University of Pittsburgh Jewish Studies Program

04/06/2026

Award-winning filmmaker Rafael Balulu joins us next week for his talk, "Saints and Saviors: Jewish Stories from North Africa in the Shadow of the Holocaust."

03/16/2026

Next week, Jill Joshowitz will deliver the Annual Israel Heritage Room Lecture. Her talk, "Reflections on the Dura Europos Synagogue Paintings: From the Syrian Desert to the Israel Heritage Room," takes place Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30pm in room 332 of the Cathedral of Learning.

03/09/2026

Next week, Anika Walke joins us for the Third Annual Renee Sachs Memorial lecture on Holocaust history.

03/02/2026

This Wednesday, join us virtually for a discussion of "Evaluating Anti-Zionism in Relation to Antisemitism," with Ethan Katz of UC Berkeley.

Register through the event link: https://calendar.pitt.edu/event/evaluating-anti-zionism-in-relation-to-antisemitism-virtual-webinar

02/10/2026

So excited to hear Dr. Adrienne Krone speak about her research on Jewish farming! February 19th, 5pm at Pitt.

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle for this preview of her talk. https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/jewish-farming-in-the-u-s-is-fertile-ground-for-jewish-ethnographer/?fbclid=IwY2xjawP3eZ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0hzYUNwEVn83hgVy7BtFdH2gLhUNWRIv2q-F8N5RQHtk25gIS-UdsCZSjrg_aem_MEB2LTCBS0QvSyVQ0MJyKA

'If we're not paying attention to the ways that religion is informing how people make decisions then we're missing key pieces of the conversation and we can't change the food system and make it better'

02/09/2026

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, February 10, 8am. Join us virtually for Hilla Nehushtan’s talk, “Jewish Women Navigating Body Size, Religion, and Culture,” as part of the Religion and Health Lecture Series of the Institute for Bioethics. This discussion will provide valuable insights, for clinicians and others, regarding the lived experiences of women whose religious and cultural commitments intersect with conventional approaches to body image, care, and support. Register here: https://pitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IocN5lOTTbSeTgkpK2goBw #/registration

02/02/2026

Next week, we are excited to welcome Mika Ahuvia for her talk, "How Do You Talk to an Angel? Jewish Ritual-Magic Sources" on Thursday, 2/12 at 5pm, WPU 540. Part of our "Conversations with Gods: Divination in the Ancient World" interdisciplinary series.

12/19/2025

Our course on Antisemitism has been revived! Look for "Antisemitism: Then and Now" this Spring 2026.

The timing of the course, called “Antisemitism Then and Now,” coincides with a rapid rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world.

12/02/2025

There are still spots left in these exciting spring semester courses — Check them out!

11/01/2025

Please join us this Wednesday evening as Dr. Kerry Wallach shares her research on Rahel Szalit, a well-known Jewish artist in Weimar Berlin whose work and legacy was largely forgotten after the Holocaust. This is the first offering in an annual lecture series that will honor the life of renowned art historian and Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Balas.

10/09/2025

Please join us on Thursday, October 23rd, to speak with the curators of the exhibit "Camera As Passport: The Ship of Photographers."