In 1972, the Cooperative Program in Judaic Studies, a joint endeavor between Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, was established. It was one of the first Jewish Studies programs in the United States. Separating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1977, Duke’s Judaic Studies program became the Center for Jewish Studies (CJS). Over the ensuing decades, it has explored Jewish history, culture, religion, and identity through an interdisciplinary approach. Its courses, research, and cultural programs have flourished. This exhibit highlights the people and events that have made Jewish Studies successful during its more than half-century long history at Duke. The Evans Judaic Hall was dedicated in 1980. Founding CJS Director Eric Meyers, an archaeologist and Jewish historian, came to Duke in 1969; medievalist Kalman Bland joined the faculty three years later; and Carol Meyers, an archaeologist and biblical scholar, joined the faculty in the mid-seventies. Since then, many other leading scholars have joined the program. Some of the Meyers’ archaeological work is highlighted in Evans Hall. This exhibit draws attention to the diverse and rich resources of the CJS. Additionally, virtually all of the Judaica collections in Duke Libraries has been acquired with the support of the CJS. Faculty publications and posters for special events, especially in the last three decades, are displayed in the lobby of the CJS adjacent to Evans Hall in Gray Building.
