Henry A. Fischel was a German-born American academic who served as a professor emeritus of Near Eastern languages and cultures at Indiana University. Born in Germany in 1913, he later immigrated to the United States, where he dedicated his professional life to higher education and the expansion of Near Eastern and Jewish academic studies.
Fischel's most enduring legacy is his foundational work for the Jewish Studies Program at Indiana University. Recognizing the need for a dedicated curriculum in this field, he actively pursued development opportunities for the institution. Under his direct guidance, the university successfully secured a significant grant from the Lilly Endowment during the 1972–1973 academic year, which allowed for the formal establishment and growth of the program.
Following his active teaching career, Fischel remained an influential figure within the university community. He continued to reside in Bloomington, Indiana, maintaining his connection to the academic environment he helped shape, until his death in March 2008.
