犹太历史和文化课程的重点是从上古到现代的犹太人的历史和文学。尽管学生通常选择按时间段关注自己的兴趣，但该计划本身强调垂直能力：除主要时间段外，所有学生都应按时间顺序获得一些能力。犹太历史和文化课程按时间顺序分为五个阶段。这些时期如下：犹太解释语境中的希伯来圣经，古代犹太历史和文化，中世纪犹太历史和文化，现代犹太历史和文化以及现代犹太文学。作为按时间顺序进行专业化的替代方法，学生可以选择按主题进行研究，例如犹太圣经释经的历史。能够使用原始原始希伯来语源语言的能力是加入该计划的前提。
The program in Jewish History and Culture focuses on the history and literature of the Jewish people from late antiquity to modern times. While students generally choose to focus their interests by period, the program itself stresses vertical competence: all students are expected to gain some competence in chronological periods other than their main one. The program in Jewish History and Culture is divided chronologically into five periods. The periods are as follows: The Hebrew Bible in its Jewish Interpretive Context, Ancient Jewish History and Culture, Medieval Jewish History and Culture, Modern Jewish History and Culture and Modern Jewish Literatures. As an alternative to specialization by chronological period, students may choose to focus their studies along thematic lines, for example on the history of Jewish biblical exegesis. Ability to work with classical Hebrew sources in the original is a prerequisite for admission to the program. Students will generally develop their own individualized course of study in consultation with their advisors, at the same time, it is expected that all students will achieve significant mastery of the broad sweep of Jewish cultural history, and of the areas outside Jewish History and Culture most appropriate to their field. For example, a student specializing in modern Jewish cultural history in Europe would be expected to demonstrate general knowledge of the course of pre-modern Jewish cultural history as well as the relevant areas of modern European culture.