Jewish studies programs focus on the civilization of Judaism. Students learn its history, culture, sacred texts, and laws. They study ancient and modern developments in Judaism.

One Jewish organization has run an advertisement showing a large photo of a bagel. In the hole are the words, "Is this all your children are going to know about being Jewish?" Fortunately, there are ways to study Jewish culture that go deeper than just eating traditional foods.

You can major in Jewish studies at about 90 colleges. The major takes four years of full-time study beyond high school and leads to a bachelor's degree. You will find it good preparation if you want to pursue a career in the Jewish community. For example, you might teach in a Hebrew school or play a supporting role in a Jewish social agency. To prepare for a leadership role in such institutions, you might follow your bachelor's with a master's degree in education or social work. Or you might proceed to seminary to prepare to be a rabbi or (if you are blessed with a good voice) a cantor.

Because of this broad range of career goals, programs in Jewish studies usually allow you a lot of freedom to choose what you want to study. Another reason is that Jewish civilization stretches back so far and touches on many aspects of culture. But almost every program requires you to study Hebrew. This language links the ancient prophets, the medieval sages, and today's Israeli pop singers. You can expect to study the Hebrew Bible, either in Hebrew or in translation. You also will need to take some courses on how Judaism has evolved as a religion.

Usually you need to take some courses in various periods of Jewish history. You may want to study archeology or focus on ancient texts. You may think that the Middle Ages were just a time of persecution, but you will find that they also marked great Jewish cultural contributions. You will have many choices of what to study in the modern era: religious innovations, Zionism, or the rebirth of Hebrew. The Holocaust, Israeli politics, and Jewish novelists are other topics. You may study issues that cut across the eras, such as the role of women, anti-Semitism, and messianism.