Bogdanow Lectures 2026

Holocaust and Jewish Studies. The CJS is delighted to announce that the Bogdanow Lectures in Holocaust Studies 2026 will be given by Professor Susannah Heschel (Dartmouth and Harvard University). The lectures are entitled: The Yellow Star in Church: Baptized Jews in Nazi Germany and It's Happening Here: Antisemitism in the United States. 16 and 17 February 2026, 5.30pm, on campus and online. Venue TBA via registration, which is required - tickets here.

Creative Careers Workshop

For students. Interested in a creative career? Find out what freelancing really involves from professionals working in the music, TV, media and publishing industries. Take part in interactive activities to build your confidence and develop key freelancing skills and hear practical advice from industry experts on how to get started. Run in partnership with the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), SALC and the Careers Service. Go along to the workshop on 25th February. Further information.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 23rd February: Professor Loveday Alexander (University of Chester/Manchester), "Holy Ghost Greek? Calibrating the Linguistic Register of Luke and Acts", 3-5pm, Room A116 Samuel Alexander Building and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Going Beyond Belief Highlights

Public resource. Has Judaism Updated the Word of God? Alex Samely explores the issue of how ancient religions transmit their content, practices, and ideas to a new generation on his Beyond Belief page. He discusses whether the commandments given in sacred scriptures are received as immutable and what effect such debates have on contemporary Jewish practices. This page, aimed at RS A-level students, is based on Alex’s research on the development of Jewish thought and is complementary to Radio 4’s Beyond Belief programme on ‘Why Religions Change’

Islamic Society and Christian Union Event

Student event. For the first time, Manchester Islamic Society and Manchester Christian Union are co-hosting a joint event to learn, discuss and understand each others' faiths in an open, friendly environment. Wednesday 4th February, 7-9pm in Academy 3, Student Union.

Sherman Conversation in Jewish Studies

Jewish studies event. Prof. Susannah Heschel (Dartmouth) and Dr. Roy Bar Sadeh (Manchester) in conversation "Muslim-Jewish Modernity: Towards an Entangled History?" Chaired by Dr. Tom Woerner-Powell (Manchester). Wednesday 18th February 2026, 5.30-7.00pm, on campus and online. Venue TBA via registration, which is required - tickets here.

Holocaust Memorial Day Event

Event. All students and staff welcome and encouraged to join the Holocaust Memorial Day Event led by the Jewish Society. Includes talks from Michael Newman, CEO of the Association of Jewish Refugees, and Stuart Ferster, son of Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster. Tuesday 3rd February, 2pm-3pm, in Club Academy, Basement Floor, Steve Biko Students' Union Building, Oxford Road, M13 9PR. Admission free but tickets needed. Get tickets here.

Grant Success

Biblical studies. Colleagues in the Centre for Biblical Studies have been awarded a Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Arts and Languages (CIDRAL) Grant for the project "Encountering Biblical Bodies". Led by Holly Morse, Siobhán Jolley, and Peter Oakes, they are working with Dr Gillian Redfern and other colleagues across the School to host an exhibition in March the Creative Manchester Glass Corridor gallery in Samuel Alexander and also a symposium later in the semester. Further updates to follow.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Honorary research fellow Helen R. Jacobus has published "A Response to the Alleged Fallacy of Jaubert's Hypothesis: The Question of Biblical Calendars and the 364-day Year in the Qumran Flood Calendar," Harvard Theological Review 118.4 (2025): 617-639. It's open access so read it here. Helen presented this paper in the Ehrhardt seminar a few years ago.

PhD Success

Biblical studies. Congratulations to Rachel Miller who has successfully completed and defended her PhD titled "Of Metaphors and Men: An Intersectional Analysis of Women’s Agency, Men’s Violence, and Victim-Blaming in the Hebrew Bible". Rachel was supervised by Holly Morse and Todd Klutz.

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. Emeritus Professor George Brooke has published a short essay: “The Dead Sea Scrolls as Archaeological Artifacts,” in A Voice from the Desert: The Great Isaiah Scroll, ed. Marcello Fidanzio (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2026) pp. 14-19.

Career Spotlight: Public Relations Officer

For students. Enjoy writing, relationship-building, and shaping how organisations are seen? Public relations officers help manage reputation, create engaging content, and communicate key messages to the public and the media. Your RELT degree develops excellent communication skills, cultural awareness, and the ability to analyse complex issues, all highly valued in PR and communications roles. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers meeting to discuss your career ideas further. 

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 9th February: Professor Peter Oakes (University of Manchester), "A New Approach to Use of Manuscripts in Commentary Writing", 3-5pm, Room A116 Samuel Alexander Building and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.