Call for Papers

"Jews, the Arts, and Scholarship: Production and Reception"
11-13 July 2007, University College London

Proposals for papers and panels are welcome for the upcoming annual conference of the British Association of Jewish Studies (BAJS), to be hosted by University College London (UCL) and in association with UCL's Institute of Jewish Studies, from 11-13 July 2007. The theme of this year's meeting is "Jews, the Arts, and Scholarship: Production and Reception." Topics may pertain to any time period and geographical or cultural context in Jewish Studies. "The Arts" may be interpreted broadly, as encompassing literature (including sacred, religious, and mystical texts), the plastic arts, and crafts in the realms of creative expression, industry, and professions (i.e. printing, journalism, photography, athleticism, film). Papers and panels related to Jews and music are especially invited. Participants in the Cambridge conference on "The Greek Bible in Byzantine and Ottoman Judaism" (9 to 11 July 2007) are encouraged to attend BAJS as well. Along with proposals please submit a brief list of major publications or cv of no more than one paragraph. Single paper proposals should be no longer than 250 words and panel proposals need not exceed one page. On all e-mail correspondence please write "BAJS 2007" in the subject line.

A limited number of bursaries are available to cover partial costs of attending the meeting (accommodation and/or meals) for UK and Eire-based (post)graduate students. Pending acceptance of a proposed paper or panel, include with the registration form a brief letter stating how attendance at the conference would help you in your research/studies. Please also indicate other sources of funding to which you are applying.

The deadline for paper abstracts and proposed panels is 15 February 2007.

The conference will be held at University College London and out-of-town participants will have the opportunity to use university accommodation. UCL is the oldest and original component of the University of London. Located in the heart of Bloomsbury, it is a block from the British Museum and minutes from the British Library. It was the first university in Britain to admit students of any religion, race, or class, and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. Because UCL challenged the convention of Oxford and Cambridge that only men who belonged to the Church of England were suitable for university education, it earned the moniker "the Godless College in Gower Street."

Please send all correspondence (specifying "BAJS 2007" in the subject line) to: Professor M Berkowitz, Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. m.berkowitz@ucl.ac.uk