Judaic Studies

Judaic Studies and Hebrew Studies Minors

About Judaic Studies

The Judaic Studies Program at the University at Albany promotes literacy and scholarly knowledge about Judaism and Jewish history in their diverse cultural expressions from antiquity to the present. We are scholars, teachers, and students aimed at exploring the fundamentals of Judaic studies as an interdisciplinary academic field with a variety of methodologies. The Judaic Studies Program is affiliated with the Department of History.

Judaic Studies Scroll

Judaic Studies offers undergraduate courses at elementary and advanced levels, many of which are cross-listed with other departments. Practicum credit may be earned by assisting with course instruction and Internship credit through community service. Many students take advantage of the SUNY-wide Israel study program for a semester or year overseen by Judaic Studies. Students may apply for sponsored scholarships.

Avenues often pursued by Judaic Studies graduates

  • Graduate Training in Social Welfare
  • Jewish Communal Administration or Education
  • The Rabbinate or Cantorate
  • PhD Programs 
  • Diplomacy


Degree Requirements for the Minors

Judaic Studies Minor

A minimum of 18 graduation credits (9 or more of which must be in course work at or above the 300 level) from course work in the Department of Judaic Studies or other relevant departments. No more than 4 credits from among A HEB 450 or A JST 450 or 490 may be applied to the minor.

View frequently offered Judaic Studies courses in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Hebrew Studies Minor

A minimum of 18 graduation credits (9 or more of which must be at or above the 300 level or in coursework requiring at least one prerequisite course) from coursework with an A HEB prefix, and A JST/A HIS 225, A JST/A HIS/A REL 253, and A JST/A HIS/A REL 254. No more than 4 credits of A HEB 450 may be applied to the minor.

View frequently offered Hebrew courses in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

 

For more information about minors, go to the University's Undergraduate Bulletin.

Upcoming Events

Monday 4/24, 7pm: Yom Ha-Shoah Lecture w/ Dr. Mikhal Dekel in the Campus Center Board Room - The Tehran Children: To Whom Does History Belong?

SUNY has arrangements with Haifa University, the Hebrew University, Ben-Gurion University, and Tel Aviv University for students who desire to spend a semester or an academic year studying in Israel. Students can earn credits toward the Judaic Studies or Hebrew Studies minors for suitable courses. Learn more on the Study Abroad page.

 

 

Depictions of Israel
Judaic Studies and Hebrew Undergraduate Course Offerings
Summer 2023 Course
JST 221 (2571) (3 crs) The American Jewish Experience
Mora, Miriam  
FULLY ONLINE COURSE - ASYNCHRONOUS   
*Cross-listed with HIS 221 (2570)  

A general overview of the American Jewish experience. Examines historical developments in such areas of American Jewish life as religious expression, political activity, education, demographics, socio-economics, and secular intellectual and cultural activity. Assesses the impact on American Jewry of immigration from Europe and elsewhere, and such pivotal events as World War I and II, the Holocaust, and the founding of the State of Israel. Addresses the relationship between diverse segments of American Jewry and between Jewish and non-Jewish Americans.


JST 250 (1986) (3 crs)   

 The Holocaust & Genocide in the Modern World   

Matkowska, Justyna ([email protected]  
FULLY ONLINE COURSE – ASYNCHRONOUS   
*Cross-listed with HIS 250 (1987)    

This course examines the nature, causes, historical facts, and aftermath of the Holocaust. Students will investigate the events of the Holocaust integrated within World War II and the post-war aftermath and cultural memory. Students will explore, analyze, and discuss the radicalization of Nazi policies and programs and the targeting of specific groups: four racially targeted groups (Jews, Roma and Sinti, Slavs, Soviet prisoners of the war), as well as other persecuted groups (homosexuals, political prisoners, Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled people, and other victims). The focus is on the analysis of the patterns of persecution of targeted groups in Nazi-dominated Europe. Students will analyze and discuss primary source documents, the survivors’ testimonial evidence, and documentary regarding forms of Nazi persecution (extermination camps, forced labor camps, ghettos, pogroms, mass executions). and put these sources into the context of larger events, changes, regimes, and conflicts. The additional focus will be on the collective memory of Genocide, the commemoration of the victims, and the current political and historical debate on the Holocaust.

