Pioneering Jewish Studies since 1826.Ìý
Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾, founded in 1826, was the first university in England to admit Jews, alongside students of all race and religion. Hebrew language and Jewish Studies have been taught at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ since its inception.
The original Department of Hebrew was re-established as the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies in 1967. ÌýIt builds on a long-established, distinguished scholarly tradition, and is the only university department in the UK dedicated to Hebrew and Jewish Studies.Ìý
Hyman Hurwitz (b. Poznan 1770 – d. London, 1844) was the first professor of the Hebrew language at University College London (then the ‘University of London’), and the first Jew to hold a university position in England. He was appointed to this position in 1828, when teaching began at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾. He authored a number of pioneering works in English, including Hebrew Tales Selected and Translated from the Writings of the Ancient Hebrew Sages (London 1826), and a number of books on the Hebrew language and its etymology, syntax, and grammar.
Solomon Schechter (b. FocÅŸani 1847 – d. New York 1915) was professor of Hebrew at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ in 1899 – 1902. It is in this period that he published his most important findings from the Cairo Genizah, including the Wisdom of Ben Sira and Saadyana.
Hermann Gollancz (b. Bremen 1852 – d. London 1930) was the first Jew to earn a doctorate from the University of London, and Goldsmid Professor of Hebrew at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ from 1902 to 1924.
Chimen Abramsky (b. Minsk 1916 – d.ÌýLondon 2010) was Professor of Modern Jewish History at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ from 1966 to 1983, and expert in eastern European modern Jewish history.
Raphael Loewe (b. Calcutta 1919 – d. London 2011) wasÌýGoldsmid Professor of HebrewÌýat Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ from 1975 to 1984, and expert in medieval Hebrew poetry.
John Doyle Klier (b. Bellefonte, PA 1944 – d. London 2007) was Professor of Modern Jewish History at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ from 1990 to 2007. HeÌýcontributed ground-breaking research on Russian Jewish history.Ìý
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