Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies

The department offers a rich program with four undergraduate majors in Biblical Studies; Hebrew language (both Classical and Modern); and Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture. It is the only department in Australia to offer a full program in Classical Hebrew, as well as teaching all the ancient Semitic languages, including Aramaic, Akkadian and Syriac. It has an outstanding graduate program with a significant number of doctoral students and a general Masters degree as well as a Masters in Holocaust Studies taught jointly with the Department of History. The University of Sydney also offers a Hebrew and Jewish Studies teacher education program in conjunction with the Faculty of Education, focussing on both primary and secondary levels.

The programs offered through the department are sustained by some generous benefactors. The late Stefan and Felicia Einhorn left a major bequest which supports the entire Modern Hebrew Program, one full-time lectureship in Classical Hebrew/Biblical Studies as well as casual teaching in these areas, and casual teaching in Jewish Civilisation. The Henroth Foundation supports the Roth Lectureship in Holocaust Studies, presently filled by Professor Konrad Kwiet. In addition, the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund supports student and academic exchange between the University of Sydney and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.