Department of Jewish Thought

Our faculty are widely published and internationally recognized for their work in the study of ethics, gender, history, literature, philosophy and politics.

The Levinas Philosophy Summer Seminars

4/30/18

The annual Levinas Philosophy Summer Seminars bring together scholars from across the globe for discussion of Emmanuel Levinas, one of the most original and important philosophers of the 20th century.

Take Your Education to the Next Level

3/5/18

A BA or Minor in Jewish Studies provides students with a comprehensive view of Jewish thought, history and life.

Attend Lectures and Community Events

3/5/18

Join us for one of our visiting scholar or community lecture series, as well as symposiums, seminars and more!

Graduate Program in Jewish Thought

6/30/23

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Jewish Thought program will contribute to the development of new ways of thinking in a truly interdisciplinary perspective, while rooting itself in the rigorous study of the Jewish intellectual tradition.

Study Modern and Classical Hebrew

3/5/18

Develop language skills in modern Hebrew for conversation and classical Hebrew to read ancient texts in their original language.

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What is Jewish Thought?

Jewish Thought is for students from all walks of life.

MA in Jewish Thought

Prepare for advanced research in Jewish texts

BA in Jewish Studies

Dive deep into the Jewish intellectual tradition.

Minor in Jewish Studies

Complement a major in art, history, philosophy and more.

Scholarships and Awards

Undergrad and grad funding!

The Department of Jewish Thought is dedicated to studying Judaism as an intellectual, ethical and literary tradition, highlighting its importance to the development of Western civilization from antiquity until today. We work to foster inquiry and expand knowledge through scholarship and instruction that makes this tradition available to broader humanities.

Department News

Gill Hoffman, chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post visits UB
9/5/25
On April 16, 2018 in the Department of Jewish Thought’s Friedman Library at UB, Mr. Gil Hoffman, a well-established Israeli media expert, shared his experiences as a journalist conversant with key figures in Israeli and Palestinian political leadership. He highlighted the importance of knowing the Israeli politics from “within” and on these grounds argued that the notion of “foreign correspondent” in Israel is outdated. Rather, at the age of global communication, journalism must be local and done by those with intimate knowledge of the constantly fluent and changing "now" of the political life, he argued.
David Blitzer Lecture series a success
9/5/25
Along with the large community and student turn out, the department was particularly pleased to welcome Ms. Helena Schwartz, Ms. Cheryl Stein and Mr. Irving Stein of the Blitzer family.
New book by Professor Sergey Dolgopolski
9/5/25
The question of the political for the excluded others, or for those who programmatically do not claim any “original” belonging to a particular territory comes at the forefront of analysis in the book. "Other Others" approaches this question by moving from a modern political figure of “Jew” as such an “other other” to the late ancient texts of the Talmud.
Professor Alex Green interviews Rabbi Sacks
9/5/25
For the September issue of "The Jewish Journal," Professor Alex Green interviewed Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth.
Professor Richard Cohen receives prestigious NEH grant
9/5/25
The 2017 summer seminar “Emmanuel Levinas on Morality, Justice, and the Political” is the fifth in a series presented by Professor Richard A. Cohen of UB's Department of Jewish Thought, but the first funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

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Mourning the loss of Gordon Gross