Prague, Czech Republic - Jewish Studies

at-a-glance:

CET invites students to embark on a remarkable journey through the Jewish past of East Central Europe, where they will explore the enormous contribution of Jewish life to the region's culture, literature, arts, and history. What better place to begin the journey than Prague, a beautiful and enchanting city, and host to one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in Europe and one of the richest collections of Judaica in the world. Students have the opportunity to also travel to Budapest and spend 9 days in Poland, home to more Jews than any other country before 1939. By examining the vibrant Jewish heritage in this region, students will come to understand the human and cultural loss brought about by the Holocaust as well as have an insider's view into the rebirth of Prague's Jewish Community today.

academics

The program is based at Charles University, the oldest university in Central Europe, founded in 1348 by King Charles the IV of Bohemia.  As the most prestigious institution of higher learning in the Czech Republic, Charles University enrolls 30,000 students in 13 schools.  Students on the program take classes in the Faculty of Arts building, situated in front of the renowned Charles Bridge on the Vltava River, and in a classroom in the Jewish Community.  The Jewish Studies in Prague curriculum was designed by leading U.S. scholars of Jewish History, Czech and Polish Studies, and the Holocaust.  The curriculum provides students with an opportunity to examine the history, culture, literature, and the arts of Eastern European Jewry, while at the same time providing a context for exploring the non-Jewish history, politics, and society of the region.  The emphasis on experiential learning allows students to contact the local culture hands on.

All CET courses are taught specifically for CET students only.  Charles University's East and Central European Studies (ECES) courses are also available to CET students in the fall and spring terms, and are open to other international students.  In the fall and spring, students are required to take four content courses plus a course on Czech language.  At least two of the content courses must be in Jewish Studies.  There is no language prerequisite for the program. During the summer program students take three CET content courses, plus a course in Czech language.  The Charles University electives are not available in summer.  Starting in fall 2008, Political and Cultural History of Central Europe in the 20th Century is no longer a required course. It remains a strongly recommended elective course. This change gives Jewish Studies students more flexibility with their electives - they now select three electives instead of two.

Academic Links:

Online Course Catalogue

Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List

Charles University Web Site

CET Web Site

student life

A wide variety of activities arranged by CET make Prague come alive. Activities are designed to provide opportunities that you would not normally have on your own. You will participate in special tours, day-trips, religious and cultural events, Jewish and Czech film screenings, and social activities with Czech students. Past activities have included guided visits to Prague Castle, the Jewish Quarter, the Czech Parliament, and Radio Free Europe. Day-trips outside of Prague led by your professors may include Mechenice, Lidice, Lety, Decin, and Kladno. You are also encouraged to participate in the activities in Prague's Jewish community, including celebrations of the Jewish holidays.

You will have the chance to meet and hear exclusive lectures from influential people in Prague's Jewish community and the Czech Republic. Lecturers may include the Israeli Ambassador, the President of the Federation of Czech and Moravian Jewish communities, the United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Rabbis from the Orthodox, Conservative, and Progressive movements in Prague, and the President of the Prague Jewish community.

As for the sites, Prague is known for its impressive and varied collections of architectural styles, from Art Nouveau to Baroque, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultra-modern. It also includes popular tourist destinations such as Old Town, The Astronomical Clock, Malá Strana, Prague Castle, The Rudolfinum, National Museum, National Theatre, and The Mucha Museum.

housing

Students are housed with fellow CET students in an apartment in a Czech residential building. Each apartment will have a full kitchen, and will be located close to or in the heart of Prague and the Jewish Quarter. In some cases, CET may invite Charles University students to live in the apartments as well. Living with Czech roommates can provide valuable insight into the local culture and often leads to close friendships.

Students dine in Prague's many cafeterias and restaurants or cook for themselves at home. CET provides students with a list of low-cost options for meals. Information for students with dietary restrictions will be included in the post-acceptance materials, and guidance will be provided in Prague by your resident director. Kosher students who would like more information about their dietary options should visit the Keeping Kosher section of the CET website.

location

Goethe proclaimed Prague to be "the most precious stone in the crown of the world." Prague stands at the crossroads of Europe, where east meets west and history meets the excitement of a post-communist country transitioning to EU membership. Rivaling Paris as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Prague will invite you to wander through its fairytale-like cobblestone streets and take in a thousand years of architectural and artistic history.

The medieval seat of the Hapsburg Empire, Prague continued to strive as a sister city to Vienna into modern times, always standing at the forefront of culture and industry. Living in this dynamic city today, you'll encounter the challenges that the Czech Republic faces in this period of transition between Communism and the privatization of many political, social, and cultural institutions. Here is the perfect environment in which to become immersed in Czech culture and to explore the heritage of the Central and Eastern European Jews.

Prague's rich Jewish history, its Jewish Quarter with six surviving synagogues which house the Jewish Museum, and the growing Jewish community make it an excellent setting in which to explore Central and Eastern European Jewry. The Jewish Museum in Prague contains one of the largest collections of Judaica in the world. The Nazis confiscated these objects from Jewish homes and synagogues throughout Czechoslovakia with the intention of creating a "Museum of the Extinct Race." Instead, the collection pays tribute to Czech Jewish life and to those that perished during the Holocaust. CET students utilize the Museum's extensive library and records for their coursework.

expenses

Program Costs: Semester Costs; Summer Costs

application

Prague Application