Faculty of Humanities

Warm congratulations to Professor Dan Diner on receiving the prestigious 2025 Ludwig Börne Prize.

Awarded annually by the Ludwig Börne Foundation in Frankfurt, the prize recognizes Prof. Diner’s outstanding contribution to critical thought and to understanding the spirit of our time.

We are proud of this important recognition and delighted to celebrate his remarkable achievement.

We warmly congratulate Professor Nissim Otmazgin, outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, on receiving the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation.

A leading scholar of Japanese and East Asian culture and politics, Prof. Otmazgin has devoted his academic career to advancing the study and understanding of Japan in Israel.
This prestigious recognition honors his outstanding contribution to strengthening academic and cultural ties with Japan.

The Faculty proudly congratulates Prof. Otmazgin on this remarkable achievement.

We are proud to congratulate Professor Michael Segal of the Department of Bible on his prestigious appointment to the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, in the “World Religions” category.

This international recognition honors Prof. Segal’s outstanding contributions to the study of the Bible and Second Temple literature, especially his groundbreaking work on textual criticism, the Book of Jubilees, and the Book of Daniel.
Prof. Segal’s scholarship continues to shape the field and strengthen the Faculty of Humanities as a center of academic excellence.

Exploring Taiwan Through Economics, Politics, and Culture

Students from the Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Humanities traveled to Taiwan as part of the course Economics, Politics and Business in Asia, led by Dr. Dror Kochan.

Over seven days, the delegation met with diplomats, policymakers, entrepreneurs, experts, and students, gaining insight into Taiwan’s geopolitics, foreign policy, semiconductor industry, civil society, and rich cultural and spiritual life.

Sicily as a Living Laboratory of Transculturality

Third-year students in the Amirim Honors Program recently returned from a study tour in Sicily, the concluding workshop of their three-year program.

Led by Dr. Chiara Cardona, the tour explored Sicily as a site of transcultural encounter, examining how interactions between cultures shape history, art, and identity.

A memorable traveling seminar in Greece brought together students and faculty for an intensive academic journey through history, archaeology, landscape, and culture.

Through visits to archaeological sites, fortresses, theaters, temples, and historic landscapes, the seminar offered a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with field experience, deepening students’ understanding of the ancient and medieval worlds.

The journey combined academic study, shared discovery, and meaningful encounters with the landscapes and heritage of Greece.

A successful traveling seminar in South Korea was held with the support of the International Office, bringing together students, teaching staff, and distinguished guests from the Department of Asian Studies.

The seminar provided an opportunity for academic exchange, intercultural learning, and the strengthening of institutional ties between the Hebrew University and academic partners in Korea.

The Hebrew University’s Center for the Study of Christianity hosted the 23rd Annual Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn Lecture, highlighting the enduring importance of interreligious dialogue and intellectual friendship.

The evening featured a keynote by Prof. Uta Heil of the University of Vienna on the historical “Heavenly Letter,” followed by a response from Prof. Israel Yuval.

The Faculty of Humanities marked the opening of In the Beauty Salon of History at the Max and Iris Stern Little Gallery, Mt. Scopus Campus.
The exhibition explores how societies confront historical injustice, focusing on the 1952 Holocaust reparations agreement between West Germany, Israel, and the Jewish Claims Conference.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, together with the University of Notre Dame and the Cardinal Bea Center in Rome, marked sixty years since Nostra Aetate, the landmark Vatican II declaration that reshaped Catholic-Jewish relations.

Hosted in Jerusalem, the conference brought together scholars, religious leaders, activists, and students from Israel and around the world for a meaningful conversation on dialogue, memory, and the challenges of interreligious relations today.