Institute for Jewish Studies

The Institute for Jewish Studies, which at its founding was the first of its kind in the German Federal Republic, has existed now for over five and half decades at the Freie Universität Berlin. Here it is important to mention that it was no coincidence that the Freie Universität Berlin, founded in 1948, was to become a pioneering institution in the field of Jewish studies. As one of the few universities established after the Nazi era, the Free University was a predestined choice. Thus followed the decision to found the Institute for Jewish Studies after the appeal hearing of Jacob Taubes (previously at Columbia University in New York) in 1963. As a result, the Berlin Institute for Jewish Studies is the oldest judaistic teaching and research site among German universities.

In the summer semester of 1952, before the establishment of the Institute for Jewish Studies, lectures on Jewish history and literature took place, led by Adolf F. Leschnitzer, who before his forced emigration had already studied and worked in Berlin. He focused on themes concerning German-Jewish relations and Antisemitism. The focus soon broadened its scope as Leschnitzer was joined by faculty members Ernst L. Ehrlich, Hermann L. Goldschmidt, Johann Maier and Jacob Taubes.

The philosopher and hermeneutic Jacob Taubes, who passed away in 1987, was director of Institute for Jewish Studies until 1979, when he accepted the director position of the Institute of Hermeneutics. Historian Marianne Awerbuch led the Institute from 1979 until her retirement in 1983. Awerbuch was followed by Peter Schäfer (who had previously held a professorship at the Martin-Buber Institute for Jewish Studies at the University of Cologne). Schäfer oversaw a complete restructuring of the Institute and the study program. His changes made it possible to add a second professorship in 1987, which was held by Michael Brocke (previously Professor for Jewish Studies at the Universität GH Duisburg) from 1988 to the fall of 1996.

In the summer semester of 1993 Joseph Dan, Gershom Scholem Professor of Kabbalah at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, became a constant guest professor. Up until 2002 Professor Dan divided his teachings and research projects between Jerusalem and Berlin.

In the winter semester of 1996/97 Michael Brocke returned to the University GH Duisburg. At the turn of the year 1997/98 Peter Schäfer accepted a professorship at Princeton University. Up until 2003 Professor Schäfer spent time teaching and researching in both Berlin and Princeton.

Guilio Busi, born 1960 in Bologna, Italy, took up the second C4 professorship at the Institute for Jewish Studies in the Department of History and Cultural Studies. Prior to this appointment, he taught as a professor for Hebraic language and literature and for Jewish history at the University of Venice.

In the summer of 2002 and in celebration of his 67^th birthday and his 10 years of teaching at the Institute for Jewish Studies, Joseph Dan retired from his professorship at the Freie Universität. Due to the economic climate at the time the guest professorship was not able to be renewed.

The summer of 2003 saw Peter Schäfer take a leave of absence until 2008, during which he taught exclusively at Princeton. In 2008 he retired from his professorship and since 2014 he has been the Director of the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

Leaving her position as a lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tal Ilan accepted a C3 professorship for early Judaism in October 2003.

Lukas Mühlethaler is a junior professor at the Institute since 2013. His research and teachings focusses on Jewish philosophy.