EAJS Administrator

Conference. Grey Areas: Two Centuries of Wissenschaft des Judentums. Heidelberg, 16-19 June 2019.

May 21, 2019 by EAJS Administrator

Grey Areas: Two Centuries of Wissenschaft des Judentums
Conference in Heidelberg, 16-19 June 2019

In 2019 the Wissenschaft des Judentums celebrates its bicentennial as a discipline.

The path pioneered by young Jewish intellectuals discussing the Wissenschaft des Judentums in Berlin during the fall of 1819 to today’s Jüdischen Studien, despite the break of the years 1933-1945, should be understood as a success story. However, unfinished approaches, unanswered questions, frustrated careers and forgotten achievements, as well as a multitude of unresolved issues other disciplines have in relation to Jewish studies and Judaism, still remain problematic.

The Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg, which also celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2019, pays special attention to these grey areas and, together with the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg and the Verband der Judaisten in Deutschland, invites those interested to a Conference in June 16-19th, 2019 in Heidelberg.

The conference is sponsored by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation.

We cordially invite you to participate in the conference.
Information on the program and registration can be found here: https://wdj200.unikt-kongresse.de/

Summer Programme for Masters and Doctoral Students. “Modern Jewish History and Culture in German/Slavic Contact Zones”.

May 17, 2019 by EAJS Administrator

MODERN JEWISH HISTORY AND CULTURE IN GERMAN/SLAVIC CONTACT ZONES

Joint undertaking by the

BKM-Assistant Professorship in Social and Economic Networks of Germans in Modern Eastern Europe at TU Dresden

and the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at Wrocław University

7–20 July, 2019

The history of Central and Eastern Europe is marked by multiple cultural contacts, transfers, and conflicts within and between linguistic milieus and traditions. Due to multilingualism, considerable spatial and social mobility, and transnational networks, many Jews and Jewish communities played a special role in processes of contact and communication. Yet the idea of a profound divide between East European and German Jewish culture still informs current academia and obscures the understanding of the dynamics in Jewish culture of East Central Europe and beyond. This dynamic finds its most paradigmatic expression in cultural and language contacts. Yiddish language and culture, for example, were influenced by Germanic and Slavonic languages and cultures on the one hand, but simultaneously influenced those languages and cultures on the other. These influences and interactions are the premise of the summer program.

Participants will examine these issues in depth during seminars and World Cafe discussions with outstanding scholars of Jewish history and culture. The emphasis is on small groups and individual contact with experienced scholars working with primary source materials (all in English translation), and Yiddish immersion language courses. Participants are encouraged to present their current or planned projects.

The summer program is targeted at masters and doctoral students, but is also open to emerging scholars in the humanities and social sciences. It is a joint undertaking by the BKM-Assistant Professorship in Social and Economic Networks of Germans in Modern Eastern Europe at TU Dresden and the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at Wrocław University, and is financed by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media. The entire program will be conducted in English.

The program offers four modules daily, three compulsory and one optional. The first module from 9:00-10:30 am consists of Yiddish language classes in small groups. The second module from 11:00-12:30 is a lecture for all participants that is also open to other academic participants. After the lunch break, participants will attend a third module from 14:30-16:00 with a narrower focus. The fourth, optional, block in the early evening will offer specially selected guest lecturers, thematic tours, and film screenings. The program ends with diplomas presented during an official closing ceremony.

What the program offers:

Lectures and seminars with renown specialists including Prof. Michael Brenner (LMU-Munich/American University), Prof. Tim Buchen(TU Dresden), Prof. KateřinaČapková, (New York University), Prof. Moshe Rosman (Bar Ilan University), Dr MałgorzataStolarska-Fronia, (Polish Academy of Sciences), Dr Karolina Szymaniak(University of Wrocław), Dr. MarcVolovici (Birkbeck College, London), Prof. Marcin Wodzinski (University of Wrocław), and others.
Day trip with an expert guide to Jewish Prague including the Jewish Museum and cemetery
Guided tours and daily events
Dormitory accommodations in Dresdenand Wrocław included in the fee
Transportation between Dresden and Wroclaw by coach
6 ECTS credit points will be awarded to qualifying participants
Program certificate

Cost:

390 euro full price
190 euro student discount price
90 euro for participants granted financial aid from the program organizers

Insurance is not included. Participants must provide their own policy.

In order to apply, please submit:

Motivation letter, including first and last names, postal address, date of birth, short bio information
An abstract of your MA or PhD thesis or current research project, if applicable
Indicate whether you would like to apply for a scholarship. If so, please provide an academic letter of recommendation
Scan of current student ID and university affiliation, if applicable

Applications are to be submitted by 30 May to jewish-historyandculture2019@mailbox.tu-dresden.de

Decisions regarding acceptance and scholarships will be announced by 10 June 2019.

