A major turning point for the Institute came with Columbia’s receipt of a $1.5 million Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in 1977. This was the largest NEH award in the country at the time and it was a significant endorsement of Columbia’s investment in the humanities. Crucially, a substantial portion of the grant was earmarked for Jewish Studies. In addition to the government’s contributions, Columbia launched a campaign to match the donation, raising funds from private donors. The funds were intended to permanently fund professorships, graduate fellowships, public programming, and research infrastructure - including in the library!

A 1977 fundraising pamphlet created by the university’s trustees and leaders of the Center offers a useful glimpse into their vision for the future of Jewish Studies at Columbia. The pamphlet describes Jewish Studies as an intrinsically interdisciplinary endeavor that would be enriched by working with several other departments. Quoting Professor Salo Baron, the pamphlet emphasizes that Jewish Studies must integrate history, political science, sociology, philology, and literature. 

Many plans were made as part of the fundraising effort, including for a possible standalone building for Jewish Studies adjacent to the International Affairs Building, in the location where the Casa Italiana is today.