Jewish Studies MA in Israel: Why Study Jewish Civilization in Tel Aviv?

Imagine studying one of the world's most enduring and dynamic civilizations in the vibrant heart of the Middle East, where ancient culture meets cutting-edge scholarship.

 

A new graduate degree in Jewish Studies at Tel Aviv University offers exactly this opportunity through a partnership between Tel Aviv University, Goethe University Frankfurt, and the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization that's redefining how we understand Jewish history, civilization and culture.

 

What Sets TAU’s Jewish Studies MA Apart?

 

"We are bringing a multidisciplinarian approach, combining Jewish history with biblical studies, Jewish literature and culture, and Jewish philosophy," says Prof Youval Rotman, the program's founder, speaking about the thinking that shaped its development.

 

It's a comprehensive exploration that connects the dots across centuries of Jewish thought and experience.

 

This collaborative master’s program approaches the history and development of Jewish civilization as "a key phenomenon in world history that has significantly contributed to the development of neighboring civilizations through ongoing patterns of interaction and moments of reciprocal influence," adds Prof Scott Ury, from the TAU’s Department of Jewish History and the Academic Head of the new program.

 

Hammat Tiberias synagogue, Helios and zodiac floor mosaic (Photo by Praisethelorne, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Rather than viewing Jewish society and culture in isolation, students will explore its global impact and interconnections with a range of different peoples and cultures.

 

The program includes courses developed specifically for this MA, presenting current research in Jewish Studies and History, including topics such as:

• The Dialogical Turn in Modern Jewish Philosophy, 
• Jews and Cities: Between Communal Histories and Urban Studies, 
• Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews in Cross-Cultural Settings: Past and Present, 
• Poetry and Theology in the Medieval Synagogue, 
• Jewish Magical Tradition, 
• Reading Tannaitic Midrash.

 

"We study traditional Jewish texts in historical context, from an academic and scientific point of view."—Prof Youval Rotman

 

"We see them as part of the ongoing dynamic of Jewish culture that sustained and helped create a vibrant socio-cultural framework," explains Prof. Scott Ury.

 

Study Across Borders, Online and On Campus

 

The program ensures a truly international academic experience through its partnership with Goethe University Frankfurt. Many of the courses are co-taught by Israeli and German faculty, and students will have the option to spend a semester in Germany. 

 

The study format is flexible: you can begin online in Spring 2026 and continue on campus in Tel Aviv in Fall 2026. You are required to spend at least one semester at Tel Aviv University, and you won’t want to miss the chance to experience campus life in Israel.

 

Prof. Youval Rotman

 

The curriculum spans five main areas: 

• Jewish Philosophy, 
• Biblical Studies, 
• Jewish History, 
• Hebrew Language and Semitic Linguistics,
• Jewish Literature and Culture. 

 

All courses are part of the graduate curriculum of both Tel Aviv University and Goethe University in Frankfurt. You will be able to complete your credits in about 1.5 to 2 years, through a mix of in-person and hybrid learning.

 

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Applications are now open for this tri-institutional collaborative MA that's reshaping Jewish Studies for the 21st century. 

 

Visit the Jewish Studies master’s program page to learn more.

Contact the program coordinator Debora Menahem for details of the application requirements and apply online for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.

 

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Why Is Jewish Civilization Particularly Relevant Today?

 

Think of Jewish Studies as studying one of the most original social networks in human history and one of the most antique world wide webs that spans continents and millenia. 

 

"Studying Jewish civilization will give students a strong background for understanding and contextualizing developments in Israeli society and Jewish communities today, whether you're in San Francisco, Berlin or Shanghai."—Prof Scott Ury

 

Jewish civilization also presents a particular kind of paradigm that's incredibly useful in the study of dfferent societies and cultures.

 

The interior of the Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue in New York (Photo by Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

"Studying Jewish civilization teaches us about our world today, especially about those communities that exist beyond the nation-state format, like minorities and diaspora communities in Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Far East," adds Prof. Rotman.

 

TAU’s Jewish Studies curriculum addresses pressing contemporary topics including relations between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora, antisemitism and racism, religiosity and secularity, tradition and modernity, and various forms of connectivity, all through both historical and present-day lenses.

 

Recent global events have made these conversations more relevant than ever.

 

Where Will Your Career Take You After Graduation?

 

TAU’s Jewish Studies collaborative master’s degree is designed to prepare professionals across multiple sectors: “Program graduates can move on to academia, journalism, politics, civic society or non-governmental organizations, public history, educational programs, archives, museums, charitable and philanthropic bodies, and Jewish associations," explains Prof. Rotman.

 

Prof Youval Rotman, the founder of the Jewish Studies international graduate program

 

"All of the courses taught in the program, although deeply steeped in the academic discourse, will have clear contemporary ramifications, certainly to students working and living in Tel Aviv," adds Prof. Ury.

 

Who Will Be Teaching on the Program?

 

Quality matters, and this graduate degree program delivers exceptional scholarship. "All of the teachers in this program are full-time faculty, either at Goethe University in Frankfurt or Tel Aviv University, who've been teaching in Israel and other countries for many years and are leading scholars in their field," says Prof. Ury.

 

And beyond their academic credentials, TAU faculty are genuinely approachable. They are known for being supportive, easy to talk to, and always up for a coffee chat.

 

The program features more than 15 faculty members from both universities, including renowned scholars like Prof. Dr Christian Wiese, Prof. Eshbal Ratzon, Prof. Maoz Kahana, Prof. Scott Ury, Prof. Dr Elizabeth Hollender, Prof. Rebekka Voss, Prof. Ishay Rozen-Zvi, Prof. Gideon Bohak, and Prof. Dalit Rom-Shiloni.

 

Can You Study Here Without Knowing Hebrew?

 

Absolutely. "All the courses are taught in English. All the faculty members are fluent in English. All the materials are available in English," confirms Debora Menahem, the program coordinator. The program welcomes both Israeli and international students, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

 

Walking the ancient streets

 

But you will be living in Tel Aviv, one of the world's most dynamic cities, so you'll probably want to study Hebrew at TAU to fully experience everything the city offers. Plus, once you do, you will be able to take whatever graduate courses you want from the School of Jewish Studies and Archaeology, expanding your academic horizons even further.

 

Finally, Why Tel Aviv University?

 

As Prof. Rotman sums it up, "Most importantly, the program is set within the city of Tel Aviv. So in all its aspects it’s very pluralistic and very varied." 

 

In addition to having access to world-class library resources, including the Mehlman Library and the Sourasky Central Library, you will be able to join excursions to archaeological sites throughout Israel and cultural events and internships through the program's partnership with the ANU Museum of the Jewish People located on TAU's campus.

 

 

On Tel Aviv University campus

 

Importantly, the program is open both to Israeli and international students, giving you the chance to study, collaborate, and connect with classmates from across Israel and around the world. 

 

If you're ready to study a civilization that has influenced world history and continues to renew itself, the Jewish Studies MA at Tel Aviv University offers the perfect setting. You'll learn in one of the most dynamic cities in the world, with world-class faculty, international credentials, and career flexibility that traditional programs can't match.

 

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Applications are now open for this tri-institutional collaborative MA that's reshaping Jewish Studies for the 21st century. 

 

Visit the Jewish Studies master’s program page to learn more.

 

Contact the program coordinator for details of the application process and apply online for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.