In addition to the grant from the Dorset Foundation announced in a previous newsletter, the Centre has recently received a major contribution from the Polonsky Foundation in support of the Oxford Seminars in Advanced Jewish Studies.
As reported in the Winter 2011 newsletter, the first seminar will take place in 2012-13, and will focus on the topic of Orthodoxy, Theological Debate and Contemporary Judaism: Exploring Questions Raised in the Thought of Louis Jacobs. The Seminar will address the place of rational debate in contemporary Judaism, changing approaches to the interpretation of revelation, the impact of gender issues and the viability of concepts such as inclusivism, pluralism and openness in Orthodox Judaism. The Seminar will be led by Dr Miri Freud-Kandel (Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies) and Dr Adam Ferziger (Bar-Ilan University).
The Centre is grateful to the Friends of Louis Jacobs for their support of this project. Fellowship applications are now being accepted.