The conference focuses on the chronological transformation and territorial diversity of the functions of Jewish communities, and on cooperative efforts between Jewish communities within regional and supraregional associations. There is also a place for papers dealing with individual institutions operated by Jewish communities. Last but not least, the conference focuses on social plurality within Jewish communities, especially on associations that complemented or directly competed with the activities of Jewish communities. You are invited to submit a paper on the following topics:

Chronological transformations of Jewish communities demographic changes
changes in the legal environment
evolution of the functions of a Jewish community
forms of Jewish communities – community, association, union

Territorial diversity of Jewish communities
“rural” vs. urban Jewish communities
comparison of Jewish communities between different regions of the Habsburg monarchy
comparison of Jewish communities between the states of Central Europe

Federations of Jewish communities

Institutions of Jewish communities
religious, educational and charitable institutions
“clerical” and “lay” administration of a Jewish community (rabbinate, elected body)

Organisations supplementing the functions of a Jewish community
ideological background: universalism vs. particularism, integration vs. separation, liberalism vs. Zionism
Jewish associations as a manifestation of the plurality of the Jewish society
struggle for the influence and for the form of a Jewish community

Cultural and ethnic diversity of Jewish communities
material and cultural heritage
Jewish communities in literature and art

Jewish history research
review of the previous research
possibilities of modern research methods (digital humanities)
popularisation of research results

Conference language: English
Structure of a paper: 20 min speech + 10 min questions
Deadline for submission: 30 November 2022
Papers will be later published in an expanded form as a collective monograph by the De Gruyter publishing house.

For more information, please visit www.kehillot.eu.