Rights and Responsibility in Jewish Tradition
This year, the Western Region conference of the American Academy of Religion is examining present-day civil rights discourses, and the roles that religious groups, religious organizations, and scholars of religion can play in these conversations. Recent years had seen expansions, contractions, and redefinitions of civil rights, with significant real-world effects for women, marginalized ethnic groups, sexual minorities, religious minorities, and people with disabilities, among others. Civil rights issues also speak to who we are as communities on the local, state, and international level, touching on fundamental questions of freedom and responsibility, sometimes calling for careful adjudication between conflicting claims and values.
● What lessons can be drawn from Jewish history and present-day dynamics?
● Where might Jewish tradition and Jewish thought offer unique insights?
● Where do American Jews fit within the broader conversations taking place among and between different faith communities in the United States?
● What are the most difficult aspects of this conversation for Jews and Jewish Studies scholars?
● How can we, as Jewish Studies scholars, bring our unique perspectives to bear on these topics?
The Jewish Studies Unit of the AAR-WR welcomes papers responding to any aspects of the above topics and questions, from all disciplines pertaining to the study of Jews and Judaism.
The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2022.
Confrence March 24-26, 2023, at UC David aarwr.com
Click here for the full conference theme for this year and previous years: https://www.aarwr.com/conference-themes.html
Submissions should be sent to the Jewish Studies chairs – Roberta Sabbath (roberta.sabbath@unlv.edu) and Alexander Marcus (alexander.marcus@yale.edu) – and should include an abstract of 250 words as well as a Program Participant Form (https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b72795c0-e3c4…), and a personal statement.