New Position. Project staff member for project “Footprints in Frankfurt: Provenance of Early Hebraica at the Library of the Goethe University”. Goethe-University Frankfurt. (Announcement in German with abridged English translation)

May 15, 2019 by EAJS Administrator

Die Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n

Projektmitarbeiter/in
(EG 13 TV-G-U)

für das Projekt „Footprints in Frankfurt: Provenance of Early Hebraica in the Library of the Goethe University”. Die Stelle ist auf 6 Monate Vollzeit oder 1 Jahr Teilzeit (halbe Stelle) befristet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den Tätigkeitsmerkmalen des für die Goethe- Universität geltenden Tarifvertrags (TV-G-U).

Das Projekt „Footprints in Frankfurt“ ist ein Kooperationsprojekt der UB JCS mit den Vertretern des Webportals Footprints: Jewish Books Through Time and Place, (https://footprints.ccnmtl.columbia.edu), das an der Columbia University New York angesiedelt ist. Das Webportal erforscht die Geschichte einzelner hebräischer Buchexemplare seit Beginn des Buchdrucks. Das Frankfurter Projekt soll Informationen zur Materialität der historischen jiddischen und hebräischen Buchbestände der UB bis 1800 festhalten und Kenntnisse über die Provenienz und Besitzgeschichte, Eintragungen und spezifischen Merkmalen gewinnen. Damit gewinnt dieses Projekt Informationen über die konkrete Geschichte der einzelnen Exemplare und erforscht die Rezeptionsgeschichte des Wissenstransfers. Die Informationen werden sowohl in die Footprint-Datenbanken als auch in den Katalog der UB und das Fachportal Jüdische Studien (www.jewishstudies.de) eingetragen.

Ihre Aufgaben sind:

Prüfung der historischen hebräischen und jiddischen Buchbestände vor 1800 in der UB und Zusammenstellung einer aktualisierten Aufstellung
Untersuchung der hebräischen Drucke bis 1800 und Erfassung der sichtbaren Spuren
Untersuchung der jiddischen Drucke bis 1800 und Erfassung der sichtbaren Spuren
Eingabe der erfassten Daten sowohl in das Webportal Footprints als auch in den Katalog der UB. (Hierzu erfolgen entsprechende Anleitungen).
Veröffentlichung und Präsentationen der Resultate

Voraussetzungen

abgeschlossenes wissenschaftliches Hochschulstudium im Bereich der Judaistik, Jüdische Studien, Geisteswissenschaften oder ein vergleichbares Studium
ein abgeschlossenes Promotionsverfahren ist wünschenswert
Beherrschung der hebräischen Sprache in Wort und Schrift
Beherrschung der jiddischen Sprache ist wünschenswert
Erfahrung in der Bearbeitung historischer Buchbestände
Affinität zur Bibliotheksthematik und die Bereitschaft sich in diese (Erfassung von Metadaten und Standards) auch inhaltlich einzuarbeiten

Erwartet werden weiterhin ein sicherer Umgang mit digitalen Medien, Teamfähigkeit und die Bereitschaft, sich den Organisationsformen in der Bibliothek anzupassen.

Schriftliche Bewerbungen mit den üblichen Bewerbungsunterlagen (insb. Qualifikationsnachweise sowie Referenzen) richten Sie bitte bis zum 05. 06. 2019 unter Angabe der Kennziffer 21/2019 an den: Direktor der Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg, Bockenheimer Landstraße 134-138, 60325 Frankfurt am Main oder per E-Mail an: jobs@ub.uni-frankfurt.de. Bitte senden Sie keine Originalunterlagen zu, da eine Rücksendung nicht erfolgt.

The University Library JCS of the Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main is looking for a Project staff for the project Footprints in Frankfurt: Provenance of Early Hebraica at the Library of the Goethe University. The position is limited to 6 months full time or 1 year half time, the salary is according to the rules of the collective work agreement applicable to the Goethe University (TV-G-U).

The project Footprints in Frankfurt is a cooperative project of the UB JCS and the portal Footprints: Jewish Books through Time and Place, (https://footprints.ccnmtl.columbia.edu). The Footprints database explores the history of individual book copies in Hebrew letters since the beginning of printing. With the project in Frankfurt details on the materiality of the historical book holdings of the University Library up to 1800 in Hebrew and Yiddish will be recorded and thus knowledge of the provenance and ownership history, entries and specific characteristics gained. This will promote both the knowledge of the specific history of the individual copy as well as the reception history of knowledge transfer. The information will be recorded both in the Footprints database as well as in the catalog of the UB and the special portal of the Specialised Information Service Jewish Studies (www.jewishstudies.de).

