis Ross, " What's Next? The Future of US/Israel Foreign Relations " 2024 Sonenshine Lecture, February 15, 2024
• See more past events on the CIS Video Playlist  and  Israeli Writers series of webinars or the November 2022 Israel Democracy conference .

Guy Ziv Book Talk: Netanyahu vs The Generals

On March 20, 2024 AU Professor Guy Ziv discussed his recent book Netanyahu vs The Generals: The Battle for Israel’s Future.

Read more about the book and Professor Ziv's research here .

View more videos from the Center for Israel Studies.

Join the Center for Israel Studies

• We invite AU students to learn more about us in the website, attend events, or  Minor in Israel Studies .
• We invite the public to be a part of the growth of our center by attending our programs and offering your support . Your commitment and generosity will ensure that CIS will continue to serve as a model throughout the nation in this growing field.

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• Israel-Related Internship Opportunities for Students in DC
• Association for Israel Studies
• AU Jewish Studies Program
• AU Middle East Studies

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, American University’s Center for Israel Studies (CIS) is one of the nation’s premier educational centers for nurturing and catalyzing Israel Studies. CIS's multidisciplinary approach goes beyond the Arab-Israeli conflict to study modern Israel’s history, vibrant society, culture, multiethnic democracy, and complex geopolitical issues. Using AU’s expertise in global education and its central location in Washington, DC, the Center serves as a national and international hub for building bridges and highlighting the diverse achievements and challenges across Israel. 

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With a New Name AU’s Center for Israel Studies Turns 25

Israel Studies

Under the leadership of  Yaacov Yadgar , Oxford’s Stanley Lewis Professor of Israel Studies, OSGA’s Middle East Studies programme provides a space for tolerant and diverse academic and intellectual engagement with issues of society, politics, history and culture in Israel, drawing post-graduate students from various disciplines to further develop the field.

Look for upcoming Israel Studies Seminars on our  events page .

Graduate Studies

Degree Programs

Graduate school of arts and sciences (gsas).

• All Harvard Ph.D. programs (in Jewish studies) are under the auspices of departments in the GSAS . Applications for these graduate programs must be made through the departments and the admissions site of the GSAS .
• Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations: Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern studies, Rabbinics, medieval and early modern history and culture
• Department of History: modern Jewish history and Israel studies
• Committee on the Study of Religion: Hebrew Bible and Jewish studies 
• Department of Comparative Literature: Hebrew and Yiddish literature
• Students working in the Departments of English, Germanic Languages, Slavic Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, American Studies, and Government have also specialized in several aspects of Jewish studies.

Harvard Divinity School

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is jointly offered by HDS and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Find detailed information about PhD fields of study and program requirements on the  Committee on the Study of Religion  website.
• Among its course-offerings, The Divinity School offers many courses in Jewish studies and Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, as well as courses cross-listed with the NELC department. For current offerings please see the Courses List .
• For further information on their application process and requirements, see the HDS Admissions website .

Harvard Law School

• The Julis-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law at the Harvard Law School pursues excellence in the scholarly study of Jewish law, conceived as a dynamic religious system, and Israeli law, the legal system of a state formally committed to democratic and Jewish values. The two subject matters are studied as distinct while also taking particular interest in points of overlap and contestation and the competing claims they sometimes make on one another. The Program emphasizes methodological and ideological diversity and strives to present the full range of opinion and critique, internal and external, consistent always with the academic values of civility, openness, and mutual respect.
• With its resources, the program hopes to make Harvard Law School into a national and international leader in the study and analysis of Jewish and Israeli law from a broad array of scholarly perspectives. Several courses in Jewish and Israeli law are offered each year at HLS. For more information, please visit the Courses List (link to section on this page).
• Learn more about admissions to the J.D. Program
• Learn more about admissions to LL.M. Program
• Learn more about admissions to S.J.D. Program

Funding for Graduate Academic Research and Activities

• The Center for Jewish Studies, while not sponsoring graduate programs of its own, offers fellowships and stipends to Harvard graduate students (mostly through GSAS). Research grants and other funding support graduate research, travel and study. J-term and summer supplemental study and research grants are awarded on a competitive basis through formal applications during the fall and spring semesters. For further information please visit the Fellowships and Prizes page .
• The Center supports two graduate student-run workshops in Jewish studies. The Jewish Studies Workshop and The Hebrew Bible Workshop meet regularly and serve as a forum in which Harvard students from all schools can present their works-in-progress and exchange ideas with a community of students in the field. For more information about these student workshop groups, please contact [email protected] .

