Jewish Student Population At The University Of Kansas

The University of Kansas offers a Jewish Studies Program with a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies and a minor in Jewish Studies. The program offers courses on the history, diversity, culture, religion, languages, thought, and practices of the Jewish people. The University of Kansas is one of the two major universities in the state that maintains a Hillel house, which helps students live a Jewish life on campus. According to Hillel International, there are 1,300 Jewish students (6.7%) enrolled as undergraduates at the university.

Jewish Studies Program at the University of Kansas

The University of Kansas' Jewish Studies Program offers a rich and diverse curriculum that explores the Jewish experience and promotes understanding of its cultural importance. The program is the only one of its kind in the state of Kansas and is a part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Courses Offered:

The Jewish Studies Program at KU offers a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies (B.A.) as well as a minor. The program includes courses in Jewish Studies, Hebrew, and Yiddish, with a focus on history, diversity, culture, religion, languages, thought, and practices of the Jewish people.

Students can choose from a variety of courses, including:

• Elementary and Intermediate Modern Hebrew
• Jews, Christians, Muslims
• Understanding the Bible
• The Spanish Inquisition
• Jewish Secular Culture
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Introduction
• Holocaust Studies
• History of Jewish Women
• Jewish Ethics
• Antisemitism: A Long History
• Politics and Government in Israel

Language Courses:

In addition to the academic courses, the Jewish Studies Program offers language instruction in Hebrew and Yiddish:

• Modern Conversational Hebrew
• Biblical Hebrew
• Yiddish

Study Abroad Opportunities:

KU's Jewish Studies Program also provides students with the opportunity to study abroad at any sponsored institution, allowing them to take Jewish Studies courses internationally and gain a global perspective on the subject.

Scholarships:

Thanks to donor support, the program offers excellence-based and need-based scholarships for undergraduate students, making the program accessible to a wider range of students.

Student Life:

KU Hillel, a Jewish student organization on campus, offers a welcoming environment for students to explore their Jewish identity and connect with other Jewish students. They provide kosher dining options, mental health resources, and a variety of programs and events to foster a sense of community and inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Career Opportunities:

The B.A. in Jewish Studies prepares students for a variety of career paths where knowledge of Jewish languages, history, and culture is valuable. Graduates often find employment in Jewish education, nonprofit organizations, outreach, and other areas where their expertise is applied.

The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Kansas offers a comprehensive and engaging educational experience, celebrating the Jewish experience and providing a deeper understanding of its significance in the world.

Hillel International at the University of Kansas

Hillel International is a Jewish organisation that serves the University of Kansas. It is one of the most respected Hillels in the country, connecting Jewish students to each other and providing a multitude of opportunities to connect to Jewish life. With an innovative and strategic approach to Jewish campus life, KU Hillel creates a Jewish community for students on campus and instils a sense of Jewish peoplehood that lasts beyond their time at university.

KU Hillel offers a welcoming environment for students to explore their Jewish identity and what being Jewish means to them. It inspires student leaders and prepares the next generation of the Jewish future. Students can subscribe to the Hillel newsletter and schedule visits to KU Hillel.

Hillel International provides religious services and kosher dining options, including kosher lunches and dinners on campus. It also offers mental health and wellness support.

Jewish population in Kansas

The University of Kansas has a Jewish Studies Program, which offers a range of courses on the history, diversity, culture, religion, languages, thought, and practices of the Jewish people. The program offers both major and minor degrees, as well as scholarships for undergraduate students. The Jewish population at the university is around 6.7% of the total student population, which is approximately 1,300 students.

The presence of Jews in Kansas dates back to the mid-19th century, shortly after the Kansas Territory was established in 1854. The state's first Jewish cemetery, Mt. Zion Cemetery Association, was founded in Leavenworth in 1857, and its first congregation, B'nai Jeshurun, was formed in the same city in 1859. The Jewish population of Kansas, as of 2001, was 14,000, with the majority living in the greater Kansas City area, and Wichita being home to around 1,300 Jews. Kansas City also has a long-standing Jewish newspaper, the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, which was founded in 1920.

