NGJS CONFERENCE 2025: JEWISH TEXTS AND MATERIALITIES

Monday November 10, 9:30-17:00

University Library Utrecht Science Park, Bucheliuszaal

Organisers: Dr. Eric Ottenheijm (UU) and Dr. Ortal-Paz Saar (UU)

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”.

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.

Programme

The programme includes a keynote lecture by Prof. Gideon Bohak (Tel Aviv University) and 11 short papers. The complete programme can be downloaded here.

Contact & Registration

Please register before November 7, by filling in this form. Questions? Send an email to e.m.pais@uu.nl