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Centre for jewish studies.

The Centre for Jewish Studies at SOAS was established in the 1990s and is currently situated in the Department of Near and Middle East Studies in the Faculty of Language and Culture.

It is committed to the promotion of Jewish and Israeli Studies through scholarship, teaching, book launches, workshops, public events, conferences and symposia, debate and discussion. Past participants in its deliberations have included Nicholas de Lange, Fred Halliday, Hussein Agha, Anthony Julius, Norman Geras, Shlomo Arieli, Michael Walzer, Martin Goodman and David Cesarani.

Research areas

It seeks to research and to communicate the richness of the Jewish experience and thereby raise the profile of Jewish and Israeli Studies at SOAS. It therefore provides an intellectual home for the MA in Israeli Studies, doctoral endeavours and academic research in general.

The Centre’s lecture subjects cover a multiplicity of sub-disciplines. Thus Professor Rachel Elior of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem addressed a large audience on ‘Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls? Mystical Context in Light of Historical Circumstances.’ In early 2007 while Dr Colin Shindler launched his latest book ‘What Do Zionists Believe?’ Topics covered have stretched from ‘South African Yiddish Writing under Apartheid’ to ‘The Forced Conversion of the Jews in 17th century Iran’.

A central activity is the organisation of a series of early evening public lectures during the winter term. During 2007-2008, the common theme for the lectures, ‘Israel at 60’ commemorates the sixtieth establishment of the state.

It also seeks to cooperate with other academic institutions both in this country and particularly in Israel. In March 2007, the SOAS Centre, together with the UCL Centre for Israeli Studies, organised a symposium on the life and times of the Israeli writer, S. Yizhar (1916-2006). The speakers included Nicholas de Lange and the film of Yizhar’s short story ‘Hirbet Hizeh’ was shown.

The Centre also works with organisations whose activities are pertinent to the furthering of Jewish and Israeli studies. In 2007, a conference was arranged together with the Euston Manifesto group and ‘A Day of Negotiations’ between Israelis and Palestinians in conjunction with Peace Now-UK.

There are close ties with professional academic bodies such as the British Association for Jewish Studies and the Association of Israel Studies.

Header image: Kay Egken via Unsplash

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Related content, writing plague: jewish accounts of the great italian plague (1630-31), jews and coronavirus: the global view of phase 1 of the pandemic, dilemmas of disease: jews and the plague in prague in the eighteenth century.

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The Graduate School of Jewish Studies offers a Master of Arts degree in Jewish Studies, with a concentration in Jewish history or Jewish education , and a PhD in Jewish Studies . We've earned a reputation for close student-faculty interaction , superior instruction and a rigorous, well-structured curriculum.

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From left to right: Debra Satz, Alon Tal, Larry Diamond, Salam Fayyad, and Paul Brest. At a recent Democracy and Disagreement class, Fayyad, a former prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, and Tal, a professor at Tel Aviv University, discussed relations between Palestine and Israel. (Image credit: LiPo Ching, School of Humanities and Sciences)

The same week world leaders met in the Saudi capital Riyadh to discuss the viability of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a similarly themed discussion took place at Stanford University, featuring former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Professor Alon Tal .

Their dialogue, held April 30, was part of Democracy and Disagreement , a spring quarter class taught by Debra Satz , the Vernon R. and Lysbeth Warren Anderson Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences , and Paul Brest , interim dean and professor emeritus at Stanford Law School, that sees experts who hold opposing viewpoints model civil dialogue.

The session focused on the feasibility of a two-state solution in Israel, which Satz described as one of the most deeply divisive topics explored in the course yet. “Our aim today is not to resolve the issue,” she said in her opening remarks, “but to begin to understand the disputed facts and values that underlie it, to better inform our own understanding, and perhaps give guidance to solutions.”