 

Fall 2023 Courses

Come visit us in SS119 or contact the director of the program, Dr. Federica Francesconi.

JST 225 (6799) (3 crs)    The Modern Jewish Experience in Film    
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected]  
Tue, Thu 4:30pm-5:50pm  
HU 109  
*Cross-listed with AARH 225 & HIS 225 (6798)  

With a specific eye on films, this course examines the transformations of world Jewry as well as important historical themes that crossed geographical areas beginning with the early modern period and continuing through the present.  It is intended to provide an opportunity for students to engage some of the main themes in modern Jewish history by analyzing, watching, and discussing American, European, and Israeli feature and documentary movies and videos that document or fictionalize Jewish life in the modern era. This course also explores the ways in which films have critically engaged with the various cultural, social, technological, and economic issues that have defined the periods in Jewish history in which they were made. Along with this, we will use both primary and secondary sources, including memoirs, excerpts of literature, novels, and ideological manifestos. We will examine with particular attention how political transformations affected Jews’ status in different European contexts, the rise of various forms of anti-Semitism in the late nineteenth century culminating in the racial anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and the creation of the State of Israel. Thus, we will explore the changes engendered in Jewish life and the responses of the Jews to its challenges. We also will examine a plethora of new Jewish movements that emerged in this period such as Hassidism, Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment), religious reforms, Socialism, and Zionism. Finally, we will examine all the topics mentioned above following a chronological order but at the same time for each unit we will privilege one or two themes and explore them throughout different geographical areas and centuries.

This course fulfills the General Education requirement for DP-Arts.


JST 250 (8755) (3 crs) The Holocaust & Genocide in the Modern World
Matkowska, Justyna ([email protected])  
FULLY ONLINE COURSE - SYNCHRONOUS   
Tue, Thu 1:30pm-2:50pm  
*Cross-listed with HIS 250 (8754)  

This course examines the nature, causes, historical facts, and aftermath of the Holocaust. Students will investigate the events of the Holocaust integrated within World War II and the post-war aftermath and cultural memory. Students will explore, analyze, and discuss the radicalization of Nazi policies and programs and the targeting of specific groups: four racially targeted groups (Jews, Roma and Sinti, Slavs, Soviet prisoners of the war), as well as other persecuted groups (homosexuals, political prisoners, Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled people, and other victims). The focus is on the analysis of the patterns of persecution of targeted groups in Nazi-dominated Europe. Students will analyze and discuss primary source documents, the survivors’ testimonial evidence, and documentary regarding forms of Nazi persecution (extermination camps, forced labor camps, ghettos, pogroms, mass executions). and put these sources into the context of larger events, changes, regimes, and conflicts. The additional focus will be on the collective memory of Genocide, the commemoration of the victims, and the current political and historical debate on the Holocaust.


JST 251 (7054) (3 crs) Early Israel & Biblical Civilization
Cradic, Melissa ([email protected]  
FULLY ONLINE COURSE - ASYNCHRONOUS   
*Cross-listed with HIS 252 (7053)   
**Also meets with HIS 341 (7292) & JST 341 (7291)  

This course presents the history, cultures, and religions of ancient Israel/Palestine during the first millennium B.C.E., spanning the Iron Age through early Persian period (ca. 1100 B.C.E. – 539 B.C.E.). The material combines study of biblical texts, historical sources, and recent archaeological finds to critically evaluate the development of the Hebrew Bible and early Israel. Tools and evidence from archaeology will be used to reconstruct ancient realities to understand the world, concerns, and motivations of the biblical writers throughout different periods. The course takes a broad perspective on literary sources from across the ancient Middle East to contextualize the biblical world within its historical milieu. Beginning with the composition of biblical text, readings and lectures will navigate through historical theories and archaeological evidence from the primordial creation stories through early Second Temple Judaism.


