Summer School on Jewish Studies: Jewish Studies “on Edge”

About

This intensive summer school equips graduate students in Jewish Studies with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with a field that is both under pressure and rich in innovation. Participants will explore how Jewish history, culture, and scholarship respond to moments of crisis while also gaining hands-on exposure to cutting-edge methodologies, technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches.

Through close interaction with leading international scholars, students will strengthen their research profiles, academic resilience, and professional networks. The programme fosters critical reflection on academic freedom, ethics, and the evolving role of scholars in society. These learning experiences are directly relevant for careers in academia, education, cultural institutions, and policy-related fields where advanced analytical and cross-cultural expertise are essential.

Target group

Graduate students at any institution worldwide, in any subfield of Jewish Studies, past or present, are eligible to apply.

Candidates should have a good command of English and general notions of the basic concepts of (sub)fields within Jewish Studies.

Course aim

By the end of this summer school, participants will:

be able to critically examine moments in Jewish history, culture, and scholarship characterised by crisis, transformation, or innovation, and explain how these moments shape the field today;
have gained familiarity with new or experimental methodologies - including digital tools, AI-related approaches, and interdisciplinary frameworks—and assess their potential benefits and challenges for the field;
be able to articulate how issues such as academic precarity, debates over academic freedom, and contemporary political tensions influence scholarly work, teaching, and career development;
have strengthened the ability to engage in productive academic dialogue, collaborate across institutions and subfields, and situate one’s own research within global conversations in Jewish Studies.

Fee info

This summer school is offered free of charge, including course materials and catering.