READ the November statement from campus leadership: In a campus email, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Provost J. Christopher Clemens called on the Carolina community to demonstrate how people of different backgrounds and perspectives can come together.
RESOURCES: read our November statement about services for the campus community.
READ our October statement and the Chancellor’s statement: In a campus message, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz condemned the acts of terror in Israel by Hamas and offered resources to the Carolina community.
SUGGESTED READING: we’ve compiled a list of readings that may be of interest.
CAMPUS EVENTS: students, faculty and staff filled the auditorium for an event Nov 6: War in Gaza: a Discussion of the Origins, Strategy, and Ethics. View our event calendar below for upcoming lectures and check back for updates on additional programming.
ENROLLING: students are encouraged to explore all the JWST course offerings for Spring ’24, including the one-credit Confronting Antisemitism course.
Established in 2003, the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill unites the general public, students and faculty from various academic disciplines who share a common passion for a deeper understanding of Jewish history, culture and thought.
Latest News
Dec 4: Mediating Religion and Politics Through Holy Land Pilgrimage
UNC Anthropology Colloquium with Visiting Professor Jackie Feldman: The Israeli and Palestinian Jesus: Mediating Religion and Politics Through Holy Land Pilgrimage Dec 4, 3:35p, Alumni Bldg, Room 308 Hosted by UNC Dept. of Anthropology
Nov 13: Lay People’s Voices in Talmudic Jewish Courts
Please join us for this year’s Eli N. Evans Distinguished Lecture in Jewish Studies with Lynn Kaye, Brandeis University. November 13, 5:30pm. In-person event. UNC Sonja Haynes Stone Center, Hitchcock Room Directions & Parking in Bell Tower Deck ($1 after … Read more
A message from University leadership: A call for peaceful dialogues
November 9, 2023 Read the statement on the Chancellor’s website. A message from University leadership: A call for peaceful dialogues In a campus email, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Provost J. Christopher Clemens called on the Carolina community to demonstrate … Read more
Resources & Services for the Campus Community
November 3, 2023 In these stressful times, the Center wishes to re-emphasize our commitment to the campus community and ensure that students, faculty and staff have access to resources. We support the Chancellor’s Statement from last month in calling for … Read more
ENROLL NOW: Confronting Antisemitism
Now enrolling: JWST 390: Special Topics in Jewish Studies: Confronting Antisemitism. 1 credit. This course takes a broad look at antisemitism in history, our contemporary world, and at UNC. Class sessions will feature guest speakers and discussions on different aspects … Read more
Keohane Events Nov 8-9
The Keohane Professorship brings prominent faculty to serve as visiting professors at UNC and Duke for a one-year period, during which they deliver a lecture series and engage students and faculty around areas of shared interest to both institutions. For … Read more
Campus Event: War in Gaza: a Discussion of the Origins, Strategy, and Ethics
For the Carolina Community: students, faculty and staff: War in Gaza: a Discussion of the Origins, Strategy, and Ethics Navin Bapat and Jeff Spinner-Halev will explain the origins of the current conflict, assess the strategic aims of key political … Read more
Spring 24 JWST Courses
This spring, we’re again offering a wide range of Jewish studies courses that meet UNC’s general education requirements. Interested in learning more about Jewish studies? If so, consider the RELI/JWST major, and the minor in Jewish Studies and the minor … Read more
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The Center’s faculty members and graduate students are working in the diverse field of Jewish Studies
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Events
The Center hosts community lectures, academic symposia, lunch seminars, film screenings and major conferences
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday 5:30 pm
Job Talk: Eastern European Jewish Studies
Monday 5:30 pm
Jews and the Pig: A History
Wednesday 5:30 pm
Job Talk: Eastern European Jewish Studies
Wednesday 5:30 pm
Job Talk: Eastern European Jewish Studies
Monday 5:30 pm
Keohane Lecture 2: Brett Kaplan
Tuesday 5:30 pm
Emerging Scholars: A Matter of Life and Death
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Student News

Max Lazar
“In a time of great uncertainty, the Goodman Dissertation Fellowship has provided me with one of the rarest resources one can find: time. There is no doubt that my dissertation has grown in quality thanks to this opportunity from the Center.”

Kendra Watkins ’19
“I knew that I would pursue Jewish studies when I transferred to UNC, and I’m glad that I was able to incorporate a study abroad experience into the Jewish studies program. I would like to offer my gratitude to Stuart Eizenstat whose support enabled me to participate in the summer Holocaust in Poland trip.

Brad Erickson
“I dove headfirst into exploring the uses of 3D modeling for archaeology. This exploration led to my dissertation topic on ancient synagogues. I traveled to Israel on a summer stipend from the Center to take photographs of the synagogue floor remains and turned those images into 3D models that users could view, rotate and now even explore in a virtual reality environment.”

Sam Kessler
“I have been offered a postdoctoral position in Judaic Studies at Virginia Tech. Since my new position is in Judaic Studies, and I received my doctorate from UNC’s Religious Studies program, there is little doubt that the Center’s Certificate in Jewish Studies gave the search committee added confidence in my ability to teach and conduct research in the field of Jewish Studies.”

Tesla Lee ’16
“I had the unique privilege of traveling to New York City last winter, after receiving a generous research grant from the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies, to complete some archival research for my undergraduate senior honors thesis.”