For nearly two hours, Fayyad and Tal grappled with the challenges and complexities of achieving lasting peace in the region, with Stanford political scientist Larry Diamond moderating the discussion. Despite their differing views on a contentious topic, the pair’s discussion was marked by civility and mutual respect. Tal opened his remarks by commending Fayyad for an op-ed he wrote for Foreign Policy immediately following the Oct. 7 attacks advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

“I thought that was an incredibly courageous thing to do,” said Tal, a professor at Tel Aviv University in Israel and a former member of the Knesset, or Israeli Parliament. “It was a unique voice in the Palestinian community, [and] I wanted to thank you.”

Reasons for hope

Fayyad expressed doubts about the feasibility of a two-state solution, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

He observed that a two-state solution means different things to different people and proposed reframing the debate to focus on what conditions are necessary for the emergence of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Once those conditions are identified, one can work backward to “reverse engineer” policy and actions to make them a reality, said Fayyad, who is now a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution and a visiting senior scholar at Princeton University.

Fayyad described the current moment as a “one-state reality,” which Tal responded as being unsustainable. Tal said he sees a two-state solution being existentially important to Israel and pointed to diplomatic shifts across the region that could support such an outcome.

“Today is different than any other time in the history of the region for the following reason: The vast majority of Arabs in the Middle East live in countries with diplomatic relations with Israel,” he argued, citing Jordan’s assistance in disrupting Iran’s missile attack toward Israel last month as an example.

“For me, this suggests that the Middle East has changed, hopefully, for the better,” said Tal, who is also a visiting fellow in the Israel Studies Program at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI). “I think we all recognize the Middle East is at a crossroads: It can go in the direction that Iran is pushing through its proxies, a jihadist extremist, violent future, maybe heading to a caliphate … or it can be a prosperous, enlightened beacon to the world as it should be.”

Embracing differences in a democracy

The discussion also touched upon broader democratic principles, with Fayyad emphasizing the importance of inclusivity.

“What is democracy if pluralism is to be suppressed?” Fayyad asked. He emphasized that excluding groups will not produce sustainable outcomes.

This conviction, along with the pervasiveness of Hamas in the region, is why Fayyad believes that to politically stabilize Palestine, Hamas must be included in the recovery effort.

Tal, however, vehemently opposed including Hamas in negotiations, calling it a “beautiful, idealistic” impulse but said “that there are consequences when you start a military conflict.” He pointed out precedents for countries excluding certain perspectives during their post-war reconstruction. For example, in post-WWII Germany, the new government made the decision to exclude Nazis because it “decided there was something evil there.”

“I see no signs that Hamas is able to change its DNA, and they’re going to have to be out of the room initially as we start to move forward,” Tal said.

Fayyad believes peace is only possible when there is a parity between the two societies. He stressed that Palestinians must be treated with dignity and be considered equals in a country of their own.

He also emphasized the importance of honoring each side’s perspectives and accepted truths. “At some point, there is a shared space within which people can operate and reach solutions,” he said.

Making space for nuance

The discussion also included questions, observations, and some dissent from students.

One student asked Fayyad to suggest a name for a unified Israel-Palestine – a question that prompted a sobering reflection from Fayyad about how he doesn’t see the conflict being resolved during his lifetime.

Another student brought up the issue of war crimes including genocide, which led to a lengthy discussion between the speakers about protecting sovereignty and the rule of international law.

Tal said he “categorically rejected” the accusation of genocide, framing Israel’s response as defensive. In contrast, Fayyad shared how he believed “there’s no question” war crimes have been committed, and urged Palestinians to “fully cooperate” with an independent commission of inquiry to investigate.

Tal also emphasized the profound human cost of conflict. “For a family that lost a child, it doesn’t really matter what your explanation is. The goal has to be to find a way so these kinds of wars never happen again.”

After attending the class, Tom Albert, who works in alumni relations at the Graduate School of Business and is Israeli, said she felt more hopeful about how people can talk about the conflict in a way that recognizes the many truths and lived experiences that exist.

“That session modeled for me that we can talk about this respectfully while honoring the devastation each side feels,” Albert said.

Fayyad also spoke at an event hosted by the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL)’s Program on Arab Reform and Democracy at FSI, which was moderated by Diamond and Hesham Sallam, a senior research scholar and associate director for research at CDDRL.

Diamond is the William L. Clayton Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, the Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy, and a Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education at Stanford University.

Tal is also a visiting professor of business and sustainability at the GSB.

