Jack Jacobs

Jack Jacobs is a Professor of Political Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the CUNY Graduate Center. He holds a PhD from Columbia University and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Columbia. His research focuses on antisemitism, Jewish leftist politics, critical theory, and the history of socialist ideas. Jacobs has authored influential works such as Bundist Counterculture in Interwar Poland and The Frankfurt School, Jewish Lives, and Antisemitism, and his scholarship has been translated into multiple languages.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science, Columbia University
• MPhil, Columbia University
• MA, Columbia University
• BA, The State University of New York at Binghamton

His research explores intersections of Jewish identity, political movements, and ideological debates. Notable projects include studies on the Jewish Workers' Bund in interwar Poland and critical analyses of the Frankfurt School’s engagement with antisemitism and Jewish identity. Jacobs has delivered lectures globally and held prestigious visiting positions, including at Tel Aviv University, Leipzig University, and the University of Michigan.

Awards & Visiting Roles:

• Visiting Fellow, British Academy (2018)
• Jacob Kronhill Visiting Professor, YIVO Institute (2017)
• Louis and Helen Padnos Visiting Professor, University of Michigan (2016)
• Fulbright Fellowships (2009, 1996-1997)

He has secured grants from organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities, ACLS, and the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. His work bridges academic rigor with public engagement through media interviews, podcasts, and lectures on topics such as Jewish leftist politics and antisemitism’s evolution.