Established in 2003, the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill unites the general public, students and faculty from various academic disciplines who share a common passion for a deeper understanding of Jewish history, culture and thought.
Latest News
@uncjewishstudies on social
To help us keep connected, please find @uncjewishstudies on social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky and YouTube) and join our list serv for event and news announcements. Social media links: And starting November 2024:
Co-Sponsoring: Resilience and Remembrance
The Center is pleased to co-sponsor this event hosted by Zeta Beta Tau Carolina students are invited to attend Resilience and Remembrance: A Holocaust Survivor’s Story Durham Holocaust survivor Lex Silbiger will share his personal story and about the plight … Read more
Remote Author Visit: Kantika
Class Visit / open to the public; remote author discussion on Zoom. November 21 @ 6:00 pm Elizabeth Graver (Boston College) will join us on Zoom to discuss her new novel Kantika A dazzling Sephardic multi-generational saga that moves … Read more
Jerusalem Through the Ages
Hosted by the department of religious studies: Join us Sunday, November 17th, 2024, 1:00 pm for a panel discussion focusing on the new book, Jerusalem Through the Ages by the Center’s Jodi Magness, Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence … Read more
Co-sponsoring: My Friend Abe
The Center is pleased to co-sponsor this event hosted by Hillel: My Friend Abe: A Story of Resilience and Survival Steve Goldberg will share the story of his friend Abe Piask, a Holocaust survivor. November 11, 2024, 6:00pm, … Read more
Author Celebration
On October 21st,the Center celebrated several new faculty books with an author luncheon for Carolina faculty and grad students. Shown in photo (left to right): Gabrielle Berlinger: The Lives of Jewish Things: Collecting and Curating Material Culture (co-edited with Ruth … Read more
Upcoming Lecture: Derek Penslar
October 28, 5:30pm, UNC Stone Center Eli N. Evans Distinguished Lecture in Jewish Studies Decentering the 1948 Palestine War: From the Local to the Global with Derek Penslar, Harvard University This talk links the Palestine Question with the … Read more
Now Enrolling: JWST Spring 2025
This spring 25 semester, we’re again offering a wide range of Jewish studies courses that meet UNC’s general education requirements. In fact, there are almost 20 courses to choose from, including a new Triple I course for first-year students: IDST 134 … Read more
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Learn about the major, two minors, graduate certificate, study abroad and course offerings
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Scholarship
The Center’s faculty members and graduate students are working in the diverse field of Jewish Studies
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Events
The Center hosts community lectures, academic symposia, lunch seminars, film screenings and major conferences
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday 12:30 pm
Lunch Seminar: Evolving Perspectives on Music During the Rabbinic Period
Monday 5:30 pm
Emerging Scholars: From Burial Society to Funeral Home
Thursday 5:30 pm
Margolis Lecture: Antisemitism and Free Speech in Modern America
Monday 6:00 pm
Kalimian Lecture: Jewish Refugee Writers in Mexico
Monday 12:30 pm
Lunch Seminar: Gender Studies/Holocaust Studies
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Student News
Max Lazar
“In a time of great uncertainty, the Goodman Dissertation Fellowship has provided me with one of the rarest resources one can find: time. There is no doubt that my dissertation has grown in quality thanks to this opportunity from the Center.”
Kendra Watkins ’19
“I knew that I would pursue Jewish studies when I transferred to UNC, and I’m glad that I was able to incorporate a study abroad experience into the Jewish studies program. I would like to offer my gratitude to Stuart Eizenstat whose support enabled me to participate in the summer Holocaust in Poland trip.
Brad Erickson
“I dove headfirst into exploring the uses of 3D modeling for archaeology. This exploration led to my dissertation topic on ancient synagogues. I traveled to Israel on a summer stipend from the Center to take photographs of the synagogue floor remains and turned those images into 3D models that users could view, rotate and now even explore in a virtual reality environment.”
Sam Kessler
“I have been offered a postdoctoral position in Judaic Studies at Virginia Tech. Since my new position is in Judaic Studies, and I received my doctorate from UNC’s Religious Studies program, there is little doubt that the Center’s Certificate in Jewish Studies gave the search committee added confidence in my ability to teach and conduct research in the field of Jewish Studies.”
Tesla Lee ’16
“I had the unique privilege of traveling to New York City last winter, after receiving a generous research grant from the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies, to complete some archival research for my undergraduate senior honors thesis.”