Reading Group, Jewish-Muslim relations

Jewish-Muslim Research Network Reading Group. Dr Michael Miller (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany) will be leading the discussion on Ethan Michaeli’s 'Another Exodus: The Hebrew Israelites from Chicago to Dimona' (1999) and Martina Könighofer’s 'Israelites and Ishmaelites' (2008). September 27, 1-2 p.m., University of Manchester.  Further information. 

Research Seminar, Manchester

Religion and Theology. Dr Katie Edwards (Sheffield) discussed 'Rape Myths and Gospel Truths: The Bible and Sexual Violence'. 26 September 2019.  Further information. 

Seminar, University of Glasgow

Jewish studies.  Stefania Silvestri gave a paper on "Judaism and Material Culture: Identity, Memory and Gender", 4pm Tues 24 September and Holly Morse will give a paper on "The Desiring Eye: Seeing Sex in the Hebrew Bible", 4pm Fri 4 October, Upper seminar room, 4 Professors' Square, University of Glasgow. As part of the Theology and Religious Studies Research Seminar series. Further information.

Reading group, Phenomenology

Art and phenomenology. Alex Samely will convene the reading group on 'Phenomenological Engagements with Art', with works by Heidegger, Levinas, and Nancy. The first and second sessions will be Wed 18 Sept and Wed 2 Oct at 5pm in  Seminar Room 1, Graduate School, Manchester University, Ellen Wilkinson Building Section C. Further information.

Funding, Social Responsibility

Creative Manchester. Holly Morse has been awarded £1000 from the SALC Social Responsibility Funding scheme, as  a contribution towards the development of a collaborative intitiative between Religions & Theology and BBC Radio 4's Beyond Belief programme, working with teachers, students and curriculum developers.

New Publication

Theology and the city. A project of the Lincoln Theological Institute, Multiple Faiths in Postcolonial Cities (Dunn, J., Joziasse, H., Patta, R.B., Duggan, J. (Eds.) was published in August 2019. Three of the editors are current or former PhD students at The University of Manchester. Further information. 

Bogdanow Lectures 2019

Holocaust Studies. We are delighted to announce that the Bogdanow Lectures in Holocaust Studies 2019 will be given by Prof Tony Kushner (University of Southampton) on the topic 'Illegality: Jews and Other Humans'. Lectures at 6pm 23 and 24 Sept 2019, A113 Samuel Alexander Building. The event is open to the public and there is no need to book a place. Further information.

Public Lecture, Austria

Creativity. Michael Hoelzl (Manchester), co-founder of the Children's University, gave an interactive lecture to students on Leonardo da Vinci, exploring the question, 'What is, and how do you become, a genius?' The lecture was followed by a workshop in which the students reconstructed one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most fascinating inventions: the so-called 'Leonardo Bridge'. Campus, FH Steyr, Austria, 29 August 2019. Further information.

Student news, scholarship

German and Theology. Siobhan Jolley (PhD student, Manchester) attended the German (and) Theology International Summer School at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mains, Germany, after being awarded a full scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauchdienst. July 2019. Further information.

New Jewish Studies resources

Shoah Foundation Archive. The USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive is now available through The University of Manchester Library. With more than 54,000 video testimonies of survivors and witnesses of genocide, this resource promises to be a valuable addition to our holdings. Access by keying the full title into Library Search or by scrolling down to “U” on the Databases A–Z listing. If you are working from an off-campus location you will need to complete an initial registration in order to access it. If you have any queries about this please get in touch with our Electronic Resources Helpdesk at uml.eresources@manchester.ac.uk or phone 0161 275 7388. Further information.

Conference participation, Marburg

Biblical Studies. Peter Oakes recently attended the annual meeting of the Society of New Testament Studies (SNTS), held this year in Marburg, where he chaired one of the papers. The Oberhessische Presse (1.8.19) dedicated a half-page spread to the opening because the last meeting there, in 1954, chaired by Rudolf Bultmann, marked a key step of reintegration of post-war German biblical scholarship into international discourse. Another paper was presented by Fred Tappenden (PhD Manchester, 2012), who is now Principal and Professor of Theology at St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta, Canada. 30 July - 2 August. Further information.

Teaching successes

Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. Congratulations to Andy Boakye as a recipient of the Faculty Students’ Outstanding Teaching Award, and also to Holly Morse, Ketan Alder, and Katja Stuerzenhofecker for all having been nominated. These awards are a way of recognising those members of staff who make an outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. Students were asked to nominate those teachers who consistently provided a well-organised course that was taught effectively, supported through high-quality assessment/feedback and inspired and challenged them to learn. For other examples of local teaching success, see the Dept's record on student evaluations earlier this year.

Religion in... the BBC

Jewish studies. 'The New Yorker reviving Jewish life on a holiday island.' An American who landed in Majorca five years ago soon found himself working to revive the Mediterranean island's Jewish community - with the help of families forced to convert from Judaism to Christianity 500 years ago. Further information.