Talk by Daniel Siemens (18 November 2026)
Jewish Studies. Daniel Siemens (Newcastle University) will deliver a talk entitled ’A story with a happy ending? Writing the biography of the German-Jewish photographer Fred Stein (1909-1967)’. 4-6pm, Sam Alex A201. Further information.
CHSTM Lunchtime (Work in Progress) Seminar (27 October 2026)
Jewish Studies. The Centre for the History of Science, Technology & Medicine (CHSTM) Lunchtime (Work in Progress) Seminars 2026 include a talk by Maria Bovolon (Scuola Superiore Meridionale), entitled ‘Jewish Medical Emigrés Fleeing Italy: Resettlement and Scientific Change after 1938’. 27 October 2026, 1:00-2:00pm, CHSTM Seminar Room, 2.57 Simon Building. For more information on the seminars visit the CHSTM webpages.
Howard Rein Lecture, The Parkes Institute (13 October 2026)
Jewish Studies. Dr Jane Brooks delivered the Howard Rein Lecture 2026 at the Parkes Institute, University of Southampton, entitled ‘A helping hand to those who are in great distress’: Jewish refugees and the British nursing profession. Further information can be found on the Lecture page.
The Textual Generation, screening (09 October 2026)
Jewish Studies. The Arabic & Middle Eastern Studies (AMES), MLC, University of Manchester, organised a special screening open to staff and students of ‘The Textile Generation’, a documentary on the history and legacy of Syrian Jewish and Muslim communities in Manchester, from the textile trade to their humanitarian engagement during the recent Syrian conflict. 09 October 2026.
Sherman Community Lecture 2026
Jewish Studies. Dr Jonathan Boyd (London Institute for Jewish Policy Research) will give the next Sherman Community Lecture (co-sponsored by the Jewish Rep Council of Greater Manchester) entitled "British Jews in 2026: Where are we now, and what might the future hold?". Monday 19 October 2026 8pm (online). Further information.
Call for papers, Jewish Religious Life During the Holocaust
Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Centre for Jewish Studies, University of Manchester. This workshop will explore the understudied topic of Jewish religious life during the Holocaust from a variety of perspectives and source bases. The workshop will take place in Manchester, 18-20 May 2027. Applications are welcome from scholars at all career levels, from PhD candidates to senior faculty. Participants accepted to this project must be willing to participate in the workshop and contribute to an edited volume. The Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will cover the cost of travel and accommodation. See the full call for applications and further information on the USHMM website.
Student travel bursaries support educational visits to Auschwitz-Birkenau
Jewish education. The Centre for Jewish Studies is delighted to report that six undergraduate students from across SALC benefited from the Auschwitz-Birkenau travel bursaries funded through the generous bequest of Professor Fanny Bogdanow.
The bursaries enabled students to undertake educational visits to the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp during Spring 2026. Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau provided these students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with one of the most significant sites of Holocaust history, deepening their understanding of European Judaism and the wider implications of genocide, memory, and historical responsibility.
By helping students experience this important site first-hand, the bursaries contribute to the Centre's ongoing commitment to promoting informed study of Jewish history and culture, and to fostering critical reflection on the Holocaust and its enduring significance.
We are grateful that Professor Bogdanow's generosity continues to make these transformative educational opportunities possible for our students.
New papers
Jewish studies. CJS fellow George Brooke contributed a paper on "Rethinking Midrash ha-Torah (1QS8:15)" to a Symposium on Communicating Torah in Ancient Jewish Culture and Early Christianity at the University of Münster in July. He also presented a lecture on "The Dead Sea Scrolls and 'Biblical' Anthropology" to the Biblical Anthropology in Canonical Discourse workshop at the Annual meeting of EABS in Leuven at the end of July.
BIAJS Annual Conference, Birkbeck (13-15 July 2026)
Jewish studies. The annual conference of the British and Irish Association for Jewish Studies tookplace from 13 – 15 July at Birkbeck, University of London. Katja Stuerzenhofecker delivered a paper entitled ‘The dislocation of place-based ritual community’. Centre for Jewish Studies Fellow Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz co-delivered with and Martin Devereux a paper titled ‘The Limmud Archive: A New Resource for Research on the UK Jewish Community’. For further information visit the Conference webpage.
Klezmer Tune Club at Manchester Jewish Museum
Jewish music. Richard Fay and Daniel Mawson host a monthly club at Manchester Jewish Museum for musician of all levels interested in Klezmer music. The club runs on the 1st Sunday of each month and participants are encouraged to bring their instrument and join in and learn a new tune at each session in an informal and welcoming setting. See the Manchester Jewish Museum website for timings and to register.