Director's Message

When it comes to building a Jewish Studies program of national and international distinction, the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies has developed tremendous momentum during its first six years.  In the last three years, the College has recruited five new faculty members in Jewish Studies to Carolina, and in the coming years the Center will be expanding its core faculty even further. We now have thirteen faculty members teaching Jewish Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and regularly offer thirty courses a year in departments throughout the College.  As our faculty grows, we will continue to develop exciting new courses, reach more students and eventually create a truly comprehensive program, complete with a B.A. in Jewish Studies.

The Carolina Center for Jewish Studies embraces educational outreach as an integral to the mission of a public research university.  Each year, we bring more than 2,000 people to campus to participate in our public events programs.  We offer both a popular series of community lectures and academic lectures and seminars that are free and open to all, as well as an annual continuing education seminar for public school teachers and the general public.  Through our speaker’s bureau, we send our own faculty out to speak to diverse audiences across the state. 

I’ve been on the Carolina faculty since 1993.  Part of what I enjoy the most about serving as the Director of the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies is the opportunity to work closely with so many different people, with students, alumni and local residents, with members of the university community and with diverse groups across the state.  Needless to say, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you’d like to learn more about the Center.

Jonathan M. Hess

Director, Carolina Center for Jewish Studies
Moses M. and Hannah L. Malkin Distinguished Term Professor of Jewish History and Culture
Professor, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures