Course content and focus areas
The subject of Jewish studies is fundamentally Judaism in its entire cultural development, spanning from its beginnings to the present day. This includes its diverse historical manifestations, continuities, and transformations (including its interactions with other cultures) across various epochs and geographic regions over thousands of years. Due to its rich linguistic, geographic, historical, religious, and social connections, the field encompasses a wide range of academic disciplines (e.g., history, literature studies, philosophy, and legal history), as aptly reflected in the Hebrew term "Sciences of Judaism" (Hebrew University of Jerusalem). Accordingly, the field is interdisciplinary by nature.
Ideally, the scope of Jewish studies includes the languages of Jewish communities as well as their literatures – broadly defined – in various languages, the history of religion and philosophy, as well as history, archaeology, art history, music, and film, ethnology, and sociology.
To ensure the subject’s breadth remains manageable for students, the course of study initially focuses on several essential areas. Since Judaism up to the present day has been profoundly shaped by rabbinic Judaism of classical antiquity and the early Middle Ages, and even modern secular Judaism increasingly seeks to connect with and adapt these traditions and values, understanding this epoch is of fundamental importance. To enable students to develop focused expertise and lay the groundwork for their own specialization, the study of Jewish studies also introduces additional aspects of Judaism. Modern and contemporary Judaism serve as key reference points in this regard.
In Frankfurt, particular emphasis is placed on rabbinic hermeneutics in its various forms, diverse areas of Jewish mysticism, and various aspects of Jewish self-perception, tradition, and historical understanding, especially within the dynamic interplay of historiography and hagiography, fact and literary expression, self-assertion, and intercultural dialogue. Additionally, Frankfurt’s Judaic studies program has long been committed to integrating and highlighting gender aspects, which have historically been underrepresented in Judaic studies – not only in Germany but internationally. With Germany’s unique professorship in Jewish religious philosophy (Martin Buber Professorship), the Fritz Bauer Institute (Study and Documentation Center for the History and Impact of the Holocaust), and courses on Jewish topics offered in other fields, particularly history, students have access to a variety of additional interdisciplinary opportunities.