From posters to precedent, humanities scholars showcase their research
Projects spanned topics from Confederate cemeteries to Korean textiles.
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Founded on the conviction that the record contained in the languages, literature, and history of the Jewish people, as these developed across the globe and over thousands of years, are an integral part of human heritage.
Popular Destinations
The Jewish Studies Program mourns the recent loss of Harold Tanner, our long-time benefactor and advocate going back to the first capital campaign for Jewish Studies in the 1990s. May his memory be for a blessing.
Fall 2025 Course of Interest
Elementary Yiddish I
JWST 1776; YIDSH 1776; GERST 1776
MTWR 1:25-2:15 p.m. 4 credits.
In addition to language learning, the course fosters understanding of Ashkenazi Jewish life through songs, literature, humor, holiday traditions and more.
Questions? Contact David Forman, drf84@cornell.edu
Jewish Studies News
'I have a better sense of my place in the world'
Hyrum Edwards is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar who also majored in history, Jewish studies & Near Eastern studies.
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Ethnic cleansing explored in Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Lecture
Columbia University's Khatchig Mouradian will give a lecture, “Ethnic Cleansing in the Long 19th Century: The Native American, Circassian, and Armenian Cases,” on April 24.
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Call for Papers: The State and the Holocaust: Encounters, Interactions, Social Dynamics
On behalf of the Jewish Studies Program at Cornell University, we invite proposals for a forthcoming workshop on April 27-28, 2025, in Ithaca, NY, on the topic of the relationship between state authorities, Jews, and European societies during the Holocaust. The deadline for submission is November 10...
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A&S announces membership in MLA Strategic Partnership Network
“We felt this is an important resource that should be available to our humanists at all levels, whether they have the resources to pay for membership or not,” said Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author from Jerusalem to speak Oct. 10
Nathan Thrall will talk about his most recent book, “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy.”
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Modeling an ancient house and garden in 3D
Cornell researchers have received a $150,000 NEH Digital Humanities Advanced Grant to create a 3D virtual modeling project based on the Casa della Regina Carolina, a large Pompeian house.
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Final speaker in series examining antisemitism, Islamophobia
Cornell’s “Antisemitism and Islamophobia Examined” series concludes this semester with a talk by Derek Penslar, the William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History at Harvard University.
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Major in Jewish studies
Start your journey by taking a class such as “Introduction to Judaism” (JWST 2644), studying Hebrew or Yiddish, or enrolling in or one of the many other courses we offer.
Tempted by more than one Jewish studies course? Consider pursuing a major in Jewish studies.
Attend a program
Join a live lecture, panel discussion, literary reading, or performance, or explore our video archive of previous events. Check our event calendar.
Participate in a Yiddish conversation hour, Friday's at noon on Zoom.
Conduct Research
Explore the resources at the Cornell Library.
Apply for funding to support summer research and travel. We offer summer funding to Cornell undergraduate and graduate students.
Support the program
Your support enables the program to enhance the experience for undergraduate students. Gifts can help fund lectures and conferences, student research, distinguished speakers, and other program priorities. We will greatly appreciate and immediately put into use any gift, no matter the amount.