Summer programme MODERN JEWISH HISTORY AND CULTURE IN GERMAN/SLAVIC CONTACT ZONES 7–20 July, 2019
The history of Central and Eastern Europe is marked by multiple cultural contacts, transfers, and conflicts within and between linguistic milieus and traditions. Due to multilingualism, considerable spatial and social mobility, and transnational networks, many Jews and Jewish communities played a special role in processes of contact and communication. Yet, the idea of a profound divide between East European and German Jewish culture still informs current academia and obscures the understanding of the dynamics in Jewish culture of East Central Europe and beyond. This dynamic finds its most paradigmatic expression in cultural and language contacts. Yiddish language and culture, for example, were influenced by Germanic and Slavonic languages and cultures on the one hand, but simultaneously influenced those languages and cultures on the other. These influences and interactions are the premise of our summer program.
Participants will examine these issues in depth during seminars and World Cafe method discussions led by outstanding scholars of Jewish history and culture. Our emphasis is on small groups and individual contact with experienced scholars working with primary source materials (all in English translation), and a Yiddish immersion language courses. Participants are encouraged to present their current or planned projects.
The summer program is targeted at masters and doctoral students, but is also open to emerging scholars in the humanities and social sciences. It is a joint undertaking by the BKM-Assistant Professorship in Social and Economic Networks of Germans in Modern Eastern Europe at TU Dresden and the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at Wrocław University. The entire program will be conducted in English.
Our program offers four modules daily, three compulsory and one optional. The first module from 9:00-10:30 am consists of Yiddish language classes in small groups. The second module from 11:00-12:30 is a lecture for all participants that is also open to other academic participants. After the lunch break, participants will attend a third module from 14:30-16:00 with a narrower focus. The fourth, optional, block in the early evening will offer specially selected guest lecturers, thematic tours, and film screenings. The program ends with diplomas presented during an official closing ceremony. In addition, each participant will receive 6 ETCS credit points.