Jeffrey Haus

Jeffrey Haus is a Professor of History and Religion at Kalamazoo College, where he has served since 2005. He chairs the Religion Department and founded the College’s Jewish Studies Program, which he currently directs. His expertise focuses on the history of Jews in modern France, particularly the interplay between Jewish communal institutions and broader societal influences.

Dr. Haus holds a PhD from Brandeis University and a BA from the University of Michigan. His research explores topics such as Jewish education, philanthropy, death rituals, and diaspora representation in film. He authored Challenges of Equality: Judaism, State, and Education in Nineteenth-Century France (2009) and contributed to edited volumes and journals like Jewish Film & New Media and CCAR Journal.

His teaching encompasses Jewish history, ritual traditions, European and American Jewish experiences, women in Judaism, Zionism, and Jews in cinema. He actively engages in community outreach through speaking engagements and serves as a reviewer for CHOICE magazine. His recent work analyzes Jewish diaspora themes in Frank Capra’s films, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to cultural history.