About Us

Jewish art represents one of the world's oldest and most enduring cultural traditions, reflecting over two millennia of Jewish life, creativity, and interaction with diverse societies across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. From ancient synagogues and illuminated manuscripts to ritual objects, modern art, and contemporary visual culture, Jewish art offers a unique perspective on the history, identity, and cultural heritage of the Jewish people.

The Department of Jewish Art at Bar-Ilan University is the only academic department of its kind in Israel and worldwide dedicated exclusively to the study of Jewish visual culture. Combining rigorous scholarship with experiential learning, the Department explores the rich and multifaceted history of Jewish art across periods, regions, and artistic media, while placing it within the broader context of world art history.

Students investigate how Jewish identity has been expressed through visual culture and how artists have responded to cultural exchange, social transformation, persecution, migration, and renewal. The Department offers B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs.

Learning extends beyond the classroom through museum and gallery visits, meetings with artists, field excursions, and studio workshops in drawing, printmaking, painting, and sculpture, providing students with a vibrant and immersive encounter with art, creativity, and cultural heritage.