Hillel J. Kieval

Hillel J. Kieval is Professor Emeritus of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies and History at Washington University in St. Louis, holding the Gloria M. Goldstein Chair in Jewish History and Thought. He holds dual appointments in the Department of History and the Department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies. His expertise spans Jewish cultural and social transformations in Central and Eastern Europe from the Enlightenment to WWII, with a focus on nationalism, antisemitism, and ritual murder trials.

Education: PhD, AM, and AB in History from Harvard University (1981, 1975, 1973). Former academic leadership includes Department Chair roles at both JIMES and History (2004–2009, 2012–2015, 2018–2020) and Directorships of Jewish Studies programs. Global affiliations include visiting professorships at Charles University (Czech Republic), Hebrew University (Jerusalem), and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris).

Research interests include Jewish acculturation, nationalism’s impact on Jewish identities, modern antisemitism, and the phenomenology of ritual murder trials. Key works include Blood Inscriptions (2022), Prague and Beyond (2021), and The Making of Czech Jewry (1988). His recent scholarship analyzes how scientific discourse shaped modern ritual murder accusations in Europe.

Recognitions include the Silver Medal from Charles University (2022), American Academy of Jewish Research Fellowship (2022), and the Stanley Z. Pech Award (1994). His teaching spans medieval to modern European Jewish history, with courses on antisemitism, Holocaust studies, and cultural mediation. Active in editorial roles for journals like AJS Review and Jewish Social Studies.

Professional service includes advisory roles for the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and leadership in organizations such as the Czech and Slovak History Association. His work bridges historical scholarship, cultural critique, and institutional leadership in Jewish studies.