The theme of the Congress is ‘Past and present perspectives in Jewish Studies’. This theme focuses on the philosophy and the prospects of Jewish Studies. There has been no lack of ideas and research during last decades, yet there is a feeling that a lot can be changed and renewed now.

 Are we moving into the age of Post-Postmodernism?
 Are we returning to old patterns?
 Do we need meta-history once again?

Members of the European Association for Jewish Studies and all other scholars in the various fields of Jewish Studies are invited to participate in the VIIIth EAJS Congress. Papers in all areas of Jewish Studies will be considered, even if not directly related to the Congress theme. Scholars are welcome to attend the Congress whether or not they intend to present a paper.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CONGRESS
The congress is organized by the European Association for Jewish Studies, the sole umbrella organization representing this field of university studies in the continent. The main aim of the Association is the encouragement and support of the teaching of Jewish studies at university level in Europe and to further an understanding of the importance of Jewish culture and civilization and of the impact it has had on European cultures over many centuries.

The local organizers are:
The International Center for Russian & East European Jewish Studies “Sefer” Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization.

EAJS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President – Prof. Rashid Kaplanov (Moscow)
Secretary – Dr. Sacha Stern (London)
Treasurer - Prof. Arkady Kovelman (Moscow)
Prof. Gad Freudenthal (Paris)
Prof. Mauro Perani (Ravenna)
Prof. Miguel Perez Fernandez (Granada)
Prof. Margarete Schlueter
Prof. Albert van der Heide (past president, Leiden/Amsterdam)
Prof. Martin Goodman (Oxford)

VIIITH EAJS CONGRESS COMMITTEE
Prof Rashid Kaplanov – President
Prof Arkady Kovelman
Prof Oleg Budnitskii
Maria Liberman – Congress Secretary

PROPOSALS FOR LECTURES (20 minutes + 10 minutes for discussion) should contain a title and a 300-word abstract, as well as your CV, return mailing address, e-mail address, fax, and telephone number (all in English).

Please send applications to: EAJS2006@jewishstudies.ru no later than January 15, 2006 (extended deadline)

Please select from the list of Sections the subject area in which you choose to have your proposal considered. You may submit your proposal to only one Section. However, please be aware that the Congress Committee and Section Chairs will work together in placing proposals in other appropriate Sections if a worthy proposal cannot be placed in the Section to which it was submitted. All abstracts will be forwarded to the appropriate Section chairman, who will make the final selection of lectures to be presented.

The language of the Congress is English. Russian will be used as a second language at the meetings of the section devoted to Modern Jewish History in Eastern Europe.

SECTIONS
 Bible
 Talmud, Midrash & Rabbinics
 Modern Jewish Literature
 Modern Hebrew Literature
 Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy
 Mediaeval & Early Modern Jewish History & Culture
 Judeo-Greek Studies
 Karaite Studies
 Sephardi-Mizrahi History and Culture
 Modern Jewish History in Eastern Europe
 Modern Jewish History in Western & Central Europe
 Modern Jewish History in Non-European Countries
 Israel Studies
 Jewish Mysticism
 Hasidism
 Modern Jewish Thought & Theology
 Jewish History in Late Antiquity
 Holocaust Studies
 Jews & the Arts
 Science & Jewish Cultures
 Yiddish Studies
 Gender Studies
 Linguistics
 Social Sciences
 Jewish Manuscripts
 Libraries & Archives

CONGRESS VENUE

Most of the Congress sessions will be held at the hotel “Cosmos”.

The Cosmos Hotel is located in the north-east of Moscow on one of the city's major streets - prospect Mira, in the green district, just 20 minutes drive to the centre. It is next to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (V.V.C.), close to Ostankino Telecom Tower, and Count Sheremetyev's Palace.

The Opening Ceremony will take place at the newly restored Moscow Great Choral Synagogue situated in the very center of Moscow at the old Jewish district. The Synagogue celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2006. The Congress participants will be able to take part in the special events dedicated to the anniversary.

Panels on Libraries & Archives will take place at the Center for Oriental Literature of Russian State Library that holds a brilliant collection of printed materials in Hebrew and Yiddish. About 40,000 books include incunabula, early printed Hebraica, illuminated Bibles, as well as Gospels, Talmuds, etc. Private collections, such as the Baron Gunzburg collection (7,225 volumes), the J. Mazeh collection (2,700 volumes), the Poliakov collection (more than 10,000 volumes), form the basis of the Judaica collection. Participants of the Congress will be invited to take part in tours to the Library stores, organized by the Center for Oriental Literature.