AAS Statement on Palestine/Gaza and Israel - April 2024

AAS Statement on Palestine/Gaza and Israel 

By Director, Richard Lee, PhD

As an Asian American Studies scholar, I condemn the violence and mass deaths occurring in Gaza and stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. I also cannot defend the kidnappings and deaths of Israeli and non-Israeli civilians by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and do not condone such violent actions. The October 7th attacks, however, do not justify the horrific, brutal, and unrelenting offense of the Israeli government and military on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and the Occupied Territories. The death of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, the displacements of millions, and the mass destruction of homes and communities, including schools and hospitals, goes far beyond a reasonable self-defense by the Israeli government and instead continues the ongoing violence toward and oppression of Palestinans and the occupation of land that has been contested for centuries. 

Asian American Studies began as an academic field in the 1960s during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, a time when student activism and political protest led scholars to re-examine and critique the ways in which imperialism, colonialism, and systemic racism have shaped U.S. society and its relationship with the rest of the world. Over the next half century, Asian American Studies scholars have interrogated, challenged, and critiqued the impact of these structural and social forces on Asian American communities, as well as the ways White supremacy has positioned Asian Americans amidst anti-Black racism. 

Notably, Asian American Studies has been greatly informed and influenced by the writings of Palestinian American scholar Edward Said and his powerful critique of Orientalism to understand the ways in which Asian Americans have been perceived and treated as the Oriental which goes by many names today (forever foreigners, model minorities, and yellow peril to name a few). By claiming Asian American as a collective and political identity, we resist being Othered and find solidarity across ethnic lines, understanding how our experiences and lives are tied together and directly shaped by centuries of imperialism, colonialism, and systemic racism. 

But it is critically important to remember that Said originally was writing about how Western imperialism portrayed the Middle East, including Palestine, as the Orient as a way to subdue and control. Rather than simply take Said’s concepts as our own, Asian Americans have an opportunity to find solidarity with Palestinians today, to resist the portrayal and treatment of Palestinian people as the Other, and to demand their humanity and their lands be restored rather than destroyed. 

It is in this spirit that I affirm the right of University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty, as well as our alumni and local communities, to demonstrate and protest and to be in solidarity with the people of Palestine. This protest to stand up against Islamophobia and antisemitism, to end the violence in the Palestine/Israel region, and to find peaceful solutions to occupation does not occur without the voices and activism of citizens around the world. Universities play an especially critical role in educating its citizens and the world about the history, politics, and social injustices that underlie oppression, violence, and war. I call on the University of Minnesota administration and Board of Regents to critically re-evaluate its positions and take corrective action on its investments that directly and indirectly support the violent injustices now being perpetrated on Palestinians.

As director of the Asian American Studies Program, I remain committed to academic freedom and human rights and aim to amplify voices, challenge systems of oppression, and foster solidarity across borders. In the spirit of shared humanity and collective liberation, I urge our university community to come together with Palestine and the students, staff, and faculty bravely speaking truth to power.

Richard M. Lee, PhD

Distinguished McKnight University Professor

Director, Asian American Studies Program

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Anti-israel student protesters take over cuny graduate center, rename it after bombed-out gaza university.

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Dozens of anti-Israel student protesters took over CUNY Graduate Center’s library Tuesday night and “renamed” it after a university in Gaza destroyed by airstrikes.

The demonstrators hung Palestinian flags as well as banners and signs inside the Mina Rees Library on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue with their new name for it: “The Al Aqsa University Library” — after the oldest public university in Gaza, which has been near-flattened by Israel’s bombardment of the territory.

“Disclose. Divest. We will not stop, we will not rest,” the roughly 30 students chanted as they stood and sat inside the building lobby, according to a clip shot by an independent video journalist .

Another 50 protesters stood outside the doors of the public university but were blocked from entering.

Inside the university building, the student protesters read the names of 94 Palestinian professors recently killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Organizers said they took over the library building — and “de-occupied” it — as part of the push to demand CUNY divest $8.5 million from weapons, tech and surveillance companies “complicit in zionist settler-colonialism and genocide of the Palestinian people.”

The protesters are also demanding CUNY drop all charges against students who were arrested during a police raid on a City College encampment.

“From New York to Palestine, protesting is not a crime,” they chanted in the lobby. “From CUNY to Palestine, protesting is not a crime.”

