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.
Happy Thanksgiving
The Center for Jewish Studies will be closed for the holiday Wednesday – Friday, November 26-28. We will resume regular hours of operation on Monday, December 1, at 9:00 a.m.
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
- Happy Thanksgiving!
The Center for Jewish Studies will be closed for the holiday Wednesday – Friday, November 26-28. We will resume regular hours of operation on Monday, December 1, at 9:00 a.m…. - Save the Dates: Upcoming Talks at Harvard NELC
Save the Dates: Upcoming Talks at Harvard NELC Sarit Gribetz, December 1, 4:00 pm Gregg Gardner, December 8, 4:00 pm Simcha Gross, December 10, 4:00 pm Ishay Rosen-Zvi, December 11, 2:30 pm These talks are free… - Sarit Kattan Gribetz | “A Queen in Jerusalem: Helena of Adiabene and the Malleability of Memory”Sarit Kattan Gribetz | “A Queen in Jerusalem: Helena of Adiabene and the Malleability of Memory” Monday, December 1 2025, 4:00 pm Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, Room 2016 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138…
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.
