Goals of the Jewish Studies Program

Mission Statement
It is the ongoing mission and objective of the Jewish Studies Program at Tulane University to develop and preserve an atmosphere of scholarly excellence in the fields of Judaic and Israeli studies.

Long-term Objectives:

• Faculty growth in size and expertise
• Offer a wider array of courses and specialties
• Maximize the effectiveness of our outreach, extra-curricular, study-abroad, internships, and adult education programs
• Develop and maintain a vibrant graduate program
• Massive capital campaign to fund growth and expansion of Jewish Studies
• Increase the size and quality of the Dr. L. Joseph Cahn Library

Short-term Objectives:

• Development of Tulane University Jewish Studies Community Outreach Program
• Expand Hebrew Language Program
• Develop Israeli Studies Program
• Purchase books and accept donations of books for the Dr. L. Joseph Cahn Library

Curricular Objectives:
It is the desire of Jewish Studies at Tulane to offer a program that allows students to further their basic understanding of Jewish Studies in its totality. However, we are cognizant of the fact that we live in a time of increased ethnic and religious tensions locally and throughout the world. Therefore, we strive to offer a curriculum that gives scholarly, objective, and factual knowledge in the belief that objectivity provides the best antidote to prejudice.

Areas of concentration:

• Hebrew language and literature
• Tanach and Talmud
• History of the Jewish people/Holocaust Studies
• Israeli studies, including the study of its economy, political structure, international relations, the Palestinian problem and future challenges.
• Judaism in the South / The Southern Jewish Experience
• Spanish Jewish (Sephardic) history.

About areas of concentration:
These areas of concentration pivot around the contemporary needs of our students, faculty and friends. In particular, we are interested in Southern Jewry because of our unique geographical location, our extensive archival collection, and the "hands on" learning opportunities that it offers. It is the firm belief of Tulane's Jewish Studies program that we utilize an overarching approach to Jewish learning that covers Jewish religion, culture, and history. Therefore, Hebrew Language and Literature, Tanach, History of the Jewish People, Holocaust Studies, and Israeli Studies are essential areas of concentration to the program.