Reading Group

Talmud and ancient law. The newly established Manchester Ancient Law reading group meets fortnightly at 5pm on Wednesdays in Samuel Alexander South 2.2. The first session on Wed 1 October offers a brief introduction to the study of the Babylonian Talmud. Marton Ribary will open the discussion by reading a short excerpt from bBerakhot 19b. The passage touches upon the tension between traditionalism and innovation. The sessions require no prior preparations from the participants. Further information.

Visiting Fellow, USA

Scholar of Rabbinics. The Centre warmly welcomes Prof. Natalie Polzer as a visiting SALC fellow for Aug-Dec 2014. She is an associate professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies at the University of Louisville. Among her publications is 'Durkheim's Sign Made Flesh: the 'Authentic Symbol' in Contemporary Holocaust Pilgrimage' (2014) and she is currently working on a book entitled Feminist Commentary on the Babylonian Talmud: Mishnah Avot and Mishnah Eduyyot. Further information.

Visiting Fellow, China

Historian of Anglo-Jewry. The Centre warmly welcomes Prof. Wang Benli as a visiting SALC fellow for 2014-15. He is a professor and Vice Head of the Humanities School at Suzhou University of Science and Technology, P.R. China, where he teaches, among other things, Jewish History and Culture. Among his many articles in Anglo-Jewish history are 'The Cultural and Educational Achievements of British Jews in the 19th Century' (2012)  and 'The Origin and Development of Anglo-Jewish History Studies' (2004). Further information.

Public Lecture

Archaeology of Death Camps. The keynote lecture at the forthcoming Corpses of Mass Violence and Genocide conference will be given by Dr. Caroline Sturdy Colls (Straffordshire University)  on the subject of "'Earth Conceal Not My Blood': Forensic and Archaeological Approaches to Locating Human Remains of Holocaust Victims" on Mon 8 September 2014, 2.00-3.30pm, University of Manchester, Room 4/5, Staff House (Manchester Meeting Place Building, no.13 on the campus map). Further information.

Modern Hebrew Language

Bursaries for students studying Hebrew in Israel. Sophie Garside has been awarded a grant from the BFHU (British Friends of the Hebrew University) of £5000 to support Manchester students' year-abroad programme at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2013-2014. The programme continues in the next academic year.

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship

Reading the Bible in the Ottoman Empire. Dr. Ben Williams has been successful in his application for a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship with the John Rylands Research Institute for a project entitled 'Reading the Bible in the Ottoman Empire: A New Chapter in Early Modern Jewish Exegesis'. Further information.