Hebrew and Jewish Studies Studies, University of Sydney

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Hebrew and Jewish Studies Studies, University of Sydney

This is the official page of the Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University of Sydney

The University of Sydney offers the only comprehensive program of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish studies in Australia. Extending from the complexities of the Old and New Testament to the challenges of the breadth of Jewish History, the program allows our students to explore some of the foundational texts and histories of Western civilisation. We have expertise in Bible and Classical Hebrew, Jewish an

d Christian exegesis, Jewish history and thought, Modern Hebrew, Holocaust studies and the modern Middle East. In addition, we have research interests in related fields such as museum and religious studies. Studying Hebrew Language and Jewish Culture will challenge your thinking, grow your cultural knowledge and expand your job opportunities. Our graduates have established careers in Australia and abroad in fields as varied as education, government, international relations, media, museums, science and the law. Choose Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney and you will embark on a journey of language, historical and cultural studies, where you will develop as a learner and as a researcher. Biblical and Jewish Studies units welcome all students, with no prior knowledge required for any cultural units. In addition, anyone can study the Hebrew language, with options available for absolute beginners through to advanced learners. Our three undergraduate majors are:
a) Biblical Studies & Classical Hebrew: the Bible is possibly the most influential text in history but how much do you know about it? Encountering the Bible in translation or learning to read Bible texts in Hebrew, you will consider the themes and messages of the biblical books, and the ways these ancient books communicated their messages. b) Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture: how was Jewish civilisation transformed during its 2,000-year history after the Biblical period? Find out as you explore Jewish history and thought in the ancient, medieval and modern periods, including Holocaust Studies and the modern Middle East. c) Modern Hebrew: ever thought you could learn an ancient language and still use it today? Studying Modern Hebrew includes a three year sequential program suitable for beginners to advanced learners which fosters listening, speaking, reading and writing proficiencies as a gateway to contemporary Israeli culture and society.

31/08/2026

We are pleased to share that 𝗗𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺𝘀-𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱, Chair of Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sydney, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the newly established 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 (NCEAA).

The NCEAA is an independent, not-for-profit national education body dedicated to developing training and educational resources for government, schools, the not-for-profit sector and businesses. It will work closely with the Sydney Jewish Museum to advance education and public understanding of contemporary antisemitism.

Dr Abrahams-Sprod's appointment highlights the important contribution of scholarship and higher education to this significant national initiative.

24/06/2026

👨‍🎓What role can universities play in addressing antisemitism?👩‍🎓

In this interview, 𝐃𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐬-𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝, Chair of Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and President on antisemitism, discusses the importance of education, awareness, and historical understanding in addressing antisemitism across the higher education sector.

Read the full interview below:

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20/04/2026

🎶 Gertrud Kolmar was a poet who perished in Auschwitz in 1943. Composer and Professor Julian Marshall (ICMP UK - The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance) set out on what has become a deeply involving, transformative creative journey. Join him as he shares the story and process of his project, and plays a specially curated playlist from works written so far.

🗓️ Thursday 28 May, 6–7pm
📍 Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney
🎟️ Register now: https://bit.ly/4tQEIWY

16/04/2026

📣📣We are proud to share that 𝗗𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺𝘀-𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱, Chair of the Discipline of 𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 (HJS), has been appointed to lead a new education initiative aimed at combating antisemitism across the University of Sydney and the broader sector.

The University is rolling out an education program for frontline staff to deepen awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by the Jewish community. In his new role as 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁, Dr Abrahams-Sprod will dedicate half of his time to this initiative, while continuing in his current role as the 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿 in Jewish Civilisation, Education and Israel Studies.
Dr Abrahams-Sprod will focus on educating colleagues about the historical roots of antisemitism and its contemporary manifestations, while also advising across the University and the wider sector. This appointment builds on his longstanding leadership in education, training, and community engagement, and highlights the important contribution of Hebrew and Jewish Studies to knowledge and education.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁, Vice-Chancellor and President, said the work of Dr Abrahams-Sprod would complement other University initiatives aimed at maintaining a civic environment that supported the imperatives of academic freedom and freedom of speech, while at the same time ensuring a safe and inclusive campus for all students and staff.

10/03/2026

🎧 As part of The Minefield's Ramadan series on 𝗔𝗕𝗖 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, Head of School and Professor of Holocaust Studies and Jewish Civilisation 𝗔𝘃𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮, spoke with Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens to explore understandings of the heart as expounded in classical Jewish poetry, and biblical and rabbinic traditions.

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/theminefield/ramadan-do-not-harden-your-heart-with-avril-alba/106353366?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdcARleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF2VkhZcDc1TDJRd2ZkeDJRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHu0hJpiSRfiSrdvQQIqwltRkiiTjRuwTTszzudgh_iQw6p7Bo6azbkwxdLry_aem_3s2xcdNXBDBJceLQyl_m7A

Over the course of this Ramadan series, we are exploring the contours of a cardiocentric conception of the moral life. The notion of the primacy of the heart goes back three millennia: it finds expression in the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt and China, and in the philosophy of Aristotle; it...

23/02/2026

🙋🏼‍♀️This International Women's Day, join New York Times' best-selling author 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿 (USA), celebrated filmmaker 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, acclaimed journalist 𝗭𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿, tireless humanitarian 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 and internet sensation 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗚𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗯-𝗕𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿 for a very special event.

🗒️ Sunday 8 March 2026
⏰ 10.00 am - 12.30 pm
🔗 https://bit.ly/3ZKfmgq

18/02/2026

👩‍🎓👨‍🎓Welcome to 2026 and to an exciting semester for 𝙃𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 as we offer an array of fascinating units of study, guest lectures and public functions!
Take a look at what we are offering in our first semester for undergraduates:

𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄
HBRW1011: Foundations of Modern Hebrew
HBRW2603: Using Modern Hebrew in the Here-and-Now
HBRW3610: Modern Hebrew: A Living Language
HBRW3612: Text and Subtexts in Modern Hebrew

𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
JCTC1004: Judaism: A History – Explore the history, texts, traditions, personalities and evolution of the world’s oldest monotheistic faith.
JCTC2100: Expulsion and Renewal: Medieval Jews – Discover the rich history, personalities and texts of the Jews under both Christianity and Islam in this pivotal moment in time.
JCTC3003: The Modern Jewish Experience – Chart and delve into the radical changes which swept across the Jewish world in Europe in the wake of the French Revolution.
JCTC3602: Contemporary Jewish Identities – Experience the diversity and pluralism that makes up the complexity of the Jewish world today as we traverse communities across the globe.

Wishing everyone a successful academic year!
The HJS Team 👨‍🏫👨‍🏫

12/01/2026

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗔𝗝𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 - 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵-𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲
This conference will explore the complex topic of Jewish-Christian relations across time and place. While often a relationship of persecution and conflict, there have also been times of considerable cross pollination and creativity between Christian and Jewish communities.

The conference is a joint initiative of 𝗔𝗔𝗝𝗦 and 𝗛𝗕𝗝𝗦 with the support of the 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗸𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗯𝘆 Endowment in Jewish-Non-Jewish relations and Mandelbaum House, University of Sydney.

Date: Sunday 8 February - Monday 9 February
Location: Sydney - exact location to be announced

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-aajs-conference

15/12/2025

Address

Level 6, Brennan Macallum Building, The University Of
Sydney, NSW

Website

http://sydney.edu.au/arts/hebrew_biblical_jewish_studies/

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