At the College of Charleston, everything Jewish happens under one roof, at the Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik Jewish Studies Center. From Kosher dining and our Jewish Studies Program with its three centers of Excellence (Center for Israel Studies, Center for Holocaust Studies, and Center for Southern Jewish Culture), to robust Jewish Student Life activities at Hillel – you can find it all here.
Every year, hundreds of Jewish students from all over the country choose the excellent academics, safe environment, and gorgeous setting, and enroll at the College of Charleston. Most of them, whether they major in business, psychology, education, international studies, or one of the many other majors and minors our College has to offer, take part in our programming. Some choose to be involved with Hillel. Others frequent our building, the Jewish Studies Center, for its cool atmosphere and great study spaces. And many also major or minor with us, taking advantage of the Best Second Major CofC has to offer.
We invite you to explore this website and other links we provide below, come visit us in Charleston, attend one of our meals, and contact us with any questions you may have:
Dr. Yaron Ayalon, Director of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, ayalony@cofc.edu; 843-953-7625
For information about applying to the College of Charleston, see here.
For details about financial aid, see here, and see below for information about scholarships offered via the Jewish Studies Program.
Want to know what you could study? What major/minor combinations are possible? Click here to find out.
At the College of Charleston, taking Jewish Studies courses fulfills two requirements at once: You can satisfy the College’s general education history, humanities, and language study requirements while earning another minor or even a major. See details here.
Take a virtual tour of the College of Charleston, or schedule one in-person – see here for details.
The College of Charleston Hillel is formally part of the Jewish Studies Program. This is the only Hillel in the country that is formally part of a Jewish Studies Program, and this unique arrangement brings with it many advantages. CofC Hillel operates out of the Jewish Studies Center on the corner of Wentworth and Glebe streets in historical downtown Charleston. The Center is the home to hundreds of Jewish students (and their many non-Jewish freinds!); it is where classes take place, our campus' kosher dining hall is located, meals are served, and holidays and other special events celebrated. We encourage you to visit us in person and fall in love with this place, just like all of us working here have before. Visit CofC Hillel's website to learn more!
Our brochure has more information about opportunities for students offered through the Jewish Studies Program.
See below or click here to download it to your computer.
The Perlmutter Fellows Program is currently transitioning from a 4-year to a 3-year program and is not accepting new applications.
Beginning the 2023-4 academic year, applications for the program will be accepted by CofC Freshmen only, to be admitted into the program during the spring semester for the following fall.
We invite you to return to this website in August 2023 for more information on the new application cycle.
Perlmutter Fellows is a four-year community leadership development and academic enhancement program designed to help students discover and develop an understanding of the many social justice issues plaguing our society. Run by the faculty of the Jewish Studies Program, Perlmutter Fellows begin their journey at CofC as freshmen selected via an application and an interview process.The Perlmutter Fellows Program is named in memory of former Jewish Studies Program Director, Dr. Martin Perlmutter, and his four decades of service to the College of Charleston.
Dr. Martin Perlmutter
Students chosen for the Perlmutter Fellows Program:
Spend their first year at CofC as part of a cohort of 5 high-achieving and community-oriented students who complement their academic studies with mentoring, professional development, and educational opportunities.
Focus on their social justice passion and further their training and professional development in that area in the remaining three years,
Meet several times a year for dinners with professors, communal leaders, and guest speakers. Meetings take place on the same day and time. Fellows are therefore required to keep that time slot free from other commitments (details are provided to Fellows before they register for fall courses).
Receive mentoring from faculty and community members, network to build relationships, and develop other skills.
Are eligible to apply for Discovery Awards, internal grants to support their educational and professional development throughout their time at CofC.
Participate in local, regional, and even international travel, as appropriate to their professional development trajectory.
Receive up to $10,000 per year toward the cost of their tuition (This award cannot be combined with any other merit based aid offered by the Office of Admissions).
