Welcome to SJSU Jewish Studies
The Jewish Studies Program, 50 years old this year but always in start-up mode, offers a minor degree within the History Department. We welcome SJSU students and community members into a study of Jewish ethnicity, history, literature, ethics, religion, and culture.
We work together with the SJSU Jewish Faculty & Staff Association, Hillel of Silicon Valley, and the Jewish Student Association to offer book discussions, public lectures, film screenings, and other cultural programming throughout the year.
Check back here for dates and times of events.
Spring 2025 SJSU courses
Hebr 1A Beginning Hebrew (4 units GE C2), Galia Stein-Rosen MW 5:00-6:40 PM, synchronous online
Hebr 1B Intermediate Hebrew (4 units GE C2), Galia Stein-Rosen MW 3-4:40, synchronous online
Hist 112 Ancient West to 500 BCE (4 units), staff, MW 9-10:15, in person
Hist 170s Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions online (3 units GE S + US1), Katherine Chilton, asynchronous online
Hist 177 Industrial America, 1877-1920 (4 units), Glen Gendzel TR 10:30-11:45, in person
Musc 10C Pop and Rock in the US (3 units GE C1), Thomas Langan, TR 2-3:15 in person and MW 11:30-12:45 synchronous online
Rels 70, Gods, Guns, Gurus, Grails--World Religion (GE C2), Todd Perreira, TR 3-4:15 in person
Rels 90 Bible History and Literature (3 units GE C2), Todd Perriera, TR 10:30-11:45 in person; Marianne Delaporte, asynchronous online
Rels 99 Death, Dying, and Religions (3 units, GE E ), Todd Perriera, MW 3-4:15 synchronous online + TR 9:00-10:15 in person
Rels 122 Magic, Science, and Religion (3 units GE V), Lee Gilmore, asynchronous online
Rels 191 Religion in America, (3 units GE S), Marianne Delaporte Kabir, asynchronous online
Featured classes: Hebrew 1A and Hebrew 1B
Interested in learning Hebrew? For Spring we are offering Hebrew 1a and 1b as CSU fully online classes. Hebrew 1A: MW 5-6:40; Hebrew 1B MW 3-4:40. Both classes are 4 units, GE area C2. Instructor is Galia Stein Rosen, Hebrew language instructor at UCSC for many years. Questions about the courses? Contact Ms Stein Rosen at galia.steinrosen@sjsu.edu
Zoom link will be provided upon registration in the courses.
Open University participants are also welcome--please contact me directly for instructions on how to enroll through Open University.
Featured Faculty
Meet Dr. Ryan Skinnell, creator of a new course in rhetorical analysis: The Rhetoric of Hate (ENGL 157). I think you'll be as moved as I am by his responses to some questions I asked him. The class was canceled this semester due to underenrollment. If you're excited by the topic, please let the English department know!
Coming soon! Spring semester's featured faculty member is Galia Stein-Rosen, Hebrew instructor extraordinaire!
Featured Student
Outstanding Jewish Studies minor students may be selected to receive a scholarship for their studies.
Ira Zweig, first year Philosophy major, has won the fall 2023 scholarship, on the strength of his exploration of his grandfather's Holocaust history. You will find an interview he did with me on the People page.
Will you be the 2024 recipient? The Jewish Studies minor is now accepting new students into the program.
Featured Friend of Jewish Studies
The Jewish Studies program is blessed with friends who offer the coordinator their expertise, wisdom, sense of humor, generosity of time and resources.
One such person is SJSU Kinesiology Professor Emeritus Dr. David Furst, who last Fall launched a five-year gift of scholarships for Jewish Studies minor program students. Please read about Dr. Furst on the People page, and about Ira Zweig, the first recipient of his scholarship.
Why Study Jewish Studies? One response
From a Christian perspective, why study Jewish Studies? Here are some thoughts from Professor Janet Giddings, who teaches Philosophy of Religion:
The importance and benefits of Jewish Studies.
1. Religious literacy
2. Jesus was a Jewish man. If I am to identify as a Christian I must be Jewish first,
understand the roots of Christianity and understand Jesus.
3. The New Testament is mostly Jewish scripture.
4. Jewish studies helps me better understand and respect Qur'an and Christian scriptures.
5. Teaching Christian tradition over 19 years I came to understand how many students
do not know that Jesus was Jewish. Many of those students thought he was Christian!
He wore the tallit and tzitzit and argued with his religion. I argue with mine so
I understand and can relate to his frustration.
For so many, Jewish Studies is part of the path we need to understand ourselves and our beliefs.
Jewish news, issues, questions
Peruse the Jewish News, Issues, Questions page if you're wondering about Jewish news here in the Bay Area, or about musings in Jewish thought. I welcome guest contributors to this page! Please email me with your interest.
The organization Amcha issued a report on the significant threat to students' Jewish identity, in the face of anti-Semitism on college campuses. If you or someone you know is a victim of identity-based aggression or micro-aggression at SJSU, please let's talk to explore your/their options. Email me so we can meet?
Message from the coordinator
Welcome–I’m glad you’ve stopped by. I’m Vicki Harrison, the Jewish Studies Program coordinator. My career path has been that of a wandering Jew–a PhD in English at Rutgers in New Jersey, a professorship in English at UC Santa Barbara, founding member of Kehillah Jewish High School’s faculty, chair of Notre Dame High School’s English department, and currently Subject Area Coordinator for SJSU's Social Sciences teacher credential program. In between and again, I have coordinated Jewish Studies here at San Jose State, served as faculty advisor to the Jewish Students Association and as co-president of the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association.
Are you a student considering an interdisciplinary, flexible minor that will challenge you as a critical thinker and as a human exploring the diversity of our world? Are you a community member considering the potentials of lifelong learning? Are you a language lover, seeking to learn another (or two) languages (Hebrew and Yiddish)? Please return to the Jewish Studies website often, as I update it whenever I have something new to show you! Email me with any questions/comments.
