Call for Papers

The annual conference of the Dutch Association of Jewish Studies (Nederlands Genootschap voor Joodse Studiën) aims to bring together researchers in the field of Jewish Studies to share current research and jointly reflect on current trends and issues in the field. It further aims to facilitate collaboration between researchers and connect junior and senior scholars. The theme of this year’s conference is “Jewish Texts and Materiality”.

The Jewish tradition is regarded as a text-centric one. From the religious focus on biblical texts, through the mystical views of the Hebrew alphabet as being holy and powerful, and up to non-Jewish views of Jews as “the People of the Book”, text was and is seen as intrinsically connected to Judaism. These texts, however, also have a material, tangible side. This physical aspect, too, was frequently addressed when contemplating their nature. The biblical tablets inscribed by the finger of God, are specified as being made of stone; the Torah scrolls, phylacteries, and mezuzot are artefacts as well as texts, whose writing has to be performed according to detailed material rules; Hebrew inscriptions denote a religious identity even for those who cannot read them; artistic depictions of Jewish texts by non-Jews abound … This conference explores the intersection of texts and materiality in a broad variety of contexts, periods and locations. Papers are welcome on topics that deal with the relation between text and matter, from fields such as history, archaeology, ethnography, epigraphy, paleography, as well as art and literature. This includes topics related to textual performances, such as performative contexts in manuscripts, media, spatial settings, or bodies.

Conference date: Monday, 10 November 2025

Location: Utrecht University

Organisers: Dr. Eric Ottenheijm and Dr. Ortal-Paz Saar

Paper requirements: Papers should last 15 minutes and can be presented in either English or Dutch. The conference will be held in English.

Who can apply: Application is open to all researchers in the field of Jewish Studies, including advanced MA students and PhD candidates. Scholars from outside the Netherlands are welcome to apply.

Application: please email an abstract of maximum 300 words, accompanied by a biography of ca. 100 words by 10 June 2025, to: o.p.saar@uu.nl.

Best regards,

Eric Ottenheijm and Ortal-Paz Saar, on behalf of the NGJS