The scholar is expected to review the historical Hebrew and Yiddish books before 1800 in the Library and compile updated lists of the holdings; to check the Hebrew and Yiddish books until 1800 and record all visible traces and material characteristics; to record the data into both the Footprints database and the Library catalogue and to present the results at conferences and workshops.

Requirements are:

Completed academic studies in the field of Jewish studies, History or a comparable degree, preferable a PhD diploma; Fluency in German; knowledge of Hebrew and eventually Yiddish; experience in historical book research and interest in the work processes of a library, data management as well as readiness to learn about metadata standards and indexing.

Candidates are expected to have experience in working with digital media, dedication to teamwork and willingness to integrate into the workflow of the library.

Online Course. Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: Modern Challenges. Woolf Institute, Cambridge. Closing date for applications: 1 August 2019

May 13, 2019 by EAJS Administrator

Woolf Institute: Improving relations between religion & Society through education

Online Course: Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: Modern Challenges

The Woolf Institute (Cambridge) is delighted to announce that applications are now being accepted for the online course, Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: Modern Challenges.

Running for the 9^th year, this timely course focuses on the relationships between Jews, Christians and Muslims in modern Europe and in European history. The course is multidisciplinary and examines historical trends, religious and cultural interaction, and issues of contemporary citizenship.

The course will be led by Dr Gorazd Andrejč with contributions from Dr Esther-Miriam Wagner, Dr Katherine O’Lone and Tobias Müller. For more information on the topics covered, the structure of the course and the application details, visit the webpage: https://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/study/online-courses/jews-christians-and-muslims-in-europe-modern-challenges

The online learning approach allows participants to study wherever and whenever they choose via the internet. You can engage with fellow participants from all over the world. Many participants from across Europe and around the world – Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States – have already taken this course.

The closing date for applications is 1 August 2019. The course commences, with the online Induction Week, on Monday 2 September 2019. The application form is available to download at https://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/study/online-courses/jews-christians-and-muslims-in-europe-modern-challenges.

The course fee is £385. A limited number of bursaries are available.

If you have any queries about the course, contact Dr Emma Harris, Director of Studies, at eth22@cam.ac.uk.

Cambridge Summer Modern Hebrew Ulpan. The Cambridge Centre for Modern Hebrew Studies. Application deadline: 14 June 2019.

May 7, 2019 by EAJS Administrator

Cambridge Summer Modern Hebrew Ulpan.

The Cambridge Centre for Modern Hebrew Studies

The Cambridge Centre for Modern Hebrew Studies invites applications for this year’s Cambridge Summer Modern Hebrew Ulpan (intensive immersion course), taking place at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, 1–12 July 2019 (with orientation on the afternoon of Sunday, 30 June 2019).

Tuition will involve two weeks of 4+-hour immersion-style lessons accompanied by afternoon activities (visits, films, lectures, outings). Multiple levels will be offered. NO PREVIOUS HEBREW KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED FOR THE BEGINNERS’ LEVEL.

Learning a foreign language is challenging, but immensely rewarding. It gives you not only access into a new world—people, places, culture, history, and world view—but also new perspective on the world you already know, even the chance to form a new identity. This is true when learning any new language, but the effects are arguably more profound in the case of a language like Hebrew—both a vibrantly dynamic and amazingly flexible modern language of everyday use and high culture and an ancient tongue whose writings are rich in history, artistry, thought, and spirituality. Few modern languages boast a literary repertoire as influential as Hebrew’s has been throughout the course of human history. And no ancient language has enjoyed more success in terms of revival as a mother tongue. Whatever your background, however much you may know or not know about Hebrew and its literature, whatever your interests in the language and culture of Israel, and whatever you may see yourself doing with this training in future, we invite you to consider entering into the world of Hebrew—in all its wealth, depth, and vitality.

Special note for students of (or others interested in) classical/ancient/Biblical Hebrew: Modern Hebrew differs in important ways from ancient Hebrew. However, there is a great deal of overlap, e.g., alphabet and writing system, word formation, phrase and sentence structure, and vocabulary. For this reason, and because Modern Hebrew is a living vehicle of communication that can be internalised and actively used, its study is very beneficial for people interested in ancient forms of the language, whether as an entry point, as a means for moving from mere deciphering and parsing to fluent reading and understanding, or to access Hebrew sources and Israeli scholarship.

For course and accommodation details and the downloadable application form, please go to https://www.ames.cam.ac.uk/whats-on/summer-modern-hebrew-ulpan-2019 . Queries may be sent toulpan@ames.cam.ac.uk. Applications should be received by Friday, 14th June, 2019.

Course organisers: Aaron Hornkohl & Magdalen Connolly