Jewish Studies Summer 2026 Seminar
Image: Photograph of Spertus Facade by Marc Evans
Summer Seminar Courses | Make your selection by March 16, 2026
Dear Jewish Studies Students:
This summer, learn in person with colleagues from across North America and beyond during a five-day seminar in Chicago.
This summer, learn in person with colleagues and faculty from across North America and beyond during a five-day seminar in Chicago.
Our summer courses span the ancient world through the early modern period to the present, offering students the opportunity to engage in close textual study, philosophical inquiry, and social and cultural history. Course offerings range in topic from the Hebrew Bible in its Ancient Near Eastern context to medieval and early modern Jewish thought, mystical communities, and the experiences of Jews in the modern Middle East and North Africa. Taught by four distinguished members of our faculty, these courses fulfill degree requirements for both Master’s and Doctoral-level students and will foster meaningful discussion, intellectual exchange, and collaborative learning
Registration is now open. If you have questions or would like to discuss your choice of courses, please email Scarlett Andes, Manager of Student & Faculty Services, at sandes@spertus.edu.
Sincerely,
Dr. Daniella Farah
Assistant Director of Jewish Studies
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
Please note that the preferred registration deadline is March 16, and the final registration deadline is April 20.
Summer Seminar | In Person at Spertus Institute | June 14-18, 2026
Four course options: Two morning courses and two afternoon courses
Summer Seminar courses are taught in person at Spertus Institute in Chicago.
The schedule is as follows:
Morning courses: Sunday 1-4 PM, Monday 8:30 AM-12:30 PM, Tuesday 8:30 AM-1 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM-12:30 PM, Thursday 8-11:30 AM
Afternoon courses: Sunday 4:30-7:30 PM, Monday 1:30-6 PM, Tuesday 2-6 PM, Wednesday 1:30-6 PM, Thursday 12:30-3:30 PM
*Exact course times may be subject to change.
Morning course options:
Jews of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
Taught by Dr. Daniella Farah, Assistant Director of Jewish Studies
3 quarter-hour credits
Fulfills MAJS Core (Modern Jewish Experiences) | DSJS Elective | DHL Elective Core Reading Course
Jews have been a part of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) societies for thousands of years. They flourished at times and experienced hardship at others, but they have participated in every major social and cultural transformation of the region. This course explores the religious, cultural, political, and social facets of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish life from the nineteenth century to today. Through a critical examination of primary and secondary sources, the course will help students assess entrenched narratives about MENA Jews. It follows a chronological and thematic order and looks at Jewish history in conjunction with interregional and global processes. The course will cover topics that include Jewish identity and culture in Islamic contexts; the impacts of colonialism, westernization, and nationalism on MENA Jews; the Holocaust, Jewish-Muslim relations, and the experiences of MENA Jews in Israel.
Jewish Rationalism: Maimonides & Spinoza
Taught by Dr. Erik Dreff
3 quarter-hour credits
Fulfills MAJS Elective | DSJS Core (Jewish Thinking) or Elective | DHL Core (Jewish Thought) or Elective Core Reading Course
In the history of Jewish philosophy, let alone Jewish Rationalism, there are no two greater figures than Maimonides and Spinoza. About Maimonides, it was famously said that “From Moses to Moses, there was none like Moses [Maimonides].” About Spinoza, playing on the Hebrew and Latin versions of his first name, H.A. Wolfson famously quipped that “Baruch was the last of the medievals, and Benedict the first of the Moderns.” One the highwater mark of Medieval Jewish Philosophy and Rationalism, the other where that wave finally crashed, pulled back, and came roaring back in again in its modern guise, never to be outpaced. This course will thus be an in depth look into the life, thought, works, and philosophies of these two titans of Jewish History, Philosophy and Rationalism, focusing on their commitment to the ultimate explainability of existence, as well as their receptions in later Jewish thought.
Afternoon course options:
The Mystical Community of Sixteenth-Century Safed
Taught by Dr. Matt Goldish
3 quarter-hour credits
Fulfills MAJS Core (Early Modern) or Elective | DSJS Text or Elective | DHL Text or Elective Core Reading Course
Many Jews are familiar with the colony of mystics in Safed during the sixteenth century, but few today know much about its members, origins, internal workings, and creativity. In this course we will delve into the social and religious history of the community to reveal many facets which continue to affect Judaism today.
From Beginning to End: Central Themes in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature
Taught by Dr. Rachel Havrelock
3 quarter-hour credits
Fulfills MAJS Core (Bible and the Ancient Near East) or Elective | DSJS Text or Elective | DHL Text or Elective Core Reading Course
The stories and poetry of the Hebrew Bible came into being in the distinct context of the Ancient Near East. Many themes such as lost immortality, a world-destroying flood, and a king who authorizes a code of law are shared across the texts that remain from this era. Stylistically, the Hebrew Bible differs from other literary works of its era due to its invention of prose narrative. As we read biblical and Ancient Near Eastern texts comparatively, we will explore how and why biblical writers forged narrative literature.
Each session focuses on a particular theme including creation, the hero/heroine’s journey, legal codes, war and captivity, and visions of the end of days. Items from the Spertus collection will help to illuminate the time and place at the center of our inquiry. Each student will have an opportunity to present in class and to have a one-on-one session about their course project.
Course registration for Summer 2026 courses is currently open.
Course Registration Details
Course registration is for current Spertus Institute Jewish Studies students. Please review course details before completing your registration.
Before registering for courses, students must be admitted to one of Spertus Institute’s Jewish Studies graduate programs — or be accepted as a non-degree student who meets prerequisite requirements and wishes to enroll in courses for credit. If you are interested in applying to become a Spertus Jewish Studies graduate student, please contact Amie Barrish at abarrish@spertus.edu.
March 16, 2026 — Preferred Registration Deadline
April 20, 2026 — Final Registration Deadline
Course Payment
Spertus students must be in good standing to be eligible to register. This means:
- GPA is 2.7 or above.
- Financial account does not have an overdue balance.
Students who do not meet the financial criteria will need to pay down their overdue balance prior to registering for courses.
Course Costs
For MA in Jewish Studies (MAJS) Students
$400 per quarter-hour credit ($1200 per 3qh course)
For DS in Jewish Studies (DSJS) and Doctor of Hebrew Letters (DHL) Students
$475 per quarter-hour credit ($1425 per 3qh course)
A non-refundable $25 fee is charged on all course registration forms.
Refund policies vary by course format. Please review the specific policy listed on your course registration form.
Course auditing can be arranged on a select basis with approval from the Dean. Audited course tuition is $350 per 3qh course.
Questions
For questions relating to Jewish Studies courses or registration, including which course to register for next, please contact Scarlett Andes at sandes@spertus.edu.