World Union of Jewish Studies Prepares for 17th Congress

World Union of Jewish Studies
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Since 2000, Yaron Eliav has worked at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor as associate professor of rabbinic literature and Jewish history of late antiquity. He works in the department of Near Eastern studies and conducts research on ancient texts. To help him remain up-to-date with other individuals interested in Judaic studies, Yaron Eliav participates in the World Congress of Jewish Studies.

Founded in 1957, the World Union of Jewish Studies (WUJS) is a nonprofit organization that allows likeminded individuals to band together and promote research in the field of Jewish studies. It also encourages scholars to form foundations and grants to support the research as well as sponsors internationals conferences and congresses focusing on research findings.

The organization hosts the World Congress of Jewish Studies, which is the largest event in the field of Jewish studies worldwide, every four years. It unites thousands of scholars, students, and teachers to share their research. The 17th World Congress, scheduled for August 6 through 10, 2017, occurs at the Mount Scopus Campus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The previous congress, which took place in 2013, brought together participants from more than 40 countries. It featured almost 1,600 lectures in various fields, an extensive book fair, and several social and cultural events focusing on Jewish culture.

The AJS Distinguished Lectureship Program

During his time as an associate professor at the University of Michigan, Yaron Eliav has taught a number of courses within the Department of Near Eastern Studies. Aside from his work as an associate professor, Yaron Eliav is a member of the Association for Jewish Studies (AJS).

A professional organization serving educators and researchers in Jewish Studies at universities in the United States, the AJS sponsors a lectureship program designed to facilitate learning and scholarly communication at higher education institutions. Featuring more than 300 lectures on Jewish culture, politics, religion, and history, the AJS Distinguished Lectureship Program includes some of the foremost scholars in the field. Scholars travel to universities across the country, delivering talks on topics ranging from women in Jewish life and Rabbinic literature and culture to modern Jewish thought and theology. The lecture fee paid by a university is donated by the speaker directly to the AJS, thereby enabling the organization to continue offering the program.

To learn more about the Distinguished Lectureship Program at the Association for Jewish Studies, or to find out how to sponsor a speaker today, visit the program’s official website at http://www.ajsnet.org.

Association for Jewish Studies to Host 47th Annual Conference

A specialist in Judaic and Greco-Roman studies, Dr. Yaron Eliav has taught a number of courses on ancient cultures in his role as associate professor of rabbinic literature and Jewish history of late antiquity at the University of Michigan’s Department of Near Eastern Studies. Alongside his work, Dr. Yaron Eliav maintains a membership with the American Association for Jewish Studies (AJS).

Every year, AJS holds an academic conference to bring together more than 1,000 Jewish Studies specialists from around the world. Educators, students, and historians gather to participate in scholarly discussion and attend roundtables on a wide range of Jewish studies topics. On December 13-15, 2015, AJS will host its 47th Annual Conference at Sheraton Boston in Massachusetts.

The conference will welcome both AJS members and graduate students, inviting them to present papers and proposals during a number of 90-minute sessions. These panels will cover a variety of topics ranging from Social Aspects of Jewish Mysticism to Eastern European Jews in Interwar France. More than 400 conference attendees will also participate in the Gala Banquet and Plenary Lecture, where they will have the unique opportunity to connect with other scholars and showcase their work in a private setting.