Hebrew Language and Culture
| Language of instruction | English |
| Duration of programme | 1 year |
| Title | Master of Arts (MA) |
| Brochure | Download brochure here (PDF) |
Hebrew Language and Culture (MA)
How should we read the ‘oral' rabbinic corpus or approach a medieval manuscript? What is theory and how do we apply it to Jewish studies? How does the Hebrew-Yiddish diglossia function in the Jewish polysystem and how did medieval philosophy find its way into biblical exegesis, polemics and poetry? And how do ‘history' and ‘memory' function in Hebrew literature? These and other questions are addressed in the Master's programme in Hebrew Language and Culture.
Studying Hebrew Language and Culture at the University of Amsterdam
The Jewish presence in Amsterdam dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century, when descendants of Jews who had been expelled from the Iberian peninsula in 1492/97 came to the city in order to be free to practice the faith of their ancestors. Since then, the Jewish community has established itself in the city's life and language.
Today Amsterdam is the religious and cultural centre of Jewish life in the Netherlands, and can boast a Jewish cultural and academic infrastructure unparalleled on the European continent. Important collections in various fields of Jewish studies can be found in such world-famous institutions as the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, the Portuguese Ets Haim/Livraria Montezinos, the Jewish Historical Museum and the Amsterdam Communal Archives. Academic expertise is centred at both the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Menasseh ben Israel Institute for Jewish social and cultural-historical studies.
Accreditation and degree
This master’s programme has been legally accredited by the Dutch government in 2002. This means that upon successful completion of the programme students will receive a legally accredited master's degree in Hebreeuwse taal en cultuur (Hebrew Language and Culture) and the title Master of Arts (MA). Before 2010, the study programme will be presented to the Accreditation Organisation of The Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) for renewal of the accreditation. You can find more information on accreditation and degrees through the link below.