2023-24 Catalog

Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies

Director: Hartley Lachter, Ph.D. (New York University)

Email:   inber@lehigh.edu |  Phone: 610-758-4280

Website:  http://cjs.cas.lehigh.edu

Supported by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, 610-758-4280
Maginnes Hall, Suite 490, 9 West Packer Avenue

Steering Committee

Jodi Eichler-Levine, Ph.D.(Department of Religion Studies); Hartley Lachter, Ph.D. (Department of Religion Studies); Nitzan Lebovic, Ph.D. (Department of History);  Ben Wright, Ph.D. (Department of Religion Studies)

Emeritus Faculty

Laurence J. Silberstein, Ph.D. (Department of Religion Studies), Lenore E. Chava Weissler, Ph.D.  (Department of Religion Studies), and Roslyn Weiss, Ph.D. (Department of Philosophy)


The Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies, established in 1984, develops, administers, and coordinates a comprehensive program in Jewish studies at Lehigh University. The center is directed by Hartley Lachter, Philip and Muriel Berman Chair of Jewish Studies.

Several faculty members, including two Philip and Muriel Berman professors, teach Jewish studies classes at Lehigh. In 2007, the Helene and Allen Apter Chair of Holocaust Studies and Ethical Values was created with the generous support of Helene and Allen Apter ‘61 and Lehigh’s College of Arts & Sciences.

Other activities of the center include designing and implementing new courses and seminars, an annual lecture series, scholarly colloquia held overseas, and academic conferences. The Berman Center also co-sponsors events with other departments and programs at Lehigh and at institutions across the Lehigh Valley. The Center also provides funding to students to help them pursue study abroad experiences or other enhancements to their academic work in the field of Jewish Studies.

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