What We Do
The Center for Jewish Studies serves as an umbrella organization, encompassing and coordinating the many academic and extra-curricular programs in Jewish Studies at Harvard University.

CJS Director: Derek Penslar
Derek J. Penslar is William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History at the Department of History.
Read more about our Faculty Leadership

Academics

Fellowship Opportunities
The Center for Jewish Studies supports a number of fellowships and prizes for qualified undergraduate and graduate Harvard students, as well as an exchange program for graduate students in Jewish studies with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
We are also pleased to support and host research scholars, Visiting Professors and Lecturers in Jewish studies from outside Harvard.
Recent News
- Recording Available: “Transmitting Indigenous, Vulnerable, and Endangered Languages” | A SymposiumThe CJS is happy to present a recording of the Symposium on Transmitting Indigenous, Vulnerable, and Endangered Languages. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish Studies, Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP), the Committee on Ethnicity, Migration,…
- Middle East Dialogues: A Talk with Micah GoodmanThe Middle East Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School invites you to a talk with: Dr. Micah Goodman, Israeli scholar, author, philosopher, and current Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem Join the HKS…
- Jewish Odesa: Negotiating Identities and Traditions in Contemporary Ukraine | Marina Sapritsky-NahumThe Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) invites you to a book talk: Jewish Odesa: Negotiating Identities and Traditions in Contemporary Ukraine A book talk by Marina Sapritsky-Nahum, Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Honorary Senior…
Upcoming Events
Giving to the CJS
The Center for Jewish Studies is very grateful to our donors for their generosity in supporting our endeavors. Those pursuing Jewish studies at Harvard University may benefit from a number of endowment and current use funds established over the years. New funds are formed continuously to support students and scholars in their pursuit for greater knowledge and achievement in this field. These may also support publications, events, other activities and administration at the Center for Jewish Studies.

Our Newsletter
Our office proudly presents annual or biannual Newsletters with comprehensive accounts of current work done at the CJS.
