Students who plan to pursue careers within Jewish organizations, who want to become proficient in Hebrew, or who are looking ahead to graduate school, will find courses to support their goals in DePaul University’s new religious studies program focusing on Jewish Studies.

The undergraduate program opened spring quarter with the following courses offered: “The Jewish Experience,” “Modern Judaism,” “Varieties of Judaism in the Greek and Roman World,” “Ancient Israel” and “Women in the Bible.”

According to Alexei Sivertsev, director of DePaul’s Jewish Studies program and an assistant professor of religious studies, more than 200 students are enrolled in the five courses currently offered, and three students are pursuing majors in the field. He said the program was developed after several students urged the chair of the religious studies department to consider expanding the available offerings in Jewish studies to meet their changing needs.

“There are two groups of students to be served by a Jewish Studies program at DePaul,” explained Sivertsev, who holds a doctoral degree in Hebrew and Judaica Studies from New York University. “Students who plan to pursue graduate degrees in Jewish Studies need the undergraduate language component that the program offers, and students who plan to land careers in Jewish communal organizations have a strong interest in the overall program,” he said.

Students who major in the program must complete 48 credit hours in religious studies, including 12 in allied fields and 12 in modern or biblical Hebrew.

In comparing similar programs offered at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, Sivertsev commends DePaul for offering Jewish Studies within the religious studies department. “At DePaul, you study the subject in the context of other religions – here there is a larger, religious studies curricula,” he said. “You can’t understand what’s going on in the world today without first understanding religious backgrounds.”

The Rev. James Halstead, O.S.A., chair of DePaul’s religious studies program, cites the biblical Hebrew language component of the program – which will start in the fall – as an opportunity for DePaul to make the richness of Jewish heritage available to students. “The Hebrew language has made a massive contribution to civilization,” said Halstead. “It’s the language of the Bible, and to be able to read the [holy] text in its original language is a blessing.”

For more information about DePaul’s Jewish Studies program, please consult the department of religious studies Web site at: http://condor.depaul.edu/~religion/programs.htm#jewish or call the program director’s office at 773/325-4988.