JST 254 (8334) (3 crs) The Jews in the Modern World
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected])  
Tue, Thu 3:00pm-4:20pm  
HU 109  
*Cross-listed with HIS 254 (8333) & REL 254 (8335)  
**Also meets with JST 344 (8336)  

This course examines the transformations of European Jewry in the modern era beginning with the period of the Emancipation and the Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century and continuing to after World War II. We will examine with particular attention how political transformations affected Jews’ status in different European contexts, the rise of various forms of anti-Semitism in the late nineteenth century culminating in the racial anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and the creation of the State of Israel. We will explore the changes engendered in Jewish life and the responses of the Jews to its challenges. We will examine a plethora of new Jewish movements that emerged in this period such as Hasidism, Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment), religious reforms, Socialism, and Zionism. We will use both primary and secondary sources, including memoirs, excerpts of literature, ideological manifestos, and feature and documentary films. This course fulfills the General Education requirement for International Perspectives.


JST 341 (7291) (3 crs) Issues in Biblical Civilization
Cradic, Melissa ([email protected])  
FULLY ONLINE COURSE - ASYNCHRONOUS  
*Cross-listed with HIS 341 (7292)  
**Also meets with HIS 252 (7053) & JST 251 (7054)  

Covers the same material as HIS 252/JST 251 on an advanced level. Students attend class meetings for HIS 252/JST 251 but have a more sophisticated reading list as well as additional research and recitation/discussion assignments. Students will engage critically with scholarly debates concerning identity and ethnogenesis in ancient Israel; identify gaps, problems, and weaknesses with primary sources; assess the strength of scholarly interpretations and approaches to major course topics; and lead class discussions to demonstrate critical engagement with key course issues.


JST 344 (8336) (3 crs) Issues in Modern Jewish History
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected]  
Tue, Thu 3:00pm-4:20pm  
HU 109  
**Also meets with HIS 254 (8333), JST 254 (8334), & REL 254 (8335)   

This course examines the transformations of European Jewry in the modern era beginning with the period of the Emancipation and the Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century and continuing to after World War II. We will examine with particular attention how political transformations affected Jews’ status in different European contexts, the rise of various forms of anti-Semitism in the late nineteenth century culminating in the racial anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and the creation of the State of Israel. We will explore the changes engendered in Jewish life and the responses of the Jews to its challenges, and in so doing we will expand our focus beyond Europe including North Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. We will examine a plethora of new Jewish movements that emerged in this period such as Hassidism, Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment), religious reforms, Socialism, and Zionism. We will use both primary and secondary sources, including memoirs, excerpts of literature, ideological manifestos, and feature and documentary films.

It covers same period as JST 254, but on an advanced level. Students attend class meetings for JST 254, but have a separate, more sophisticated reading list, a research paper, and a separate recitation session. Only one of HIS 254, REL 254, JST 254, and JST 344 may be taken for credit. This course fulfills the General Education requirement for International Perspectives.


JST 450 (6564) (3 crs) Judaic Studies Practicum
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected]  
ARR  

Advanced Judaic Studies students receive undergraduate credit for assisting with 100 or 200 level Judaic Studies courses under the close supervision of the instructor. Students at this level lead small group discussions several times in the semester; offer one class presentation, which will also be written up as a paper and submitted to the instructor; and may assist in grading quizzes and examinations. Students meet regularly with the instructor, who helps students improve their knowledge of the topic and discusses pedagogical techniques. Course may be repeated once for credit with approval of department chair. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor & department chair.


JST 497 (4564) (1-6 crs) Independent Study in Judaic Studies
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected])    
ARR  

Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in Judaic studies. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): permission of program director.


JST 497 (5749) (1-6 crs) Independent Study in Judaic Studies
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected])    
ARR  

Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in Judaic studies. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): permission of program director.


