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Founded in 1926 as the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Institute of Asian and African Studies was one of the first units of the newly established Hebrew University. The founding generation of the Institute was composed mainly of German speaking scholars from Central Europe, among them such luminaries as S.D. Goitein, D.S. Baneth and L.A. Mayer. In the early years, emphasis at the Institute was placed on the study of classical Arabic and the medieval Islamic world. Over the decades, however, the realm of research and teaching was expanded both within the world of Islam and beyond. The teaching program grew to include other Middle Eastern languages, especially Persian and Turkish, and the history and cultures of those who spoke these tongues. In addition, modern Middle Eastern history became an important part of the curriculum. Gradually, whole new areas of study were established, encompassing the languages, cultures and history of East Asia, India, ancient Iran, Armenia and the Caucasus, and the continent of Africa. In light of this expanding scope, the name of the Institute was changed to the Institute of Asian and African Studies in the 1950s. The Institute is the center for the study of the languages, cultures and histories of the non-Western world and non-Jewish world at the Hebrew University. Its faculty and students have made it into one of the leading institutions for Asian and African studies in the world.

Today the Institute numbers some 800 students who study in five departments: East Asian Studies; Indian, Iranian and Armenian Studies; Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies; Arabic Language and Literature; and, African Studies. Most students are working towards the B.A. degree, but more than 100 are M.A. students and another 35 are research students working towards the Ph.D. The teaching staff of the Institute is composed of about 35 permanent teachers, and another 100 part-time adjunct and junior teachers.

The basis for teaching and research in the Institute is the serious study of the major languages of Asia and Africa. We believe that the best way to reach a deep and broad understanding of the cultures and history of these two continents is through the direct contact with sources, written and otherwise, in their original languages. To achieve this goal, more than twenty languages are taught at the Institute: Arabic (classical, modern standard literary and colloquial), Persian (ancient, classical and modern), Turkish (Ottoman and modern), Ge`ez, Amharic, Swahili, Armenian, Georgian, Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and others.

Director: Prof. Meir M. Bar-Asher barasher@mscc.huji.ac.il
Secretary: Ms. Yehudit Magen yehuditm@savion.cc.huji.ac.il

For more information, contact us at:

The Institute of Asian and African StudiesThe Hebrew University of JerusalemMt. Scopus, Jerusalem 91905 Israel

Fax: 972-2-5883658
Tel: 972-2-5883516, 972-2-5883659

email: AsiaAfrica@h2.hum.huji.ac.il