The Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies (CAHS) of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) invites applications for a workshop on Sephardic Jewry and the Holocaust, scheduled for June 16-25, 2010 at the USHMM in Washington, DC.

The objectives are to acquaint emerging scholars with the breadth of this rich and diverse subject matter; expose them to new scholarly research on Sephardic Studies and the Holocaust; and provide them with the background knowledge, archival resources, and scholarly networking necessary to initiate or continue work in this underrepresented area. The workshop will be led by two leading scholars in the field, Aron Rodrigue and Daniel Schroeter and will have two segments: seminar and research. The seminar portion will address issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, such as Ladino language and Sephardic identity; the Sephardic experience in ghettos, camps, and transports; resistance and rescue; and the experience of North African Jews both before and during the war. Areas of inclusion are Southeastern Europe (Balkans, Bulgaria, Greece) and North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Morocco).

The research portion will consist of orientation, exposure, and guided research in the Museum’s extensive archival and other collections concerning North Africa, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, the Jewish community of Monastir, and newly acquired collections in Ladino and Judeo-Arabic, and selected collections of Sephardic-survivor oral testimonies and Sephardic music.

The Museum welcomes applications from advanced graduate students, doctoral candidates, post-doctoral scholars, and early career academics who are either conducting or considering research on Sephardic Jewish Studies, Holocaust Studies in Sephardic countries or communities, or area studies in countries in which Sephardic Jews resided. Candidates must be affiliated with an accredited, degree-awarding institution (baccalaureate, the equivalent, or higher) in North America.

Up to fourteen scholars will be selected. Applications must be submitted in English and include: (1) a current CV; (2) a statement addressing the candidate’s specific interest and background (including previous coursework, projects, publications, or language study) in the program’s area of study as well as how the workshop will benefit the candidate’s research; and (3) a supporting letter from an academic advisor, department chair, or dean that addresses the candidate’s qualifications and research as well as his/her potential as a scholar in the field. Participants are required to attend the full duration of the workshop.

For non-local participants, the Center will provide: (1) lodging for the duration of the workshop; and (2) $1,000 toward the cost of travel and other incidental expenses. Local participants will receive a stipend of $200 for the two weeks.

Applications must be postmarked or submitted electronically by November 23, 2009. Applications should be sent to University Programs, Center of Advanced Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024 (Fax: 202-479-9726; Email: university_programs@ushmm.org). Candidates will be notified by January 18, 2010. For questions, please contact Dr. Leah Wolfson at lwolfson@ushmm.org.