The purpose of the Jewish Studies minor is to enable and enrich student knowledge of Jewish spirituality, literature, Emily Torricelli, Jen Griffiths, Dr. Roth, Kate Brosky, and Amanda Zucker in front of one of Kafka's houses in the wall of Prague Castle. history and cultural diversity. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides a range of courses that facilitate student explorations of Judaism and Jewish experience, and thus fosters among students an understanding of Jewish Studies as the analysis of a diverse religious civilization. The minor is open to those students in a wide variety of academic majors interested in broadening their perspectives about spirituality and ethnicity.

Special events including lectures, films, art exhibitions and panel discussions complement Jewish studies courses. Recent examples include "The Search Unending: Jewish - Christian Dialogue and the Binding of Isaac," a one-day conference and musical premiere of an original work by composer Students and locals at the Café Central in Vienna, where Freud, Trotsky, and Wittgenstein sipped coffee and discussed politics, art, and philosophy. Simon Sargon; a lecture on "Blacks, Jews and the Implications of Diversity in Higher Education" by Prof. Katya Gibel Azoulay of Grinnell College; a multi-media presentation by Prof. Felicia Londré of the University of Missouri titled "Al Jolson: Jewish Jazz and Blackface"; "Landscapes of Memory," an exhibition of Samuel Bak's paintings; Hannukah and Purim parties at the Jewish Studies House; and a screening of the film, The Jew in the Lotus.