NEJS

The oldest program of its kind in the United States and with the largest instructional staff of any secular institution outside of the State of Israel, the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) program is devoted to interlocking fields: the history, languages, and cultures of the ancient Near East and the modern Middle East, and the study of the Jewish people, including its history, religion, literature and place in civilization. Students are offered the opportunity to study in specialized areas, such as Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Jewish History and the Modern Middle East.

Crown Papers

The Crown Center for Middle East Studies is one of the world's foremost institutes for contemporary Middle East studies, offering a balanced approach to cutting-research and scholarship. View the new Crown Papers, full-length monographs that showcase the scholarship of the Center's postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and Research Fellows.

New Middle East Brief

Economic sanctions on Iran in light of its nuclear efforts have affected the Iranian economy in numerous ways. Professor Nader Habibi of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies has published a new brief, titled "The Iranian Economy in the Shadow of Economic Sanctions." To view his brief, click here.

Brandeis Al-Quds Partnership

Brandeis is engaged in a partnership with Al-Quds University, a Palestinian university with its main campus in the West Bank. Activities include faculty exchange on pedagogy and curriculum, and a workshop for undergraduates held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hebrew and Arabic Languages Program

For students seeking a challenge at any level of fluency, the Hebrew and Arabic Languages Program offers 28 courses from beginning to advanced language study. The advanced level courses vary greatly and include an introduction to classical Hebrew, literature courses, and courses on contemporary Israeli culture, such as on films, on theater, on Jerusalem, and on Israeli women. The program also offers the opportunity to receive training in Hebrew teaching as part of the Teacher's Certificate program. 

Ethics Center Student Fellowship

Avram Mlotek '09 spent part of his summer in Israel, teaching music to children from difficult family backrounds.  To fund his internship, Avram applied for the Ethics Center Student Fellowship.  Want to land your ideal summer internship and change the world? Learn more about the Ethics Center Student Fellowship...

A Legacy of Social Justice

Judith Simmons ('10) spent this past summer in Tel Aviv, Israel with Tebek, an organization promoting equal education rights for Israel's Ethiopian immigrant population.  Judith's internship was founded by the Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice, an internship grant awarded yearly to students interested in the field of social justice.

The Feminist Sexual Ethics Project

Overseen by the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, the Feminist Sexual Ethics Project studies sexual ethics within Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The project is focused on exploring how toleration of slavery in early teachings of these religions affects the lives of women today.

Middle East

Cantay
"Dried Winter Squashes," photo by Brandeis international student Cantay Caliskan '10, Sirinse Village, Turkey

For a host of reasons, ranging from the roots of our university founders to concern for the United States’ security and well-being, Brandeis pays particular attention to the Middle East. The university offers an unsurpassed level of scholarship, opportunities in the United States and abroad for personal encounters with the region and its peoples, and a variety of connections with Middle Eastern universities.

Brandeis aspires to comprehensive, objective study of every aspect of this region that has been a venue for diverse, competing cultures since time immemorial. Brandeis' approach both embraces and challenges conventional political science and history. There are strong programs in Hebrew and Arabic, and we apply all the tools of the arts and the humanities as well as the social sciences to study of this vital region.

Distinguished Fellows
Feature Story

Distinguished International Teaching Fellows in Jerusalem
Brandeis-Al-Quds University Partnership
Summer 2008

As part of the project on "Effective Teaching," Brandeis graduate students Lydia Fash and Njelle Hamilton spent nearly six weeks at Al-Quds University's summer school teaching English language courses, leading workshops, advising on curriculum and material development, and furthering the overall goals of the partnership. (read more)

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