The University of Kansas is not the only educational institution in the state with a Jewish presence. Kansas State University also has a Hillel house, offering Jewish students support in living a Jewish life on campus. Additionally, both universities offer courses in Jewish Studies.

Over the years, there have been several notable Jewish figures in Kansas, including Adolph Gluck, the mayor of Dodge City; Sol Kohn, the mayor of Wichita; and B.I. Litovich, president of the Kansas Bar Association. Dan Glickman, a former US congressman representing Wichita, later became the first Jewish secretary of agriculture. Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania was also born in Kansas and was a descendant of Jewish farmers.

Courses offered by the Jewish Studies Program

The University of Kansas offers a Jewish Studies Program that includes courses on the history, diversity, culture, religion, languages, thought, and practices of the Jewish people. The program offers an undergraduate major (B.A. in Jewish Studies) and minor, departmental honours, and courses in Jewish Studies, Hebrew, and Yiddish. The Jewish Studies Program also co-sponsors courses in other units, especially Religious Studies, History, Global and International Studies, and Political Studies.

Jewish History and Culture

The Jewish Studies Program offers courses that explore the history and culture of the Jewish people, including:

• The Holocaust in History
• Hitler and Nazi Germany
• Antisemitism: A Long History
• Jewish Secular Culture
• Jewish American Literature and Culture
• The History of Jewish Women
• Jewish Film

Judaism

Courses focused on Judaism as a religion include:

• Understanding the Bible
• The Talmud: Its Origins, Nature, and Evolution
• Mystical Tradition in Judaism
• Introduction to Judaism
• Jews, Christians, Muslims

Holocaust Studies

In addition to the above, the Jewish Studies Program offers dedicated courses on the Holocaust, including:

• Ethics and the Holocaust: Perpetrators, Collaborators, and Bystanders
• Theatre and Genocide
• Hitler and Nazi Germany, Honours

Israel Studies

The program also includes courses on Israel, such as:

• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Introduction
• Israel: From Idea to State
• Politics and Government in Israel
• Arab-Palestinian Society, Culture, and Politics
• International Relations of the Middle East

Jewish Languages and Narratives

The Jewish Studies Program offers language courses in Hebrew and Yiddish, including:

• Elementary Modern Hebrew I and II
• Intermediate Modern Hebrew I and II
• Advanced Modern Hebrew I and II
• Topics in Hebrew
• Studies in Modern Hebrew Literature
• Studies in Modern Hebrew

Applied Service in Jewish Organisations

Finally, the Jewish Studies Program offers courses that provide applied service in Jewish organisations, such as:

Service Learning in Jewish Studies

Jewish life on campus

The University of Kansas has a vibrant Jewish community on campus, with a range of academic, cultural, and social offerings for Jewish students.

Jewish Studies Program

The University of Kansas offers a Jewish Studies Program as part of its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The program includes a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies, as well as a minor. The program covers Jewish history and culture, Judaism, Holocaust studies, Israel Studies, Jewish languages, and narratives, and applied service in Jewish organizations. The University also offers language courses in modern conversational Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, and Yiddish.

KU Hillel

KU Hillel is a student organization that provides a home away from home for Jewish students at the University of Kansas. KU Hillel offers a welcoming environment for students to explore their Jewish identity and connect with other Jewish students on campus. They provide a multitude of opportunities to engage with Jewish life, inspiring and preparing the next generation of Jewish leaders. KU Hillel also offers Kosher dining options, including hot Kosher lunches and dinners on campus, and a full-service Kosher concession stand during KU Basketball home games.

Jewish Population

According to Hillel International, the University of Kansas has one of the top 60 Jewish populations among universities. There are approximately 1,300 Jewish undergraduate students enrolled, comprising 6.7% of the undergraduate population.

The University of Kansas is one of the two major universities in the state that maintains a Hillel house, helping its Jewish students live a Jewish life on campus. The University's Jewish community is also supported by organizations like the Topeka-Lawrence Jewish Federation and the Mid-Kansas Jewish Welfare Federation.

Frequently asked questions