(Re-)Thinking Jewish CulturalHeritage in Light of Rabbinic Thought

Description

The workshop "(Re-)Thinking Jewish Cultural Heritage in Light of Rabbinic Thought" sought to explore the intersections between rabbinic conceptions of Jewish heritage and contemporary theoretical frameworks in Critical Heritage Studies. Jewish cultural heritage encompasses a rich tapestry of tangible and intangible elements, deeply rooted in religious, historical, and communal traditions as well as in secular Jewish cultural practices. Yet, the process of defining and understanding this heritage remains fraught with complexities, especially in the context of evolving cultural-political challenges and global discourses on identity, memory, and patrimony. Through close readings of rabbinic texts (and their various interpretations) alongside foundational and emergent works in Critical Heritage Studies, this workshop aimed to uncover how rabbinic ideas—e.g. on the preservation of memory, the transmission of tradition, and the sanctity of cultural objects and practices—can inform and challenge modern theoretical approaches of Jewish heritage as well as vice versa. Participants will critically engage with themes such as the role of heritage in shaping Jewish identity, the tensions between continuity and adaptation, and the socio-political dimensions of cultural heritage in contemporary Jewish communities. The collaborative format of the workshop emphasizes dialogue and synthesis. Scholars from diverse disciplines will survey the definitions and boundaries of Jewish cultural heritage, drawing on insights from rabbinic thought and critical theory to address the positioning of “Critical Jewish Heritage Studies” in the academic landscape. The workshop will culminate in the development of a joint position paper, articulating a critically informed framework for studying Jewish cultural heritage. This framework provides a robust scholarly foundation for future research into all forms of Jewish heritage, offering new pathways for its study, preservation, and reinterpretation in the 21st century.

Period	2025
Event type	Workshop
Location	Lund, SwedenShow on map