GENERAL INFORMATION

REGISTRATION

Participation in VIIIth EAJS Congress is open to all persons interested in Jewish studies. Please note that all persons planning to attend the Congress must register, including those who are not going to present a lecture. To register please send your name, place of work, position, return mailing address, e-mail address, fax, and telephone number to the Congress Committee by 1 June, 2006 or fill in the form at the Congress web-site.

PAYMENT OF FEES

CONGRESS FEES
Registration costs:

for EAJS members:
Before April 1, 2006 - $75
After April 1, 2006 - $100

for non-members:
Before April 1, 2006 - $180
After April 1, 2006 - $220

Participants at the 2006 Congress as EAJS members (i.e. paying the lower conference fee for members) must pay up all overdue membership fees since 2002.

Conference fees should be paid to the Secretariat at Yarnton. When you transfer money to the EAJS bank account please do not forget to mention that your payment is for the VIII EAJS Congress fee.

The EAJS bank details for payment:

1. Bank transfer: EAJS, National Westminster Bank, 32 Cornmarket Street,
Oxford, UK
Bank code: 54-21-23
Account number: 87365391
IBAN: GB35 NWBK 54212308243794
SWIFT (BIC) Code: NWBKGB2L

2. Sterling Cheque: has to be in pounds and made out to the EAJS

3. Credit Card: we accept Mastercard, Visa and Eurocard We will need the following information: card number, expiry date, name on card, billing address and the security code (last 3 numbers on or above the signature strip) Sorry, but we cannot accept American cheques as the bank's processing fees are much too high.

ENTRANCE TO CONGRESS
Each delegate of the Congress will receive a name badge on registration. The badge will be your official pass and must be worn to obtain entry to all sessions and to social functions.

RUSSIAN VISA
All foreign citizens should obtain visa to visit Russian Federation. For visa support please contact the Congress Travel Agent.

INSURANCE
Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the Congress and book your travel you take out an insurance policy of your choice. The Congress organizers cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance. This insurance is to be purchased in your country of origin. It is also advised to be covered by medical insurance.

CONGRESS TRAVEL AGENT
«Ariadna travel agency» has been appointed as the official travel agent for the Congress. Please contact Olga Levshina for any travel requirements (accommodation, visa support, transfer from/to the airport, touring, etc.) directly on:
E-mail: ariadna101@mail.ru
Tel: +7(095)7435284
Fax: +7(095)7805485

ACCOMMODATION
The VIII EAJS Congress Committee and Congress Travel Agent offers participants accommodation at the hotel “Cosmos” (4 stars) with a special discount price available for participants who will confirm their booking no later then 35 days before arrival: Single room with buffet breakfast – 100 USD/room/night Double room with buffet breakfast – 130 USD/room/night The Cosmos Hotel provides a wide variety of facilities and services. In order to secure you booking a deposit of the first night charge should be paid on later then 35 days prior to the arrival. The number of rooms for Congress price is limited. Moreover due to the acute shortage of good and cheap hotels in Moscow the Congress Committee cannot guarantee the accommodation for the participants who do not book and purchase the accommodation before the deadline.

Limited number of rooms will be available in hotels located nearby which provides very modest facilities. Single room with buffet breakfast – about 60 USD/room/night. Please find more details at the Congress web-site.

To book the accommodation please contact directly the Congress Travel Agent. You can find more details on booking and payment at the Congress web-site.

KOSHER CATERING Participants who observe kashrut will be able to order lunchboxes. For payment details please contact the Congress Committee or see our web-site (coming soon). Average price for the lunch boxes - $10-$20.

The Congress Committee will be glad to provide the participants with addresses of Moscow synagogues, kosher restaurants and kosher food stores, etc.

TOURS The Congress Travel Agent offers wide variety of tour for Congress participants, including a post-Congress four-day tour to St. Petersburg, City Sighting Tours by your choice as well as Day Tours for Accompanying Person. For more detailed information please see the Congress web-site or contact directly the Congress Travel Agent by… Special 4 hours tour “Jewish Moscow” will be also available.