A Message from the Head of the Program

Human existence unfolds within worlds of meaning and interpretation. We interpret ourselves and others, texts and works of art, traditions and memories, historical events, and social and cultural processes. Interpretation is not merely a way of reading texts; it is a fundamental dimension of our relationship with the world, the means by which we make sense of it while continually reexamining the meanings that have already become established within it. As an interdisciplinary graduate program, the Graduate Program in Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies at Bar-Ilan University offers a space for study and research that brings together intellectual traditions and methods from philosophy, literature, psychoanalysis, art, political thought, and cultural studies. This encounter enables students to develop their questions beyond the boundaries of any single discipline and explore them in greater depth through a rich and complex theoretical foundation.

Interpretive thinking is of particular importance today. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our relationship with knowledge, language, and creativity, confronting us anew with one of the oldest and most urgent questions: What does it mean to be human? In a world where machines can generate texts and images, process knowledge, and provide complex answers, the ability to question meaning and context, identify hidden assumptions, grapple with ambiguity and contradiction, and think critically and creatively is more essential than ever. Equally important is the willingness to venture beyond questions that lead to predetermined answers, asking instead questions that give rise to further inquiry and open new horizons of thought.

Alongside the cultivation of critical thinking skills and the development of a broad interdisciplinary perspective, the program places special emphasis on fostering a learning community that sustains an ongoing dialogue among scholars, disciplines, and diverse perspectives, while continuously reflecting upon and examining itself. We seek to create a space that encourages independent, critical, and creative thought in an era when the ability to interpret, exercise judgment, and formulate new questions is becoming more vital than ever.

Ronny Miron