Mission Statement

Established in 1992, our mission is to serve as the intellectual heart of Jewish Studies in Louisiana, cultivating knowledge about Jewish cultures, religion, literature, history, and identity both within the academy and within the community. Jewish and non-Jewish students and faculty at LSU want to know about Judaism and Jewish contributions to civilization; this program works to satisfy that curiosity and to broaden understanding in the following ways:

• Academic Enhancement: Jewish Studies is a Humanities program housed in the college of Arts and Sciences. Its academic goal is to promote an understanding of Jewish civilizations (History, cultures, and religion) through course offerings, library holdings, programming, faculty resources, and by providing leadership for Jewish student organizations.
• Diversity and Interfaith Dialogue: The Jewish Studies Program enthusiastically promotes diversity, interfaith dialogue, and inter-cultural exchange.
• Interdisciplinary and Innovative Scholarship: The Jewish Studies Program brings together internationally known scholars already on campus from a variety of disciplines into a rubric that provides an exciting opportunity to cross-fertilize their research, to build the program's reputation, and to make an impact on Jewish Studies nationally.

To graduate with a minor in Jewish studies, students must complete 15 hours of electives, including a minimum of six hours at the 3000-level or above. Electives must be chosen from at least two disciplines, such as Religious Studies, English, Hebrew, History, or Sociology.

Jewish Studies offers courses ranging from Hebrew Language and Biblical Studies to courses on the Political history of the Middle East and Jewish Literature. Some sample courses include:

In addition, special topics courses and courses with sections advertised as Jewish Studies may be accepted for the minor upon approval of the director.

• GERMAN 4091: Germans and Jews: The Literary Experience, Prof. Irene Di Maio, idimaio@lsu.edu

• REL 1002, HEBR 1002: Beginning Hebrew, Prof. Isbell
• REL 1004: Old Testament, Prof. Irvine
• REL 2004, HEBR 2004: Intermediate Hebrew, Prof. Isbell
• REL 3101: American Judaism, Prof. Isbell

• Charles Isbell, cisbel1@lsu.edu, 106 Coates Hall, (225)578-2220

• Hillel at LSU, the Jewish student organization
• Sigma Alpha Mu, the Jewish fraternity on campus
• Beth Shalom, a local synagogue
• B'nai Israel, a local synagogue
• The Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge

NEW! For Fall 2007, please contact Interim Program Director Dan Novak, dnovak@lsu.edu, 237H Allen Hall, (225)578-3168.

For additional information, contact Dr. Charles Isbell, cisbel1@lsu.edu, 106 Coates Hall, (225)578-2273.

Jewish Studies c/o Dan Novak 260 Allen Hall Department of English Louisiana State Univerity Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Telephone: 225-578-2273 Fax: 225-578-4129 E-mail: dnovak@lsu.edu
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