Portrait

“… and meditate on it day and night” – (Joshua 1:8): this phrase originally applied to the “Book of the Torah.” In the 19th century, Jewish studies applied it to the entirety of Jewish religion and culture. However, its universities in Breslau and Berlin remained isolated within the academic landscape; and they were destroyed during the Nazi era. The Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies, founded in 1979 by the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has adopted the Joshua passage as its motto and explores it in all its meanings. In doing so, it preserves the legacy of the study of Judaism and further develops its approaches as a dynamic part of the surrounding academic landscape.

The Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies is a place of vibrant scholarly engagement with all facets of Jewish religion, history, cultures, and societies. Its proximity to the historical heritage of the region where Ashkenaz originated provides both scholarly and religious inspiration for the work at the university. However, its focus is always on the entirety of Jewish cultures across geographical and temporal boundaries: in the past and present, as self-assured Judaism, as the Diaspora, and likewise in the Land of Israel.

The Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies is open to all students and scholars, regardless of their background or religious affiliation. It is characterized by a unique duality that is also reflected in its physical layout; the Albert Einstein scholarly library, with the seminar rooms in between, is juxtaposed with the Beth Midrash, the house of study; this is the place for religious study of the foundational texts of Judaism with the college rabbi and members of the academic faculty. The kosher Mensa serves the college community; it also provides a space for relaxation and socializing.

By combining internal and external perspectives, the HfJS sharpens our understanding of religion, history, culture, and society. Faculty members and graduates alike continue to contribute to Jewish history and theology. As a unique European center of excellence, the HfJS thereby enables diverse individual paths and future prospects both within and outside Europe’s Jewish communities.

As a laboratory for a rapidly changing society, it builds bridges

• as Europe’s largest center for Jewish Studies, in collaboration with the humanities and social sciences in Heidelberg and other partners
• as an academic center for teaching and learning for Jewish and non-Jewish students
• between academia and society
• between academia and community life in the training of community staff
• as a place of dialogue between Jews, Christians, and Muslims.