The Program in Jewish Studies at Rice University is committed to the academic study of Judaism in its many forms, expressions, and customs. Jewish religious practice and culture have thrived in various forms and in many locations all over the world for thousands of years, making Jewish Studies an important component of a liberal arts curriculum. As Jewish Studies scholars, we study these diverse forms of Jewish life as well as the ways in which Judaism has always been intertwined with the cultures, histories, arts, and literatures of many societies and civilizations.