CUNY Graduate Center President Joshua Brumberg met with the student protesters in the lobby to try to negotiate a deal.

The students said they would leave the building if he could meet two immediate demands — he publically back amnesty for all pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at any CUNY demonstration and he grant amnesty to all the protesters in the library Monday night.

But Brumberg only agreed to the latter, so the students remained, according to the organizers.

Several hours later, an agreement was reached and the protesters dispersed, a CUNY Graduate Center spokesman told The Post Wednesday.

“Last night a group of demonstrators entered the CUNY Graduate Center lobby to make a series of demands, which were enumerated in a message disseminated by the Doctoral and Graduate Student Council,” the rep said.

“After several hours of discussion, an amicable resolution was reached, and the demonstrators left peacefully.”

No arrests were made.

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Pardee School Celebrates Outgoing Graduate Students with Superlatives and Advice

The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies recently hosted a special toast to honor its outgoing graduate students. The event was filled with fun superlatives voted on by the students themselves.

“Best Smile” went to Yijing Wu, known for brightening up rooms with her positive attitude. Mahitha Owk was voted “Most Likely to be in the UN” for her commitment to advocating for refugees. Manpreet Singh, who jokingly nominated herself, took home “Most Likely to Spend Most of Their Time in the Grad Lounge.”

Other superlatives included “Most Likely to Achieve World Peace” for Emma Liu, “Most Likely to be Best Friends with AOC” for Justin Dynia, “Best Dressed” for Hallie McCarthy, and “Most Likely to be a Teacher’s Pet” for Stephanie Rozycki. The “Pardee Smarty” award went to Victoria Bien-Aime for her insightful class contributions. One student summed up Karl Wright’s qualifications, saying “I nominated Karl Wright for every single superlative because I believe he is an all-around outstanding individual.”

The festivities included fun photos, and even a surprise appearance by BU’s mascot. Outgoing students shared advice for incoming classes, recommending favorite professors, prioritizing self-care, and savoring the graduate school experience.

The Pardee School looks forward to continuing the celebration at commencement on Saturday, May 18, as it honors the achievements of its graduating students.

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A Columbia professor wanted to document history. NYPD arrested him outside his home

Gregory Pflugfelder had just finished the final class of his career at Columbia. In 28 years at the university, he achieved many accolades as a professor of history who taught a popular course on Japanese monsters – mostly focused on Godzilla and "the role of the monstrous in the cultural imagination."

He didn't know it, but a cultural monster of sorts would soon be at his door.

The next night, on Tuesday, the 64-year-old silver-haired scholar stepped outside his apartment building, located off campus across the street from Columbia. He wanted to record iPhone video of hundreds of police responding to historic student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza . Fifteen minutes later, the NYPD arrested him.

The New York Police Department listed Pflugfelder among 112 arrests made at Columbia on Tuesday night , according to police records obtained by USA TODAY. But Pflugfelder was never on campus.

“I certainly posed no danger to anybody,” he told USA TODAY. “I was literally standing in the street and not blocking anybody.”

As protests and opposition to the war in Gaza has swept across U.S. campuses, universities and police have increasingly pointed to "outside agitators" and off-campus disruptors as the insurgents behind the campus unrest. Pflugfelder's arrest – on a charge of obstructing government administration – is among the first of 282 people put in custody at or near Columbia and City College of New York during police raids. The arrests have raised claims of heavy-handed police tactics to suppress largely peaceful demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war.

Columbia University referred questions about the professor’s arrest to NYPD. Neither NYPD nor New York Mayor Eric Adams’ office responded to email requests from USA TODAY. 

Live updates: NYPD says officer fired gun on Columbia campus; NYU, New School protests cleared

'Historic mistake'

Pflugfelder's last class, Introduction to Japanese Civilization, is a course he taught since he started teaching at Columbia in 1996. He's only taught at the Ivy League school. His plan Tuesday was to do “absolutely nothing,” he recalled. This included reading and watching the Hulu show, "Shōgun."

In the afternoon, he heard protests nearby, around the corner from his apartment on West 114th Street. His apartment building is located across the street from campus, where demonstrators gathered for weeks and formed an encampment calling on the university to divest from Israel.

He knew about the heightened police response because of a prior protest at Columbia, on April 18, at which police arrested over 100 people at the encampment in the center of campus. Police buses blocked Pflugfelder's street to take protesters to NYPD headquarters.

