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
- UPDATE: Digest issue resolved.We are happy to report that the technical issue we experienced has been resolved. We value your interest in the Center for Jewish Studies and appreciate your continued support. The CJS team. On March 24, 2025,…
- April-May Events Sponsored by CJS
The CJS is sponsoring and co-sponsoring the following events during the months of April and May. Please check each individual event page for more detailed information. We look forward to seeing you! April 2, 20256:00 pm… - Apologies to our Digest SubscribersThe CJS apologizes for the multiple email digests our subscribers received this weekend. The Digest is automatically generated by the website, and we are working closely with WordPress, the site platform, to remedy this issue as…
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.
