Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies

From 28–30 August, the Jewish Music Institute will be presenting Yiddish Culture Weekend, a celebration of Yiddish language, culture and creativity!

Please find the programme attached, and for more information and tickets, visit the following website:
https://jmi.org.uk/news/yiddish-culture-weekend-2026-2/

We are delighted to announce, that as part of the Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages (OSRJL), applications for language classes beginning in Michaelmas Term 2026 are now open!

The deadline to apply is Thursday, 10 September 2026 at 12 noon UK time.

Classes beginning in Michaelmas Term 2026 include the following languages:

Haketia
Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic
Judeo-Italian
Judeo-Moroccan
Judeo-Neo-Aramaic
Judeo-Persian
Judeo-Tat
Karaim
Ladino
Old Yiddish
Yiddish

For more information on the programme and how to apply, please consult the OSRJL page on our website: https://www.ochjs.ac.uk/language-classes/oxford-school-of-rare-jewish-languages/

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Clara Pitocchi is one of our current DPhil students in the AMES Faculty!

'This year has been all about taking my research beyond the page.
My DPhil explores how Jews, Muslims, and Christians navigated the plural legal landscape of Fatimid Egypt, with a particular focus on how Jewish litigants strategically engaged with different legal systems. I've had the chance to present different aspects of my work at BRAIS in London and the International Medieval Congress in Leeds, where sharing ideas and receiving thoughtful feedback has been one of the highlights of the year.

'My favourite thing about OCHJS is that, despite being far from home, it has become a place where I truly feel at home—surrounded by people who are generous with their time, knowledge, and encouragement!'

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Luhai “Luka” Liu is one of our current DPhil students in the AMES Faculty, as well as our OSRJL Administrator.

'I'm researching the office of the Presbyter Iudeorum and what it reveals about how medieval English Jewry was governed and represented before the Expulsion of 1290. OCHJS has been an inspiring place to pursue this research, with its unique combination of scholarly resources, vibrant academic community, and commitment to Jewish studies.

'Working as the OSRJL Administrator has also given me the opportunity to contribute to that community while learning from it every day. As a Chinese student, I'm especially grateful to be part of an institution that encourages international dialogue, and I hope to help strengthen connections between Oxford and East Asia through the study of Jewish languages and history.'

On our webpage you can now find a letter from our President, Prof. Judith Olszowy-Schlanger, speaking on the importance of the Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages.

If you are able, please consider supporting this amazing school and its diverse range of programmes.

https://www.ochjs.ac.uk/letter-from-the-president-osrjl-fundraiser/

The Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies congratulates its Senior Associate Rabbi Dr Norman Solomon for being recognised in King Charles the III’s Birthday Honours List this year!

For more information, see the following page:
https://www.ochjs.ac.uk/kings-birthday-honours-list-2/ #

King’s Birthday Honours List - Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies The Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies congratulates its Senior Associate Rabbi Dr Norman Solomon for being recognised in King Charles the III’s Birthday Honours List this year! To consult the full list, please see here.

Congratulations to the winners of the Taube Prizes: Maxwell Benster, Oliver Geffen Obregon, and Hannah Scott-Ravikumar! And additional congratulations to those who received high commendations: Caleb Klein, Leah Schreiber, and Yovella Young!

Thank you to Taube Philanthropies for making these prizes possible.

https://www.ochjs.ac.uk/results-of-the-taube-prizes-for-student-writing-in-hebrew-jewish-studies/

We are delighted to invite you to our eighth and final of the term!

This Thursday, June 18th, Dr. Yogev Elbaz (Tel Aviv University & Salo & Jeannette Baron Visiting Fellow in Jewish History) will give a lecture titled: 'The Forgotten Periphery: Israel and South Arabia, 1962–1976'.

Join us online or in person at 6pm on Thursday! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dMzGqY5ETC6djzzjW5vHBg

We are delighted to invite you to our seventh of the term!

This Thursday, June 11th, Dr. Camilla Recalcati (Hebrew University & Salo and Jeannette Baron Visiting Fellow in Jewish History) will give a lecture to launch her new book, 'The Egyptian Background of the Septuagint: Evidence from Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus'.

Join us online or in person at 6pm on Thursday! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/J-RH7ueCQE6nwlSaYj1gEA

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: The Polonsky Academy for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute is now accepting applications for short-term residencies for early-career academics.

Applications must be submitted via email to [email protected] by June 15th, 2026!