Jewish Studies

Two graduate degree options in Jewish Studies enable you to approach Jewish texts, culture, history and thought from different angles:

Primary texts are central to the Master of Arts in Jewish Studies degree program. Bible, Mishnah, Gemara, Midrash, Codes and Medieval commentary, as well as contemporary Jewish literature form the program's core. From the integrated study of Jewish sources, history, culture and ethics, you will gain the skills and a multitude of perspectives to become a confident interpreter of Jewish texts and tradition, and learn to conduct independent research. To decipher the full meaning of sources and appreciate their depth, you will study texts in the original Hebrew. The College's strong Hebrew language program enables those without prior training in Hebrew to develop these essential language skills.

The Master of Jewish Liberal Studies, designed for the adult learner, enables you to define or refine your personal Jewish journey via an interdisciplinary exploration of Jewish culture and civilization, viewed through the lens of the Jewish humanities. The program of study includes courses in Jewish texts, both classical and modern, and Jewish thought and history—with a special emphasis on Jewish music, art and literature. All texts are provided in English translation, but you may also choose to pursue Hebrew language instruction as a means to gain further insight into your text study.

Hebrew College also offers several dual undergraduate-graduate degree programs for students have partially completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university, and wish to pursue Jewish studies in an advanced academic program.

Lead Faculty

Dr. Barry Mesch is Provost and Stone-Teplow Families Professor of Jewish Thought at Hebrew College. He came to Hebrew College in 1990 from the University of Florida, where he founded the Center for Jewish Studies and was instrumental in the University’s acquiring and developing one of the major university collections of Judaica in the south. At Hebrew College, Dr. Mesch guided the creation and administration of the first online Master of Arts in Jewish Studies on the Internet. His academic interests include medieval and modern Jewish thought, history of exegesis, teaching Bible and classical Jewish texts, and the problem of evil in Jewish thought. He earned a bachelors with honors in philosophy from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Religious Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in the History of Ideas Program with a specialization in medieval Jewish Philosophy from Brandies University.