Are Jewish Studies majors or minors. The Jewish Studies major is the most versatile program at CofC. It fits in as a second major with almost all other programs, and provides students with skills no other major can. Jewish Studies majors are also eligible for funding to offset the costs of studying abroad and additional funding within the Perlmutter Fellows Program. The Jewish Studies minor provides some of the same benefits in a more limited setting. It is merely 18 credit hours, made up of 1 required course and 5 electives, and can be mostly completed with courses that also count for the College's General Education requirements. Students who are Perlmutter Fellows must maintain good standing in either the Jewish Studies major or minor. They may pursue any other major/minor at the College in addition.
To apply:
There is no formal application. Send a one-page letter indicating why you are interested in the program and explaining your commitment to community service and engagement, social justice issues, and academic excellence, via email to Prof. Yaron Ayalon. Please direct questions about the program to Prof. Ayalon at ayalony@cofc.edu.
Applications are due by the first of February every year.
The Jewish Studies Program is committed to helping students interested in Judaism or of the Jewish faith to afford a College of Charleston education. Our goal is to make it possible for all Jewish students or those interested in Judaism/Jewish Studies to be able to come to CofC, and we do everything within our means to make this a possibility for our students every year, even as demand always exceeds resources.
Thanks to the generosity of members of our community, we are able to offer a number of scholarships. Most of our scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen and, assuming they still qualify (minimum GPA and other conditions), are renewed for the student's four years at the College. This means that, while all of our scholarships are open for application every cycle (the deadline is the first of February every year), in practice only a few of them are awarded to incoming freshmen each time, with the rest being offered to returning students. If nothing else is mentioned below, good standing for scholarhip purposes means maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Incoming and returning students are strongly encouraged to check the central scholarship application system of the College of Charleston, through which all applications are processed. Only scholarships accepting applications at any given year for which you qualify will appear in the system once you log in. The deadline for applications is February 1 or every year.
Our scholarships are a work in progress. If you are thinking about endowing a scholarship and benefitting from the College of Charleston's very generous matching program, or if you wish to support our students in other ways, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
The Jewish Studies Endowed Scholarship Fund
We are happy to announce a new and exciting opportunity to support and help bring more Jewish students to Charleston that does not require setting up an endowed scholarship. Even a modest $18 contribution will go a long way in making a CofC education affordable to more students. The Jewish Studies Endowed Scholarship Fund will not function as a regular scholarship. Rather, it is a growing resource that we will have at our disposal to match or beat scholarships & tuition offers from other universities so more students can afford to come here. There is no set amount this scholarship would pay per student. That would be determined on a case by case basis based on need and funding availability. Anyone can contribute to this fund. It's easy: Go here to make your donation, and choose "Jewish Studies Endowed Scholarship" from the dropdown menu. Your donation will be deposited directly in the the fund's account, and will help us attract more students already this year! You may also send a check to: Jewish Studies Program, 96 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC 29424 (if sending a check, please clearly indicate it is for the Jewish Studies Endowed Scholarship).
At the moment, our program offers the following scholarships. Please note that amounts change every time a scholarship is awarded based on funds available in its endowment and the status of the student receiving it (in or out of state, and other financial aid restrictions imposed by the College). In general, scholarships through the Jewish Studies Program range from $2000 to $10000/year per student.
Jewish Studies Scholarships:
Mark and Gayle Sloan Endowed Scholarship for Jewish Studies
The Sloan scholarship is open to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, with preference given to ... Jewish Studies majors & minors. Mark Sloan '77 is a graduate of the College of Charleston and a native of Myrtle Beach. He retired in 2019 as Senior Vice President of Investments at Wells Fargo and is an active member and officer in community organizations on the local and state level. Mark is particularly supportive of the cultural aspects of ]udaism and has identified combatting anti-Semitism as a key cause. Mark and Gayle's initiation of this scholarship fund represents their interest in supporting Jewish students at the College of Charleston and giving back to the institution that gave Mark his start.
Fay ('43) and Jack ('42) Brickman Endowed/Annual Scholarship
The Brickman Scholarship is awarded to a student involved in Hillel and/or a declared Jewish Studies ... major or minor. It is suited for a young man or woman with demonstrated financial need, a desire to achieve scholastically and who – through his or her leadership in community or civic service – has also demonstrated the attributes of character that will reflect positively on the namesakes of the scholarship. Established by Tippy Stern Brickman and Fay and Jack Brickman’s children in honor of Fay and Jack Brickman, the scholarship was created to celebrate their parents’ incredible lives, to honor their significant contributions to the family and the community, and to express how much their lives have touched their children, grandchildren, extended family members, and the community.The Brickman Scholarship provides scholarships for students who demonstrate financial need according to the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs at the College of Charleston.
