University of Potsdam, Faculty of Arts, School of Jewish Theology

W1 Endowed Professorship of Jewish Liturgy and Comparative Ritual Studies

The Faculty of Arts at the University of Potsdam currently establishes a (worldwide) unique center for academic Jewish theology. It realizes a 200 year old demand formulated by Rabbi Abraham Geiger. He wanted Jewish theology created as an equal subject to the Christian theologies at German universities. Finally, in the winter semester 2013/14 we form now the new “School of Jewish Theology” in co-operation with the Abraham Geiger College and the Zacharias Frankel College for rabbinical training. We would like to add to the existing Professorship of Talmud and Rabbinic Literature the following professorial chair together with other Professorships at the next possible date:

W1 Endowed Professorship of Jewish Liturgy and Comparative Ritual Studies

The tasks of the professorship are to carry out research and teaching in the field of Jewish liturgy in its historical development stages and various religious characteristics, especially liberal and conservative Judaism. This includes life and annual cycle rituals as well as the musical arrangement of liturgy. Religious legal issues should also be considered.

Applicants should be capable of taking a comparative and ritual-theoretical perspective of other religions. Their doctorate and research should belong to this field. The tasks include active participation in the coordination of the Centre for interreligious studies (currently being started up) which, as a central scientific unit of the university, should establish broad thematic networking with all faculties.

Applications from ordained graduates of rabbinical seminaries which are recognised in Germany as universities (H+) in accordance with the standards of the German ministers of education and cultural affairs are particularly welcome.

According to State law (Brandenburgisches Hochschulgesetz - BbgHG), preconditions for the appointment as a Junior Professor include a completed university education, teaching skills, and a special qualification for academic work, which is usually demonstrated though an outstanding PhD thesis. International experience, an outstanding publication record and a teaching record are advantageous. The total time for completion of the PhD and subsequent post-doc employment should not have exceeded six years.

Appointments are made according to §§ 38 and 44 BbgHG. The appointment as a civil servant or a public employee will be made for up to four years in the first instance and can be extended to up to 6 years in total, conditional upon a positive evaluation.

University of Potsdam and the Abraham-Geiger-Kolleg are equal opportunity employers.

The University of Potsdam offers dual career support and coaching for newly-appointed professors: http://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/neue-beschaeftigte/information-for-newly-appointed-professors.html

Publication:

Applications should be sent to University of Potsdam, Office of the President, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam, Germany, until 04.12.2013.