Abduction of Weizmann bronze busts, University of Manchester
Jewish history. The BBC reports: "Police are investigating reports of a burglary at a university in which two busts of the first president of Israel were taken. Footage circulating online showed two masked people smashing a glass display case in the University of Manchester's chemistry building and removing two busts of Chaim Weizmann, who had been a lecturer there in the early 1900s." The University has issued an appeal for tolerance. See the CJS's online exhibition on 'Manchester and Zionism' for more information on the role of Manchester and the University in the modern history of the Jewish national movement.
BBC Sounds
Israel Studies. Moshe Behar speaks to Anna Jameson on BBC Sounds about the Israel-Palestinian conflict (begins 2:23). Listen again.
Screen & Talk
UK Jewish Film Festival. The Centre for Jewish Studies is proud sponsor of the screening of award-winning shorts programme British-Jewish Life on Film on Tuesday 19 November 2024, 18:00, at HOME, Manchester. This event includes a pre-screening pitching event for UKJF short film funding at 17:00, and a post-screening networking reception. This event is part of the UK Jewish Film Festival 2024.
Online seminar, Spaces of Treblinka
Holocaust studies. The Centre for Jewish Studies and the Holocaust Centre North at the University of Huddersfield will host an online seminar by Dr. Jacob Flaws (Kean University, New Jersey). Dr. Flaws will present his recently published book, Spaces of Treblinka: Retracing a Death Camp (University of Nebraska Press, 2024). Prof. Jean-Marc Dreyfus will chair the event. Online seminar, Tuesday 3 December 2024, 5pm GMT. Tickets and further information here.
Whitworth Debate on Antisemitism/Anti-Zionism
“Is antizionism antisemitism?” A debate on the controversial topics of antizionism and antisemitism features as the second Whitworth debate at The University of Manchester. Raphi Bloom co-founder and current co-Chair of North West Friends of Israel will share the floor with Abdullah Al Andalusi, co-founder of the discussion forum The Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI). The pair will discuss the opinion that antizionism is the same thing as antisemitism, in a debate chaired by Joseph Timan, politics writer at the Manchester Evening News. The discussion will take place at The University of Manchester’s Whitworth Hall, Oxford Road, on 31 October between 7pm and 9pm. If you are a member of staff or a student and would like to attend the event, register here. Further information.
Ehrhardt Seminars
Dr Jeremy Penner (University of Manchester) ‘What is Ancient Liturgy?’ 5 December 2024, University Place 6.207 and on Zoom. Time and Zoom details TBC.
Scriptural Encounter 2024
A new series of Scriptural Encounter titled, ‘Faith responses to peace-making in the Israel-Palestine conflict’ will begin in October 2024. The first webinar will be presented by Dr Kerim Balci, a Turkish writer, journalist, academic and human rights activist. Thursday 10 October, 4-5.30pm on Zoom. Places are free but you must register here to receive the Zoom details. Further information.
PhD student, learned society committee member
Jewish Studies. Kerry McCall has been awarded the British & Irish Association for Jewish Studies Studentship. This stipend comes with responsibilities for sitting on the BAIJS committee and carrying out projects with the aim of promoting Jewish studies in the UK and Ireland. Further information.
Radio 4, Sunday programme
Jewish education. MA student Yehudis Fletcher was interviewed by Edward Stourton on Radio 4 about her charity’s report on the state of ultra-Orthodox Jewish schooling. 15 September 2024. Interview runs 10:55-15:33. Listen again.
Social Responsibility
Jewish Studies. R&T's MA student Yehudis Fletcher is interviewed in the Jewish Chronicle in relation to her charity's call for further regulation of schools within the Charedi Jewish community, sometimes known as the ultra-Orthodox community. Critical of some aspects of Charedi education she considers the "deliberate denial of secular education" to be a form of "inward-facing extremism," which she believes is detrimental to the community's future. 11 Sept 2024. Further information.