Instructional Professor in Jewish Studies, University of Chicago, Social Sciences Collegiate Division

The Social Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago is accepting applications for a full-time Instructional Professor (IP) who will teach undergraduate courses in the Jewish Studies Program. The appointment is renewable, with an initial term of at least two years, beginning September 1, 2023. Appointment at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or full Instructional Professor will be considered based on the candidate’s prior teaching experience. The IP’s teaching and program responsibilities will take place during the nine-month academic year, approximately October through June.

The Jewish Studies Program is housed at the Joyce Z. and Jacob Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies, an interdisciplinary center that nurtures dialogue among the many disciplines, scholars, and students engaged in Jewish Studies at the University. The program offers the undergraduate major and minor in Jewish Studies; supports undergraduate research, internship opportunities, and co-curricular activities; and coordinates Jewish Studies course offerings, including the general education sequence Jewish Civilization. More information about the Greenberg Center and the Jewish Studies Program can be found at https://ccjs.uchicago.edu.

The Instructional Professor will teach an annual load of six undergraduate courses, primarily in the Jewish Civilization sequence, a three-quarter sequence in the University’s Civilization Studies program that explores the development of Jewish culture and tradition from its ancient beginnings through its rabbinic and medieval transformations to its modern manifestations. Any remaining courses will contribute to the Jewish Studies major and minor and will be assigned by the Center Director, according to the program’s curricular needs and the instructor’s expertise.

In addition to teaching, the IP will also serve as the program’s Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies. As Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, the IP will coordinate the program’s academic components, including the Jewish Studies major and minor, the Jewish Civilization sequence, and the Jewish language programs; recruit and advise students interested in Jewish Studies; develop undergraduate internship and research opportunities; plan and execute Jewish Studies events; and collaborate with Greenberg Center leadership to cultivate partnerships on and off campus.

The terms and conditions of employment for this position are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the University.

Qualifications

The position requires a Ph.D. in a social sciences or humanities area relevant to Jewish Studies and is open to applicants who will have completed all requirements for their Ph.D. no later than August 31, 2023. Experience teaching relevant coursework at the college level is required. A record of scholarship relevant to Jewish Studies is required.

Application Instructions

To apply for the position, candidates must submit an application through the University of Chicago’s Interfolio jobs board at apply.interfolio.com/121350 and upload the following: 1) a curriculum vitae; 2) a letter of interest describing your academic interests and teaching background; 3) a teaching statement; 4) one sample of scholarly or professional writing; 5) three letters of reference; 6) a sample syllabus.

The review of applications will begin on April 24, 2023 and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Position contingent upon budget approval.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All University departments and institutes are charged with building a faculty from a diversity of backgrounds and with diverse viewpoints; with cultivating an inclusive community that values freedom of expression; and with welcoming and supporting all their members.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Andreas Lehnertz (April 1, 2023). Instructional Professor in Jewish Studies, University of Chicago, Social Sciences Collegiate Division. medievalJewishStudiesNow! Retrieved April 18, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/ri1a


About Andreas Lehnertz

As Juniorpofessor of medieval history with a specialization in Jewish history at the University of Trier, Andreas Lehnertz studies the social, cultural, and religious history of Europe. His academic pursuits focus on the nuanced dynamics of everyday Christian-Jewish relations, the study of marginal Hebrew and Yiddish deeds, the study of Jewish and general sealing practices, and the in-depth study of Jewish craftspeople. He wrote a book on "Jewish Seals in the Medieval German Empire: The Authentication and Self-Representation of Jewish Men and Women". His expertise has been further honed through his roles as a postdoctoral fellow in the ERC project "Beyond the Elite - Jewish Daily Life in Medieval Europe" at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and as a member of the Martin Buber Society in the Humanities and Social Sciences, also at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Currently he writes a book that about "Jewish Craftspeople in Medieval Germany". Through his research and publications, he aims to make a meaningful contribution to the academic discourse surrounding medieval history and to provide valuable insights into the rich tapestry of European history during this pivotal period.