Jewish Studies

Judaism is, and has always been, a religion and culture with great internal diversity, developing in dialogue with surrounding cultures and traditions. Our department explores the breadth and depth of Judaism from its origins in the Ancient Near East, through the Second-Temple and Rabbinic Periods, all the way to the present day, with a particular focus on its historical contexts, its intellectual and philosophical development, and its interactions with non-Jewish empires, religions, and philosophies.

Students of Judaism in our department have the option of studying Biblical Hebrew at both introductory and intermediate levels, with no prior experience necessary. 

Main research interests

• Hebrew Bible/Tanakh and Biblical Hebrew
• Second-Temple Jewish Literature and Hellenistic Judaism
• Women and Gender in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
• The Parting of the Ways between Judaism and Christianity
• Paul and Jesus Within Judaism
• Jewish Philosophies

Key staff

• Professor Agata Bielik-Robson