The Jewish Chronicle, Diary

The mystery of fish'n'chips solved? Aron Sterk, who is completing a PhD at Manchester, has recently made a vital contribution to Anglo-Jewish history. The Jewish Chronicle reports his solution to the vexed question of the origins of fish'n'chips, which are said to lie with the Montefiores. Possibly. Further information.

New Publication

Chesterton's Jews. Simon Mayers, who recently completed his PhD at Manchester, has published a book entitled Chesterton's Jews: Stereotypes and Caricatures in the Literature and Journalism of G. K. Chesterton (CreateSpace, 2013). It comes at a timely moment, when the idea of the canonisation of the allegedly anti-Jewish author is being considered. Further information.

New Publication 2013

Cairo Genizah collection. Renate Smithuis and Philip Alexander have edited a volume entitled From Cairo to Manchester: Studies in the Rylands Genizah Fragments (Journal of Semitic Studies Supplement 31, OUP 2013). This important publication highlights the worldclass Rylands Genizah collection.  Further information.

New Publication

Interfaith Relations and the Secular Academy. Philip Alexander has published an essay entitled 'Personal Reflections on the Role of the Secular Academy in Inter-Faith Dialogue' in the online resource Jewish-Christian Relations. Among other things, it explores the differences between what he calls the confessional and secular academies. Further information.

Public Lecture, Goethe Universität

Jews and Cosmopolitan Thought. Cathy Gelbin gave a lecture at Goethe Universität  on 17 June 2013. It was entitled 'Juden auf Wanderschaft: Traditionen des kosmopolitischen Gedankens'. For more on her related research project, see further information.

Public Lecture, University of Liverpool

Jews and Cosmopolitan Thought. Cathy Gelbin gave the annual Collinson Lecture at the University of Liverpool on 2 May 2013. It was entitled 'Jews on the Move: Legacies of Modern German Cosmopolitanist Thought'. Further information.

Workshops, BPS Transpersonal Section Conference

Transpersonal Psychology and Judaism. Two CJS honorary fellows are presenters at the British Psychological Society's Transpersonal Section 16th annual conference: Les Lancaster on 'Practice in kabbalistic psychology: integrating tradition and the transpersonal', and Elliot Cohen on 'Niggunim: Meditative Melodies from the Hasidic Tradition'. Scarborough, 20-22 Sept 2013. Further information.

New Publication

Near death experience in Judaism. CJS honorary fellow Les Lancaster has contributed to the entry on 'Near-death experience and transcendence in Judaism' in J.H. Ellens, ed, Heaven, Hell, and the Afterlife: Eternity in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, volume 1 (Santa Barbara, Ca: Praeger, 2013), pp. 169-180. Further information.

Plenary Lecture, Science and Religion Forum

Divine Action for Jewish Evolutionists. Daniel Langton will give a plenary lecture about Jewish engagement with darwinism at the annual conference of the Science and Religon Forum, which this year has as its theme 'Chance or Providence? Religious Perspectives on Divine Action'. 5-7 Sept 2013 at the University of Chester. Further information.

BBC Radio 4

Sunday Programme: Religious News. 11 Aug 2013. CJS honorary fellow Dr. Yaakov Wise is among those discussing how the new Manchester Eruv will affect Jewish life. Listen again: mp3 or wav.

New appointment

The Centre welcomes Dr. Dan Garner, who has been appointed Lecturer in Jewish Studies to cover Daniel Langton's research leave, 2013-15. Dr. Garner completed his PhD at Manchester in 2010 and is the author of Antitheodicy, Atheodicy and Jewish Mysticism in Holocaust Theology (2012).