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Annual Report 2011-12

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REPORT OF THE OXFORD CENTRE FOR HEBREW AND JEWISH STUDIES AcADEMIC YEAR 2011-2012 OXFORD CENTRE FOR HEBREW AND JEWISH STUDIES A Recognized Independent Centre of the University of Oxford OXFORD CENTRE FOR HEBREW AND JEWISH STUDIES CONTENTS MAIN OFFICE Yarnton Manor, Yarnton Oxford OX5 1PY, England Preface .............................................................................................................1 Telephone: Oxford +44 (0)1865 377946 Fax: Oxford +44 (0)1865 375079 Vision and Mission Statement ...........................................................................7 Email: [email protected] Highlights of the 2011-2012 Academic Year ......................................................10 Website: www.ochjs.ac.uk New Research HEBREW AND JEWISH STUDIES UNIT The Jewish Legions in the British Army in the First World War Oriental Institute, University of Oxford PROFESSORS MICHAEL AND SHLOMIT KEREN .......................................... 20 Pusey Lane, Oxford OX1 2LE, England The Loewe Family – A Scholarly Dynasty Telephone: Oxford +44 (0)1865 278200 MILENA ZEIDLER, JANE BARLOW, DR ZSÓFIA BUDA, Fax: Oxford +44 (0)1865 278190 DR CÉSAR MERCHÁN-HAMANN .................................................................. 29 Menasseh ben Israel DR CÉSAR MERCHÁN-HAMMAN ................................ 49 The Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies is a company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England, Registered No. 1109384 (Registered Charity No. 309720). The Oxford Centre for Coins from Galilee: The Evidence of Coin Finds Hebrew and Jewish Studies is a tax-deductible organization within as a Tool for Historical Reconstruction DR DANNY SYON............................... 68 the United States under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Employer Identification number 13-2943469). The European Seminar on Advanced Jewish Studies – ISSN 1368 9096 Old Yiddish: Old Texts, New Contexts Ruth – Successfully Integrating a Stranger, as Depicted in Old Yiddish Literature INGEDORE RÜDLIN ............................77 Cover illustration: Karl Marko, 'Waldlandschaft mit Hirtenknabe und Mädchen', seized in Vienna in 1939, restituted from Germany in 2012. See pages 199-206. Why Are Jews Red, Beyond the Sambatyon? DR REBEKKA VOß .................... 84 iii Contents Contents Yiddish Song in Early Modern Ashkenaz DR DIANA MATUT ......................... 94 The Tikvah Summer Institute on Religion and Politics ................................... 215 Parody, Infamy and History in a Yiddish Manuscript Kivunim Programme .................................................................................... 216 from the Italian Renaissance DR CLAUDIA ROSENZWEIG .......................... 105 Old Yiddish Bible Translation and Epic Poetry Listings on Biblical Themes OREN ROMAN ...............................................................114 The Academic Council .................................................................................. 218 Yiddish Language and Literature in the Early Modern Period and the Yiddish ‘Historical’ Song PROFESSOR CHAVA TURNIANSKY ...........119 Other Academic Officers ............................................................................... 219 Poetics of Old Yiddish Literature: The Case of the Maysebukh WIEBKE RASUMNY .......................................... 125 Members of the Hebrew and Jewish Studies Unit ......................................... 220 Adventures in Old Yiddish Bibliography The Leopold Muller Memorial Library Committee ........................................ 221 PROFESSOR SIMON NEUBERG ....................................................................133 Visiting Fellows and Scholars ....................................................................... 222 The Academic Year Centre Staff ..................................................................................................224 Courses, Lectures, Conferences, Publications and Other Activities Senior Members ..........................................................................................226 by Fellows of the Centre ................................................................................ 148 Degree Programmes in Hebrew Seminars, Conferences and Special Lectures Involving Centre Fellows ..........157 and Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford .............................................. 228 Visiting Fellows’ and Scholars’ Reports ......................................................... 167 Board of Governors ..................................................................................... 229 MSt in Jewish Studies ................................................................................... 187 Biographies of the Governors ....................................................................... 231 Journal of Jewish Studies ............................................................................... 192 Donors of Books to the Leopold Muller Memorial Library .............................238 The European Association for Jewish Studies................................................ 195 The Institute for Polish-Jewish Studies .......................................................... 197 Books Acquired for the Library Through Special Funds and Endowments .....239 Looted Art Research Unit .............................................................................. 199 Sources of Funding, 2011-2012 ......................................................................242 The Leopold Muller Memorial Library ..........................................................207 Financial Review for 2011-2012 ......................................................................246 iv v PREface This year the Centre celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a celebration at the Savoy Hotel, London, at which we honoured our Co-Chairman, Lord Fink of Northwood, heard from His Excellency Daniel Taub, Israel’s Ambassador, and from Clive Anderson, the television presenter, and were informed about the Centre’s achievements by Dan Patterson, son of our founder, David Patterson. This past academic year began with the approval, by the Board of Governors, of a strategic plan that included the following new mission statement: The mission of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies is to restore the legacy of Jewish scholarship in Europe, continue the tradition of Hebrew studies at the University of Oxford, support advanced scholarship in academic Jewish studies, promote understanding of the interaction among Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and provide the scholarly understanding of contemporary Jewish life. The Centre continues to have a significant impact on the University of Oxford. The development of Jewish studies there is the responsibility of the Centre, which provides most of the Hebrew, Jewish and Israel studies teaching at Oxford. Without the Centre, which contributes the primary tuition for nine degree courses in Hebrew and Jewish studies at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level, the University would not be able to offer these courses. The Centre also provides tuition in ten additional courses in Classics, Theology, Modern Middle Eastern and Oriental Studies. The Centre also makes a significant financial contribution to the University of Oxford. It funds the full cost of the Fellows who teach within the University. In addition, the Centre’s Fellows, Lectors and Lecturers generate tuition fees for vi 1 Preface Preface the University. The academic research staff also helps the University generate Dr Joanna Weinberg, is the University’s James Mew Lectureship in research funds through the Government’s Research Assessment Exercise. Rabbinical Hebrew. This year the Centre strengthened the academic partnership with the • The Polonsky Fellowship in Early Judaism and Christianity, held by Dr University by agreeing that all new Centre-funded academic appointments will Alison Salvesen, is a University Research Lectureship, and promotes an be chosen by a Faculty of Oriental Studies selection committee appointed jointly understanding of the interaction between Judaism and Christianity. with the Centre. This builds on the previous year’s achievement of bringing • The Ricardo Fellowship in Modern Jewish History, held by Dr David Rechter, our academic salaries back into alignment with University pay scales and is a University Research Lectureship, and promotes a better understanding employment policies. of European Jewish history. The Centre’s Fellows currently teach some 30 undergraduates, 15 Master • The Idel and Isaac Haase Fellowship in Eastern European Jewish of Studies and MPhil students, and 20 DPhil students. Several hundred other Civilization, held by Dr Zehavit Stern, is a University Research Lectureship, students attend lecture courses. Most graduates in Hebrew and Jewish studies and has helped to restore the study of Eastern European Jewish culture at the express deep satisfaction with their experience and have been prepared well University. for careers in higher education, religious education, non-profit management, government and other sectors. • The Fellowship in Modern Hebrew Literature, which is also the University’s Yarnton Manor is a premier residential academic community that provides Cowley Lecturership in Post-Biblical Hebrew, is a core post and should be opportunities for Jewish studies scholars from around the world to live, work filled by October 2013. and collaborate on research projects. Yarnton Manor has been revitalized in the In addition, several
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