The manuscripts of the Greek Bible include several books that, for historical reasons, were not included in the Hebrew Bible. These so-called ‘deuterocanonical’ books (or “apocrypha”) form a diverse corpus expressing different genres, from narratives to didactic and sapiential texts. Recent studies have moved beyond analyzing these texts solely in relation to the New Testament background, now examining them as integral expressions of the cultural, literary, religious, and political milieu of Second Temple Judaism.
Although the early rabbinic tradition did not assign these texts the same significance that they later held in the Christian tradition, the history of their transmission testifies to how Jewish communities considered them an integral part of Israel's cultural heritage. At the same time, the dynamism of the forms and modes by which these texts were transmitted and received in late antiquity, the Middle Ages, and early modernity reveals a vibrant tradition that offers new perspectives for inquiry into the linguistic, historical, and religious context in which they were produced and received.
Call for PapersWe welcome papers that explore topics such as:
Abstracts (up to 500 words), as well as a short academic biography, should be sent before 31st of July to:
davide.damico@univ-lorraine.fr.
Acceptance will be communicated by the 10th of August.
The conference will be held from the 5th to the 6th of November in Metz, France.
BIAJS marks its 50th anniversary with the annual conference, this year in Glasgow.
The British and Irish Association for Jewish Studies (BIAJS) was founded in 1975 as the British Association for Jewish Studies (BAJS). BIAJS was founded as a learned society and professional organization on a non-profit-making basis. Its aims are to nurture, cultivate and advance the teaching and research in Jewish culture and history in all its aspects within Higher Education in Britain and Ireland. Past presidents include Geza Vermes and James Barr.
The call for abstracts is open now until 14 Feb (an extended deadline):
https://bajsbulletin.wpcomstaging.com/2024/11/06/cfp-biajs-conference-2025-border-crossing-in-jewish-studies-glasgow-university-7-9-july-2025/
Conference registration will be open in due course. For now information about the conference venue and dates is here:
https://bajsbulletin.wpcomstaging.com/2024-conference-registration-and-information/
BIAJS encourages the submission of paper and panel proposals on any topic, although paper and panel proposals on the given theme are particularly welcome.