Hebrew Studies Courses

HEB 101 (5816) (3 crs) Elementary Hebrew I
Zilberberg, Keren ([email protected]  
Mon, Wed 11:40am-12:35pm  
Tue, Thu 12:00pm-12:55pm  
SL G24  

Ivrit min HaHatchala (Hebrew from Scratch) is a program developed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to teach others to communicate in Hebrew. It includes vocabulary and syntax in a gradual sequence, enabling learners to build and expand on their acquired knowledge. Students learn to read and communicate in different contexts. The program is interactive and uses a variety of methods for teaching and learning. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of modern spoken and written Hebrew. Learn the 4 skills of language: reading, writing, listening, and speaking in Hebrew. Study of fundamental speech patterns. Listening comprehension and oral ability, using audiovisual method. Progressively greater emphasis placed on reading and writing skills.

For students with no previous knowledge of Hebrew.


HEB 201 (6492) (3 crs) Intermediate Hebrew I
Zilberberg, Keren ([email protected]  
Tue, Thu 1:30pm-2:50pm   
SL G24  

Hebrew from Scratch, Part 2 continues right where the first volume leaves off.

Upon completion of both volumes of Hebrew from Scratch, the student should be able to recognize and understand the basic elements of the language and should have attained a good command of and familiarity for the language in terms of writing, speaking, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. Students will apply and extend their knowledge of Hebrew grammar and continue to build their vocabulary with the goal of enhancing their ability to independently read and understand ancient through modern Jewish texts in Hebrew. In this course, the student is exposed to a variety of reading selections on various subjects, including Jewish, Israeli, and general topics. The student is exposed to conversation from various levels of language. Alongside the texts and conversations, you will find systematic and staged exercises in grammar, structure, composition, and use of the dictionary.


HEB 497 (5750) (1-6 crs) Independent Study in Hebrew
Francesconi, Federica ([email protected]  
ARR  

Directed readings and conferences on selected topics in Hebrew language and literature.                          Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and department chair.

Faculty and Staff
Faculty

Judaic Studies Faculty

Federica Francesconi, PhD, Director of the Judaic Studies Program & Associate Professor in the Department of History.
Melissa Cradic, PhD, Lecturer in History and Judaic Studies.
Richard Fogarty, PhD, Associate Professor of History.

Justyna Matkowska, PhD, Lecturer in History and Judaic Studies.

Michael Taylor, PhD, Associate Professor of History.

Maham Theisen, ABD, Lecturer in History and Judaic Studies.

Keren Zilberberg, MA, Language Instructor and teaches classes in Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Hebrew.

 

Affiliated Faculty 

Victor Asal, PhD, Director of the Center for Policy Research and Professor of Political Science.
Professor Bob Gluck, Associate Professor of Music.
Patrick Nold, PhD, Associate Professor of History.
 

Emeriti Faculty

Judith R. Baskin
Toby W. Clyman, [email protected]
Jerome Eckstein
Daniel Grossberg, [email protected]
Stanley J. Isser

 

Staff

Judaic Studies Staff


Jamie Winn - Administrative Manager of The Department of History & The Judaic Studies Program                       

Erika Dockey - Office Assistant of The Department of History & The Judaic Studies Program


Affiliated Staff

Sharona Wachs, Libraries, Cataloging Services, [email protected]

Resources
Jewish Life at UAlbany

UAlbany offers a wide variety of organizations and resources for students interested in participating in Jewish life on and off campus.

UAlbany Hillel is made up of a number of different student run groups that plan activities throughout the year. These groups are formed by students and new ones can be started at any time. Current student groups include: Jewish Student Coalition/Hillel; RUACH!; Kol Echad; L’Chaim; Jewish Women’s Connection; JenV, AEPi. Visit www.ualbanyhillel.org.

Shabbos House Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center Serving UAlbany since 1976, directed by Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin, it offers Shabbat and Holiday meals and services, weekly Torah study, and an array of student programming and events in a "Home Away From Home" welcoming atmosphere. Visit www.shabboshouse.com.

Dutch Quad Dining Room offers an extensive variety of kosher dining options.