CALL FOR PAPERS - Sixth International Conference JEWS IN A CHANGING WORLD (September 11-14, 2006. Riga, Latvia)

Sixth International Conference JEWS IN A CHANGING WORLD Latvian and Baltic Jews at the Crossroads of European History The conference will be held in Riga, Latvia, September 11-14, 2006 University of Latvia Main Building, 19 Rainis Boulevard The organizing committee is pleased to announce the Sixth International Conference JEWS IN A CHANGING WORLD, which will take place in Riga on September 11-14, 2006. The conference will be held in honor of the one-hundredth anniversary of the Peitavas Street Synagogue of Riga and will celebrate the one-hundredth birthday of the French-Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995). The conference organizers invite papers on the history and culture of Jews in Latvia and the Baltic region. Papers concerning Jewish culture in other countries historically tied with the Baltic region are also welcome. A Jewish Book Festival will be held during the conference at the Riga Jewish Community Center on 6 Skolas Street. There will be a session dedicated to the Jewish book on Monday, September 11, and a special session dedicated to Emmanuel Levinas on Thursday, September 14.

ORGANIZERS AND SUPPORTERS:

• Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Latvia 
• The Centre for the Study of East European Jewish Culture and History (Vilnius, Lithuania) 
• University of Latvia
• Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Latvia 
• “Sefer” Moscow Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization 
• Riga Jewish Religious Community 
• SHAMIR Jewish Religious Community (Latvia) 
• Association of Latvian and Estonian Jews in Israel 
• The Chais Center for Jewish Studies in Russian, The International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee 
• Latvian Council of Jewish Communities 
• Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration of Latvia 
• The Jewish Agency for Israel in Baltic States 
• Centre Culturel Francais Riga 
• Latvian Council of Christians and Jews

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

• Prof. H. Branover, Co-Chairman (Israel)
• Prof. R. Ferber, Co-Chairman (Latvia)
• G. Umanovska, Secretary (Latvia)
• V. Apinis (Latvia)
• Prof. A. Stranga (Latvia)
• A. Brazune (Latvia)
• I. Lapinska (Latvia)
• Prof. L. Dribins (Latvia)
• Rabbi M. Barkahan (Latvia)
• E. Sinkevica (Latvia)
• R. Bogdanova (Latvia)
• D. Kagan (Latvia)
• Prof. A. Kleckin (Latvia)
• Dr. G. Smirin (Latvia)
• A. Suharenko (Latvia)
• E. Valk (Israel)
• S. Urtane (Latvia)
• M. Vesterman (Latvia)

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

• Prof. Y.T. Assis (Israel)
• Prof. I. Bartal (Israel)
• Z. Elkin (Israel)
• Prof. O. Budnitsky (Russia)
• A. Ferdman (Latvia)
• Dr. S. Goldin (Israel)
• Dr. J. Hochbaum (USA)
• A. Beare (UK)
• C. Whippman (UK)
• P. Kalms (UK)
• Prof. R. Kaplanov (Russia)
• M. Leinwand (Israel)
• Dr. L. Lempertiene (Lithuania)
• J. Verbickiene (Lithuania)
• S. Babilius (Lithuania)
• Dr. V. Mochalova (Russia)
• Dr. A Podolsky (Ukraine)
• Dr. A. Shneer (Israel)
• Prof. J. Stradinsh (Latvia)
• Prof. J. Veinberg (Israel)
• Z. Vagner (Israel)

THE CONFERENCE INVITES PAPERS ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:

1. Jews in the Baltic States before 1918 
2. Jews in the Baltic States between the Wars (1918-1940) 
3. The Holocaust in the Nazi-occupied Baltic States 
4. Contemporary Jewry in the Baltic region: problems and prospectives 
5. Jewish thought and mysticism 
6. Baltic Jews and the State of Israel 
7. Special session dedicated to the one-hundredth anniversary Peitavas Street Synagogue of Riga 
8. Special session dedicated to the one-hundredth birthday of the French-Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995)
9. 9. Special session dedicated to the Jewish book

Allocated time for presenting a contributed paper – 20 minutes

Contributed papers will be published in a book of the proceedings.

WORKING LANGUAGES: English and Russian

DEADLINES:

June 15, 2006 Title and ca. 200-word abstract due (preferably by e-mail), with 5-line CV
July 15, 2006 Notification to authors of acceptance of papers
Sep 11, 2006 Full electronic version of papers must be submitted to the organizing committee before the start of the conference (maximum length of a contributed paper: 10 pages)

SEND ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:

“Jews in a Changing World” Conference
Center for Judaic Studies
University of Latvia
19 Rainis Blvd
Riga, LV-1586, Latvia
Fax: 371-7-225039 (with message - Center for Judaic Studies)
E-mail: jsc@latnet.lv  

YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT:

Gita Umanovska, Conference Secretary
Tel: +371-7325519
Mob. phone: +371-9452273
E-mail: gita@telenet.lv  

Valts Apinis,
Executive Director of the Center for Judaic Studies
Tel: +371-7034421
Mob. phone: +371-6745016
E-mail: jsc@latnet.lv  

REGISTRATION

There is no registration fee. Travel data and hotel booking details must be sent to G. Umanovska or to V. Apinis.

TRAVEL

The center of Riga is about a twenty minute drive from the airport. Taxi fare is about 20 eu from the airport to the center of Riga. The University of Latvia main building is a ten minute walk from the Central Railway Station and a fifteen minute walk from the Central Bus Station.

Visitors from the former Soviet Union outside the Baltics must prepare their visas in their home countries, using the special visa invitation forms provided by the conference organizers.

FOOD

Kosher meals may be ordered upon request.

ACCOMMODATION

Rooms may be reserved upon request. Reservation information may be found at www.allhotels.lv  

FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM FSU AND SOME COUNTRIES IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE

There possibly will be a limited number of grants to cover conference expenses (regular visa, travel fare via train or bus, decent accommodation in university dormitory double rooms, meals while the conference is in session).

Updated information about the conference will be available at
http://www.lu.lv/cjs

PRELIMINARY TIMETABLE

Monday, September 11
Arrival
Registration
17:00 – 20:00 Special session dedicated to the Jewish book

Tuesday, September 12
9:00 – 17:00 Conference sessions
18:00 – 20:00 Official opening of the conference

Wednesday, September 13
9:00 – 17:00 Conference sessions
Plenary meetings
Roundtable discussion

Thursday, September 14
9:00-15:00 Special session dedicated to the one-hundredth birthday of the French-Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas