Monthly Archives: March 2026

VI Krakow Jewish Studies Conference: Boundaries, 27-28 May 2026

According to their call, they “invite undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students to submit their proposals. [….] Boundaries have played a central role in shaping Jewish identities, communities, and relationships – both within Jewish societies and in relation to the Other. At the same time, Jewish historical and cultural experiences are deeply marked by the crossing, negotiation, and renegotiation of boundaries: geographic, social, linguistic, cultural, religious, and symbolic. This conference seeks to explore boundaries not only as lines of division or exclusion, but also as zones of contact, exchange, tension, and transformation. We especially welcome contributions that address processes of boundary-making, boundary-crossing and liminality in Jewish contexts across time and space.”

Deadline: 25 March 2026.

News on the Medieval Synagogue in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Following the discovery of the medieval synagogue foundations in Rothenburg in the summer of 2025 (which was also reported here), a non-invasive ground survey was conducted, revealing the full layout of the synagogue, including the frauschul.

Clicke here for the newest press release (in German) by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments.

© Grafik: Roland Linck (BLfD), Drohnenfoto: Stadt Rothenburg.

 

Virtual Coffee Break with Leor Jacobi

Terahertz Identification of Buried Characters: A Humanities Perspective on Advanced Imaging within Sealed Bookbindings

Thursday, 9 April 2026, 3:00 – 4:00 PM (CEST)

In his presentation, Leor Jacobi will explore how cutting-edge terahertz imaging techniques can serve the study and preservation of cultural heritage. Beyond the physics, the focus will be on the historical and artistic significance of manuscripts repurposed into paperboard for bookbindings, ethical considerations of non-invasive analysis, and broader implications for scholars in the humanities. The talk will highlight how technology opens new pathways for interpreting texts that have been hidden for centuries. Imaging research presented is the result of collaboration with the laboratory run by Prof. David Citrin of Georgia Tech-Lorraine (Metz), initiated as a Postdoc and Humboldt Research Fellow at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) and facilitated by the faculty.