Cambridge Appoints First Jewish Scholar to Hebrew Chair in University’s 500-Year History

In a historic milestone, Cambridge University’s prestigious Regius Professorship of Hebrew, established by King Henry VIII in 1540, will be occupied by a practicing Jewish scholar for the first time in its nearly 500-year history when Professor Aaron Koller assumes the role next semester, as reported by The Commentator on May 23, 2025. Koller, currently a professor at Yeshiva University in New York, will bring his expertise in biblical and Semitic studies to Cambridge, in a significant departure from the position’s traditionally Anglican roots. The appointment also points to a extensive change in academic inclusivity at one of the world’s oldest universities.

The Regius Professorship was created during a time when Jews were barred from England following their expulsion in 1290 under Edward I, a ban that persisted until the mid-17th century. Even after Jews were readmitted, religious tests mandated by British universities until the University Tests Act of 1871 excluded non-Anglicans from professorships at Oxford and Cambridge.

Koller noted, “It was pretty clearly, not officially, but very clearly meant for an Anglican professor of the Old Testament.” Unwritten traditions continued to favour Anglican scholars, but Koller credits his predecessor, Geoffrey Khan, a scholar of Semitic languages with British, Indian, and Iranian ancestry, for moving the role away from its Anglican exclusivity.

Koller, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies and a PhD in biblical and Semitic studies (2009), has taught at Yeshiva University since 2005. With fellowships at Oxford and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he has authored four books, edited five, and published over 25 scholarly articles, specializing in languages like Aramaic, Egyptian, and Greek. At Cambridge, Koller plans to leverage the university’s Cairo Genizah collection, a trove of ancient and medieval Jewish manuscripts, to advance his research.

He expressed excitement about the move, saying, “Cambridge is a magical place. The lifestyle is as different from New York as you can imagine… The university also values academics, both research and teaching, above all.”

Koller’s appointment is a landmark for Jewish representation, though he acknowledged remaining gaps, stating, “There still hasn’t been a woman in the position. That’s yet to be solved.” His vision includes promoting Hebrew studies as universally significant, noting, “No one thinks that Greek studies would only be for Greeks… It’s for any given person, [they] will find something interesting here.”