He supported students right to demonstrate. He wrote a letter to Columbia President Minouche Shafik, who requested NYPD respond to the encampment on campus. It was his first time writing to the president’s office. “I urge you not to compound the historic mistake you've made by repeating it,” he wrote on April 23.

A week later, on Tuesday, he felt history would be made again, and he wanted to document it. He stepped out of his apartment building to record video on his iPhone.

By about 9 p.m., he estimated hundreds of police, donning helmets and batons, had formed lines on the street. He recorded students forced inside fraternity houses and dorm buildings, with video of them knocking on the windows. Then, he turned to look at the street, where officers formed lines ahead of their siege on campus.

At most, he said, he stood 7 feet onto the street from the curb. Police ordered him inside, but he told them his address was about 300 feet down the block. They told him to go home, but he said he wanted to continue recording. An officer said, “OK, put him down,” Pflugfelder recalled, though he was not forced to the ground. Nonetheless, he ended up cuffed in zip ties.

“I just stayed on my block, relatively well behaved,” he said. “Poorly located, unfortunately.”

He said he told the female police officer arresting him: “You’ve just arrested your first faculty member.” He said she responded, “This is for your protection.”

Police response to NYC schools showed 'precision policing,' Adams says

Mayor Adams has said police acted with professionalism in mass arrests on college campuses, which included police using a SWAT vehicle to enter Hamilton Hall, the occupied Columbia building.

"The NYPD's precision policing ensured that the operation was organized, calm, and that there were no injuries or violent clashes,” Adams told reporters on Wednesday, the day after the arrests.

But Jennvine Wong, supervising attorney at the nonprofit Legal Aid Society’s cop accountability project, said Pflugfelder's arrest raises questions about whether NYPD escalated rather than deescalated situations. It also may have violated laws protecting citizens’ right to record police interactions.

“Generally speaking, there is still a First Amendment right to record in public as long as they’re not interfering with police,” Wong told USA TODAY. “To me, this sounds like a devious arrest.”

War in Gaza: Biden to meet with King of Jordan as US, Israel go 'back and forth' over Rafah invasion

By Pflugfelder’s account, he was the third arrested person to enter an NYPD van. Ten people would fill the van that took him downtown. At 6-foot-5-inches, Pflugfelder said he felt cramped. He also has “claustrophobic tendencies,” and during the ride, he asked others to help him take his mind off his feelings, so they asked about his classes. He gathered during the ride that most people inside were Columbia students, based on the questions they asked.

At NYPD headquarters, he was in a holding cell with about 60 other men. He stayed there for about five hours. One person next to him on the bench said he was from Columbia and had been at Hamilton Hall, the occupied school building police raided using flash-bang grenades, and where police errantly fired a gunshot indoors. The man Pflugfelder saw was visibly bruised, including a black eye.

“The violence against protesters was extreme,” said Corinna Mullin, an adjunct assistant professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of CUNY, at a recent news conference. Mullin was among those arrested Tuesday night at City College.

Conclusions drawn, then data collected

Police released Pflugfelder from custody at about 5 a.m. with a ticket to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 20. He called an Uber and went home, though since has found it hard to rest. He’s hasn't yet communicated with university administration. He’s not looking forward to it.

“I would not put myself in a vulnerable situation vis-a-vis an institution that has assaulted me,” he said.

Irene Mulvey, the president of the American Association of University Professors, said the group has several firsthand, eyewitness accounts of what she called unnecessarily violent and disproportionate responses to what started as peaceful protests. 

Information released by police, including on the number of “outside agitators,” has not answered important questions about the rationale to send police to college campuses, including at Columbia, said Mulvey, a mathematician and professor emeritus at Fairfield University, in Connecticut. A central reason police responded to Columbia was people from outside who indoctrinated students with training and ideology, though officials have disclosed little evidence to date.

“Scientists, we would collect data and draw conclusions,” she told USA TODAY. “In this case, it seems a conclusion was drawn, and then data was collected, which may or may not justify it.”

Pflugfelder has yet to have the relaxing day he’s sought after nearly three decades of teaching. In jail, police made him remove the shoelaces of his black and white Vessi sneakers. He’s kept them unlaced since then, as a reminder.

Contributing: Mike James, USA TODAY