EAJS Conference Grant Program in Jewish Studies
Report
The Trilateral PhD Workshop in Central and Eastern European Jewish History and Culture
Wrocław, Poland
October 24-25, 2024
Event Rationale and Goals
The Trilateral PhD Workshop in Central and Eastern European Jewish History and Culture brought together doctoral students and senior scholars from Wrocław (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic) and Leipzig (Germany) for in-depth discussions of ongoing research projects and mentoring. The workshop took place over two days, October 24-25, 2024, at the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław. Two doctoral students from each participating Jewish Studies center took part, totaling six doctoral students. One senior scholar came from Germany, and two from the Czech Republic. The discussion was also attended by additional participants invited from the Taube Department of Jewish Studies (doctoral students and researchers), as it was the organizing institution.
The aim of this intimate format was to create an intensive work atmosphere and facilitate an exchange that would not only advance the research of young scholars but also foster the establishment of international academic relationships among the new generation of researchers in Jewish Studies. The collaborating institutions—the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław, the Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow, the Department of Middle Eastern Studies / Prague Center for Jewish Studies at Charles University, and the Institute of Contemporary History at the Czech Academy of Sciences—are among the most important centers for Jewish Studies in East-Central Europe. The workshop proved successful in deepening the cooperation between the partners institutions. The discussions centered around doctoral researchers’ current topics also led an exchange on the various experiences as supervisors.
Overview of the sections and papers
The workshop was not intended to focus on a strictly defined topic. The only framework for the presented projects was the history and culture of Jews in Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore, the program included both literary (2) and historical (4) topics, covering the period from the Middle Ages to the period after World War II. The workshop had the following formula: a 20-minute presentation by the PhD student, a 10-minute commentary by a specialist, and a half-hour discussion by all participants. Each senior scholar received in advance a presentation of the doctoral student whose speech they were commenting on. All participants received abstracts of the presentations. This was an important element in preparing for the discussion.
Most doctoral students presented a selected aspect, a case study from their research work, but referred to the structure and issues of the entire dissertation. The most frequently raised issues during the discussions were: methodological problems, selection of sources, the thesis of the dissertation. As part of the workshop, in addition to the presentations by doctoral students, there was a public lecture: Jewish Elites in Breslau, 1860–1933 by Professor Tim Buchen from the Department of Judaic Studies at the University of Wrocław, which was open to doctoral students from the entire Faculty of Philology at the University of Wrocław. The lecture presented the issue of the advancement of Breslau Jews to high positions in politics, science, business and health care from the end of the emancipation process to 1933. Using the example of significant families, the history of several generations and their decisions regarding formal education, career strategies, networking through membership in clubs, parties and associations was presented. The lecture aimed to indicate which Jewish citizens and in what way were able to use emancipation and the Prussian education system and rights to advance to leading positions in society. How they were able to benefit from Jewish educational norms and traditions and from social support, and also how these norms were transformed.
The following presentations by doctoral students were given:
Justyna Lisak (Taube Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław): An Image of Body and Corporeality in Jewish Press and Literature Published in the Territories of German and Austrian Partitions between 1880 and 1939 / Comments by dr. Mariusz Kałczewiak (Universität Potsdam / University of Wrocław)
Iryna Vikyrchak (Taube Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław): Rose Ausländer’s Author Identity in the Context of Her Multilingualism / Comments by dr. Jakob Stürmann (Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow)
Margerita Lerman (Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow): Networks in Gray Zones. Delinquency and Jewish Actors in the Habsburg Empire, 1860s-1910s / Comments by Prof. Pavel Sládek (Department of Middle Eastern Studies, Charles University)
Aleksandra Bandl (Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow): The Anti-Zionist Plot in Hungary in 1953 / Comments by: Prof. Kateřina Čapková (Institute of Contemporary History, Czech Academy of Sciences
Kajetán Holeček (Department of Middle Eastern Studies, Charles University): Jew-less Space: The Absence of Jews in Eger (Cheb) During the Middle Ages / Comments by Prof. Marcin Wodziński (Taube Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław)
Luboš Felgr (Department of Middle Eastern Studies, Charles University): People with Only One Jewish Parent in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia / Commented by Prof. Tim Buchen (Taube Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
The final programme of the event
October 24
14:00 – Welcoming Workshop Participants (Wojciech Tworek, PhD)
14:15–15:15 – Justyna Lisak: An Image of Body and Corporeality in Jewish Press and Literature Published in the Territories of German and Austrian Partitions between 1880 and 1939 / Comments: dr. Mariusz Kałczewiak
15:15–16:15 – Iryna Vikyrchak: Rose Ausländer’s Author Identity in the Context of Her Multilingualism / Comments: dr. Jakob Stürmann
16:45–17:45 – Margerita Lerman: Networks in Gray Zones. Delinquency and Jewish Actors in the Habsburg Empire, 1860s-1910s / Comments: Prof. Pavel Sládek
18:00–19:30 – Public Lecture: Prof. Tim Buchen, Jewish Elites in Breslau, 1860–1933
20:00 Dinner
October 25
09:00–10:00 – Aleksandra Bandl: The Anti-Zionist Plot in Hungary in 1953 / Comments: Prof. Kateřina Čapková
10:00–11:00 – Kajetán Holeček: Jew-less Space: The Absence of Jews in Eger (Cheb) During the Middle Ages / Comments: Prof. Marcin Wodziński
11:15–12:15 – Luboš Felgr: People with Only One Jewish Parent in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia / Comments: Prof. Tim Buchen
12:15–12:30 – Summary and Conclusion of the Workshop