Branching Out. Diversity of Jewish Studies
Twelfth
EAJS Congress
Jewish
Studies is – and has been since Leopold Zunz’ Etwas über die rabbinische Literatur – a multi-disciplinary field
that brings together scholars, topics, and methods from across many academic
disciplines. Even the shortest definitions of Jewish Studies mention that it is
concerned with the study of the history, culture and religion of Jews
throughout time; more detailed descriptions also mention fields such as
anthropology, archaeology, ethnic studies, languages, political science,
sociology, women’s studies, and others. Diversity is a prerequisite for
academic Jewish Studies which draw on a wide array of different sources and
work on a multitude of dissimilar questions.
Jewish
Studies scholars do not only use interdisciplinary methods, but are also involved
in multi-disciplinary networks, cooperating and communicating with colleagues
from a wide variety of fields and geographical centers. At the same time,
research into Jewish history, culture, languages and the like is not limited to
Jewish Studies departments, creating yet wider networks and greater diversity.
The twelfth
EAJS congress “Branching Out. Diversity of Jewish Studies”, taking place in
Frankfurt/Main (Germany) on July 16th – 20th 2023, will
showcase and celebrate that diversity which is such an integral part of Jewish
Studies: it is reflected in research topics ranging from the Bible and ancient
history to contemporary Jewish Thought and culture, in a multitude of different
sources from all over the world, in methods and approaches from Archaeology to
Digital Humanities, and the vast array of interdisciplinary networks and research
approaches.
We envision
the subject of diversity also to be realized via the participants of the
congress: from all different fields of Jewish Studies, from all over the world,
from all ages and genders, from all academic levels, graduate student to senior
scholar, but all united in the shared interest in Jewish Studies.
In this
inclusive sense, we welcome all colleagues working in Jewish Studies to
participate in this exciting conference in Frankfurt!
