The division of Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies (HJCS) offers elementary, intermediate, and advanced Hebrew language classes along with other courses in Hebrew literature and culture. Learning the language enables students to engage in the study of historical, literary and religious texts, as well as study the politics, folklore, anthropology of the culture, using texts and various media, including film. The study of classical and modern Hebrew texts provides students with an integrated view of the development of Hebrew and Jewish literature and culture. The program offers a variety of upper division courses in these areas, making it possible for students to create a concentration in HJCS. For more information, visit the Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies website.

Summary: All concentrators in HJCS are required to complete HJCS 100: Peoples of the Middle East, and two terms of Hebrew (HJCS 101 and 102) as prerequisites. The concentrator's core courses must include three terms of Hebrew (HJCS 201, 202, 301) and four additional courses. Of these four, two must be upper-division courses taught in Hebrew, which require the reading of Hebrew texts; the remaining two courses must be in the field of Jewish, Israeli or Hebrew literature, history, or culture. Please note that many of the 300 and 400 level courses have an optional Hebrew section which counts for upper-division Hebrew credit. See individual course descriptions for details. A student who places out of HJCS 301 is required to take an additional Hebrew course. The concentrator must also complete two elective cognate courses outside of HJCS. Students are strongly encouraged to take ACABS 425/ AAPTIS 425/ HJCS 425: Near Eastern Studies Capstone Seminar as a cognate. The cognate courses must be approved by the concentration advisor.

Faculty
Milka Eliav, Lecturer IV in modern Hebrew language
Yaron Eliav, Associate Professor of Judaic Studies
Elliot Ginsburg, Associate Professor of Jewish thought
Doron Lamm, Lecturer IV in modern Hebrew language
Shachar Pinsker, Assistant Professor of Hebrew literature & culture
Ilan Rosenberg, Lecturer IV in modern Hebrew language
Paula Weizman, Lecturer IV in modern Hebrew language

Concentration Program. A minimum of 24 credits, distributed as follows:
1. Language courses: HJCS 201, 202, and 301
2. Language, Literature, History & Culture courses: four courses, two of which must be taught in Hebrew.
3. Cognates: In consultation with the concentration advisor, the student must select a minimum of two additional cognate courses outside HJCS. This may include course selections from Biblical and Rabbinic sections, from other divisions within the department of Near Eastern Studies, and cross-listed courses.

The Divisional Elective Courses

Level 200
200 Introduction to World Religions: Near East (HU)
270 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature (HU)
276 Intro. to Jewish Civilizations and Cultures (HU)
277 Land of Israel/ Palestine through the Ages (HU)
281 Jews in the Modern World: Texts, Images, Ideas (HU)
291 Topics in HJCS
292 Seminar in HJCS
296 Perspectives on the Holocaust (R&E)

Level 300
302 Advanced Hebrew II
305 Israeli Theater and Film
335 Tokyo-Tel Aviv: City, Nation, and Identity in Israel and Japan
373 Israeli Culture and Society (SS) (R&E)
381 Introduction to Israeli Literature and Culture (HU)
395 Directed Undergraduate Readings

Level 400
401 Hebrew of the Communications Media I
402 Hebrew of the Communications Media II
425 Near Eastern Studies Capstone Seminar
470 Reading the Rabbis
471 Reading Hebrew Literature
472 Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature II
477 Modern Jewish Thought
478 Jewish Mysticism
489 The Cycle of the Jewish Year
495 Directed Undergraduate Readings
491 Topics in HJCS
498 Senior Honors Thesis

Level 500
543 The Bible in Jewish Tradition
544 Tannaitic Literature
545 Medieval Jewish Literature
570 Reading the Rabbis
571 Israeli Literature I
572 Israeli Literature II
577 Seminar: Topics in the Study of Judaism
591 Topics in HJCS
592 Seminar in HJCS
593 Mini Course – Topics in HJCS

Sample Cognate Courses

AAPTIS 383: The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Literature (HU)
ACABS 543: The Bible in Jewish Tradition
ANTHRCUL 335 Tokyo-Tel Aviv: City, Nation, and Identity in Israel and Japan
English 383: Topics in Jewish Literature
History 381: History of the Jews from the Moslem Conquest to the Spanish Expulsion
History 382: History of the Jews from the Spanish Expulsion to the Enlightenment
History 383: Modern Jewish History to 1880
History 384: Modern Jewish History 1880 to 1948
History 385: History of Zionism and the State of Israel (SS)
History 386: The Holocaust
Judaic St. 333: Yiddish Literature in Translation (HU)
Pol. Sci. 351: Israeli Society and Politics (SS)
Pol. Sci. 353: The Arab Israeli Conflict
Pol. Sci. 451: Jewish Identity, Politics, and Culture in the Age of Secularism
Slavic 281: Jews in the Modern World: Texts, Images, Ideas (HU)

The NES Honors Concentration

Concentrators who qualify as candidates for Honors are those who meet the requirements for a regular concentration, maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 overall and 3.5 in the concentration, and complete the writing of a senior thesis with distinction. Honors concentrators are required to enroll in the thesis course (498) during their senior year of research and writing. Further information concerning the Honors concentration can be obtained at the NES office (room 4111, Thayer Building) or at the Honors Program Office (1330 Mason Hall).

Study Abroad

The department has affiliations with several universities and programs abroad, and concentrators are strongly encouraged to spend all or part of an academic year overseas in order to further their formal training. In addition to consulting the University of Michigan's Office of International Programs, the International Center and the International Institute, concentrators should contact their concentration advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies concerning such a course of study. A program should be decided upon in advance in order to ensure that transfer credit can be awarded and that courses will satisfy concentration requirements.

Academic Advising

Students interested in the department's concentration program in HJCS should contact the HJCS concentration advisor through the Department’s undergraduate secretary at the departmental office (4111 Thayer Bldg.), or by phone at (734) 764-0314. Students who plan to complete a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in NES must complete the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A) declaration form supplied by the advisor.