John: The life and times of the ‘maverick’ Gospel
In her new book, Kim Haines-Eitzen explores the fourth Gospel of the New Testament, which holds many of the Bible’s most well-known passages but is also at the root of many controversies.
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Near Eastern Studies News
Brann's book finalist in 2025 National Jewish Book Award in Sephardic Culture
Brann's book is finalist for 2025 National Jewish Book Award in Sephardic Culture.
Composer Michael Abels, famous for work on Jordan Peele films, to visit March 6-7
Events include film screenings, panel discussions and a concert by the Barbara & Richard T. Silver Wind Symphony.
Cornell's Alma Mater in Urdu
The Language Resource Center's eighth annual Lingua Mater competition just wrapped up, and they have announced the top three student entries.
Alum spotlight: Ibrahim Gemeah, Ph.D. ’23
Ibrahim Gemeah, Ph.D. ’23, is an alumnus of the Near Eastern studies doctoral program with a focus on the history of the modern Middle East. He is now an assistant professor of modern Middle East and North African history in the department of Middle Eastern languages and cultures at Indiana University.
#RaptureTok and the history of end-times beliefs: Cornell religion expert
Apocalyptic predictions are "far from new, but social media has whipped up a frenzy," says Cornell religion expert Kim Haines-Eitzen.
Einaudi welcomes SWANA Program
The Einaudi Center welcomes the Southwest Asia and North Africa Program and four new program directors this fall.
Alumni Spotlight: D. Gershon Lewental '03
"Without question, my years as an NES major had an enormous impact on my career path, my scholarship, and my teaching," says Dr. Lewental of his time at Cornell.
Near Eastern Studies Events
Feb
21
Saturday
08:30 AM
Medieval Studies Student Colloquium (MSSC)
A. D. White House
Feb
23
Monday
05:00 PM
John Baines - "Egyptology and the social sciences: two moving targets"
A. D. White House
Guerlac Room
Mar
05
Thursday
04:45 PM
Major in Near Eastern studies
Interested in exploring the languages, literatures, cultures, religions, and history of the Middle East from antiquity to the modern day? Consider pursuing a major in Near Eastern studies.
Study a Middle Eastern language
Take Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, or Persian to fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences language requirement!
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What is the "Near East"?
The Near East is an older term for the Middle East. As defined by the department, the “Near East” extends from Morocco (and medieval Spain), through Egypt, the Levant (Israel and Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan), Turkey, Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Faculty specializing in the earliest millennia of the region’s history bring a range of disciplines, methods and theoretical orientations to bear on the study of what is conventionally called the ancient Near East. Geographically, our vision is wide, extending from the shores of the eastern Mediterranean to the lowlands of Mesopotamia, from the highlands of Anatolia and the Caucasus to the plains of southwestern Iran.
The study of the Middle East and North Africa at Cornell includes the full geographic and temporal sweep from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to modern Turkey and Morocco. Our interdisciplinary faculty are committed to research that explores the rich history of the region, the diversity of languages and literatures, and religious, social, political, and cultural dimensions across time and place.