The Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice

 

 "I am a firm exponent and adherent of any cause which extends the hand of salvation to the living in time of distress; which, instead of waiting until a man is down, prevents him from sinking."    -Melvyn Swig 

Approximately 30 years ago, the Swig family founded the first Judaic Studies chair at a Catholic University in the United States; a Judaic Studies program was founded shortly thereafter. In August 2008 the program was re-launched as the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice, the first formal academic program of its kind in the United States. Including a new university minor in Jewish Studies and Social Justice, this program engages students in both theoretical and practical applications of what it means to be a Jewish social justice activist, empowering participants to transform our world into its potential. On campus, this program offers classes in Judaism, Jewish Culture, Jewish Thought, Jewish-Muslim and Jewish-Christian relations, and an intensive Hebrew language summer course, among others.  Yet this program also extends beyond the university classrooms to the larger Bay Area community through educational programs focusing on social justice issues.