In the wake of the Gaza conflict and the surge of antisemitism across the globe, many young Jewish adults have been grappling with complex questions about their Jewish identities. What does it mean to be Jewish in the 21st century? What are the core elements that unite the Jewish people? Are ancient Jewish texts still relevant today? What role does a distinct Jewish identity play in a world that is becoming increasingly multicultural? Today, the details of Jewish culture, history, and heritage are no longer seen as peripheral, but as essential to comprehending our increasingly turbulent world.
This pivotal moment presents an extraordinary opportunity to launch the new Jewish Identity Program at the University of Haifa. Our department has long offered academic tracks addressing issues in ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish history, literature, and thought. With the only interdisciplinary Jewish Studies program at a university in northern Israel, we provide an intellectually stimulating space for young students from all religious and cultural backgrounds to engage with these profound questions. These tracks will be consolidated in our new program, in which the core elements that bind the Jewish people are explored with depth and nuance, revealing the timeless threads that unite us across generations.
Download the proposal.