Gerald and Beth Polis Endowed/Annual Scholarship
Established in 2015 by CofC alumnus Jerry Polis ’62 and his wife Beth, the Polis Endowed Scholarship ... provides a need-based scholarship to students who demonstrate an intention to participate in student life aspects of the Jewish Studies Program, and who have demonstrated a commitment to social justice. Preference will be given to applicants who are students of the Jewish faith. The Polis Endowed Scholarship is awarded to one freshman student every four years, who will receive a fixed award per year for up to 4 years so long as that student remains in good standing and with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Israel and Edith Altman Family Endowed/Annual Scholarship for Jewish Studies
Preference is given to a student of the Jewish faith who is a non-resident of South Carolina. Arlene Altman..., Charles Altman, and Sam Altman have established two scholarships at the College of Charleston in honor and in memory of their parents, Edith and Israel Altman. Edith and Israel Altman were immigrants arriving into the United States of America in 1920; she from the Ukraine, and he from Poland. Israel Altman established a furniture business with his brothers, which operated in downtown Charleston under the name of Altman’s Furniture Company from 1928 to 2005, and Charles Realty Company, Inc. The business was supported by a variety of customers including those from the African American community. Israel and Edith Altman were married in 1939, were active in Synagogue Emanu-EL, and were very observant in their Jewish Faith. Their faith played a major part in their lives, in how they ran their business, and the guidance they provided to their children and grandchildren. Education was important, as neither had the means to attend a school of higher education.
Jean S. Rosner Endowed/Annual Scholarship
Established in 2017, the Rosner Endowed Scholarship provides a merit-based scholarship for out-of-state ...students. Preference will be given to applicants who are students of the Jewish faith. The Rosner Endowed Scholarship is awarded to one freshman student every four years, who may continue to receive it as long as College requirements are met.
Leo E. and Helen H. Reese Scholarship
Created in memory of Leo E. and Helen R. Reese, this scholarship will be awarded to ...students in good standing with the College, with preference given to students involved with Jewish activities and programs on campus (Jewish Student Life or academic activities within the Jewish Studies Program) and within the greater Charleston community. Preference is also given to students of the Jewish faith.
Lillian and Jack Leff Endowed/Annual Scholarship
The Lillian and Jack Leff Endowed Scholarship is a 4-year scholarshiop for an incoming freshman from ...out-of-state who qualifies for scholarship assistance based on financial need or merit and has (and then maintains) an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Preference given to students of Jewish faith.Terrill “Terry” Leff, his sister Elaine, and his brother Daniel have created this scholarship to assist Jewish students in the Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston. Their parents, Lillian and Jack Leff were active members of Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue in Charleston. They were married for 56 years. Jack was employed by Kerrisons in the shoe department for many years. Lilly was a wonderful homemaker. Jack passed away in 1999. Lillian passed away in 2007. This scholarship is in loving memory of Lillian and Jack and forever honors their legacy and the Jewish faith and heritage they instilled in their family.
Melrod Family Endowed Scholarship
The Melrod Family Endowed Scholarship was established to provide four-year scholarships to a student ...who is an incoming freshman demonstrating merit from outside South Carolina. Renewal of the scholarship for up to 3 additional years is contingent upon maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to students of the Jewish faith. Daniel Melrod earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law. He currently serves as Chairman of JP Metz, a real estate investment and advisory firm in Bethesda, Maryland. Mr. Melrod and his wife, Grace, have long supported Jewish causes and wish to honor their son Gabriel Melrod, who graduated from the College of Charleston. Their family values higher education and wishes to help the College of Charleston recruit more outstanding out-of-state Jewish students. This is a new scholarship that has not yet been awarded. Check back here for information about the 2022 cycle.
Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Endowed Scholarship
The Arnold Scholarship is for incoming freshmen who are out-of-state students. The award is renewable ...for up to three additional years as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA or higher. Norman Arnold, born in 1929, spent his early years in Charleston before the Arnold Family moved to Columbia. He attended college at Oglethorpe University outside Atlanta and after graduation returned to Columbia to join the Ben Arnold Company, a distributing business that his grandfather Isaac Ginsberg founded in 1907. Throughout his success, he drew strength from his wife of over forty years, Gerry Sue, as has she from him. The couple met in Atlanta, where Gerry Sue was born and raised, and where they were married in 1963. At the time they met, Gerry Sue, who holds a B.A. in Radio and Television Marketing from the University of Miami, was working for her father’s advertising agency. They lived in Columbia where they raised their three sons, Ben Daniel Arnold, Michael Siegel Arnold, and David Ginsberg Arnold. Both Norman and Gerry Sue come from families that placed great emphasis on being involved with their synagogues as well as contributing to and being active in Jewish causes. Gerry Sue’s father, Harry L. Siegel, was president of their synagogue, Ahavath Achim, and was active in Jewish community affairs. Norman’s father was active in the American Zionist movement, a member of Synagogue Ema nu-El in Charleston, and a leader in South Carolina’s Jewish community. In addition to being founding and lifetime members of the Jewish Studies Advisory Board at the College of Charleston, the Arnolds have donated well over $2 million to various aspects of the Jewish Studies Program. Their philanthropic gifts include the Arnold Center for Israel Studies, a distinguished visiting chair in Jewish Studies, Marty’s Place, and significant endowment support which led to the program being named after them. Norman’s Patio was named after Mr. Arnold in recognition of his lifelong philanthropy. Norman passed away in August 2016 at the age of 86.
Raymond and Florence Stern Endowed Scholarship
The Stern Scholarship is for students who are Jewish Studies majors or minors, have a GPA of ...3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need. Preference is given to students from a rural town in South Carolina or another state. Raymond and Florence Stern were shining examples of South Carolina’s small-town Jewish citizens who balanced commitments to their families, their communities, and their Jewish heritage. Raymond was raised in Andrews, South Carolina, where his family constituted the majority of the town’s Jewish population. His parents opened a clothing store, and were part of a loose network of Jewish merchants in small towns throughout the state. After attending the University of South Carolina and serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, he met and married his wife Florence. He remained active in the Air Force Reserves, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel and serving as a recruiter for the Air Force Academy, visiting rural SC high schools to encourage students to consider the Academy. In addition to maintaining the family store in Andrews, Raymond took a second job as a rural mailman to support the college educations of his children. Florence Harris Stern was a life-long student who was passionate about education, family, culture, and improving the lives of others. Although she was raised in New Jersey and South Florida, she spent the majority of her life in South Carolina. The Sterns started their family in Andrews, moving to Georgetown a few years later. While living in Georgetown, the Sterns were active in the small local synagogue, and exposed their children to Jewish learning by driving them every weekend to Charleston for Sunday school at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim. The family later moved to Charleston, and their two sons attended Addlestone Hebrew Academy. In their retirement years, Florence and Raymond took advantage of learning opportunities at the College of Charleston, especially the Jewish Studies Program. The Stern family has endowed this scholarship to honor Florence and Raymond’s love of Charleston, Jewish education, and helping others.
S.S. Solomons Scholarship
Established in 1957 by the estate of Zipporah M. Solomons, the S.S.Solomons Scholarship assists students ...at the College of Charleston with financial need. Preference is given to students of the Jewish faith who demonstrate financial need. This scholarship typically supports 3-4 students a year, and, unlike our other scholarships, is a one-time scholarship that is not automatically renewable even if a student is in good standing. Most recipients keep the Solomons scholarship for one or two years, and should not expect to hold it for the entirety of their time in College.
Matched endowed scholarship opportunited are still available! The College and the Jewish Studies Program will match Jewish Studies scholarships by a 1:3 ratio, meaning that an endowed scholarship of $50,000 that produces about $2500 a year will now award $10,000 per year, or up to $40000 for the 4 years a student spends at CofC. For details about both opportunities, contact Program Director Dr. Ayalon.
