The European Association For Jewish Studies

Charity Number: 1136128

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £184,283 (2024)
  • Annual Expenditure: £140,903 (2024)
  • Grant Range: £1,600 - £8,000 (Conference Grants); up to £2,500 (Research Grants)
  • Decision Time: Approx 3-4 months (announced July for March/April deadline)
  • Geographic Focus: Europe-wide
  • Membership Required: Yes (Full or Student Members)

Contact Details

Website: https://eurojewishstudies.org

Email: admin@eurojewishstudies.org

Phone: 01865 610439

Grant-Specific Support:

Jonathan Starbrook (Funding Consultant, University of Manchester) - available for independent advice on grant applications

Administration:

  • Dr. Simon Mayers - Chief Administrator
  • Dr. Željka Oparnica - Grants Assistant

Overview

Founded in 1981 by Professor Jacob Neusner to “stabilise and consolidate” Jewish Studies in Europe, the European Association for Jewish Studies (EAJS) is the sole umbrella organisation representing academic Jewish Studies across Europe. Registered as a UK charity (No. 1136128) in 2010, the EAJS operates with an annual income of approximately £184,000, primarily funded by the Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe. The organization supports scholarly research through two main grant programmes launched in 2015 (Conference Programme) and 2023 (Small Research Programme). In 1995, the Rothschild Foundation established a permanent secretariat at Yarnton Manor, home of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. The EAJS serves the academic community through periodic conferences, a bi-annual journal (European Journal of Jewish Studies), a monthly newsflash, and extensive grant-making activities. The organization's strategic focus centres on fostering cooperation among scholars across Europe, supporting early career researchers, and developing professional networks in Jewish Studies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Conference Grant Programme in European Jewish Studies

Funding: £1,600 - £8,000 per event (depending on duration and participant numbers)

Online Events: Up to £1,500 for technical support and systems

Supports two types of academic events:

  • EAJS Conferences
  • EAJS Summer/Winter Schools

Events can be in-person, online, or hybrid format. Recent funded conferences (2023-24) include topics ranging from Jewish heritage in Ukraine, Jews and colonialism, gender and sexuality in Jewish studies, to digital humanities applications.

Application Method: Online application form, annual deadline typically in March/April

Small Research Grant Programme (SRGP)

Funding: Up to £2,500 for archival and library research

Payment Structure: Grants up to £1,500 paid in full upfront; amounts over £1,500 paid in two instalments

Support for individual research trips to archives and libraries related to Jewish Studies. The programme runs twice annually (two rounds per year). In the first year (2023-24), 15 grants were awarded in Round 1 and 8 in Round 2. Funded research has covered diverse topics including converso records in Valencia, Ethiopian manuscripts, Holocaust refugees, and Jewish prostitution in Eastern Europe.

Application Method: Online application form via Cognito Forms, semi-annual deadlines (typically late November and late May)

Priority Areas

The EAJS supports research across the full spectrum of Jewish Studies, including:

  • Historical studies (ancient to contemporary periods)
  • Religious and textual studies
  • Holocaust and refugee studies
  • Cultural and literary studies
  • Digital humanities approaches to Jewish Studies
  • Gender and sexuality in Jewish contexts
  • Jewish communities in global/colonial contexts
  • Hebrew and Yiddish linguistics
  • Philosophy and intellectual history

Key Selection Criteria:

  • Scholarly excellence
  • Potential to develop research cooperation in Jewish Studies across Europe
  • Network building and international collaboration (particularly important for conference grants)
  • Support for early career researchers

What They Don't Fund

  • Honoraria payments (explicitly prohibited)
  • Translation or publication expenses for Small Research Grants
  • Projects outside academic Jewish Studies
  • Events or research without clear connection to European academic networks
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (6 members, unpaid)

  • Dr. Javier Castaño - President (2023-2027), Senior Research Scientist in Jewish History at Spain's National Research Council (CSIC)
  • Professor François Guesnet - Secretary
  • Professor Pablo Torijano - Treasurer
  • Professor Miriam Rürup - President-Elect (2027-2031)
  • Professor Miri Rubin
  • Dr. Marzena Zawanowska

Executive Committee

  • Professor Elisabeth Hollender
  • Dr. Vladyslava Moskalets
  • Professor Daniel Stökl Ben Ezra
  • Professor Bart Wallet
  • Dr. Milan Žonca

All trustees and committee members are academic experts in Jewish Studies from European institutions, reflecting the organization's commitment to scholarly governance.

Key Historical Quote

Professor Jacob Neusner (founding proposal, 1980): “My recent trip to lecture at a number of universities in Germany, France, The Netherlands, and Britain, left the impression that Judaic studies in Europe are now poised for an important step of stabilisation and consolidation.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Membership Requirement: All applicants must be current, fully paid-up EAJS members. Membership is not expensive, with fees based on salary bands:

  • Salary Band A (£0-£20,000): £40
  • Salary Band B (£20,000-£40,000): £50
  • Salary Band C (£40,000-£60,000): £60
  • Salary Band D (£60,000+): £100
  • Student Members: Free

Conference Grant Programme:

  • Annual call announced on EAJS website and monthly newsflash (typically January/February)
  • Recent deadlines: 20 March 2025, 22 February 2024, 30 April 2023
  • Submit via online application form
  • Main applicant must be based at host institution and be Full EAJS member
  • Co-applicants need not be EAJS members, though most participants expected to be from European academic institutions

Application Requirements:

  • Description of core theme, topic, or discourse
  • Rationale and justification for the event
  • Duration and venue details
  • Explanation of how event enhances academic cooperation and networking across Europe
  • For conferences: names of scholars already committed to participate
  • Budget showing evidence of ability to fund any amount exceeding the award

Small Research Grant Programme:

  • Semi-annual calls (two rounds per year)
  • Recent deadlines: 29 May 2025 (Round 2), 30 November 2025 (Round 1)
  • Submit via online Cognito Forms application
  • Open to Full Members (Europe-based) and Student Members (PhD students at European institutions)

Application Requirements:

  • CV (up to 2 pages)
  • List of up to 10 publications
  • Evidence of expertise and track record in proposed research area
  • Description of archival/library research planned
  • Cannot be used for honoraria, translations, or publication expenses

Decision Timeline

Conference Grants: Successful applicants typically notified by late July (for March/April deadlines), with award letters sent by mid-August. Total timeline approximately 3-4 months from deadline to notification.

Small Research Grants: Timeline not publicly specified, but awards announced semi-annually after each round closes.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, based on available data:

  • Conference Programme 2023-24: 10 events funded
  • Small Research Programme Year 1, Round 1: 15 grants awarded
  • Small Research Programme Year 1, Round 2: 8 grants awarded

The total number of applications received is not published, making percentage success rates unavailable.

Reapplication Policy

No explicit restrictions on reapplication are mentioned. The organization encourages members to seek advice from their funding consultant, Jonathan Starbrook, for support in developing stronger applications. Members are advised to contact him for independent advice about successfully applying for both EAJS grants and external funding opportunities.

Application Success Factors

EAJS-Specific Criteria

For Conference Grants:

  • “Academic excellence and the impact on network building in Jewish Studies across Europe will be key criteria”
  • “International cooperation in the development of proposals is strongly encouraged”
  • Demonstrate how the event will enhance academic cooperation and networking across Europe
  • Show commitment from named scholars (applications strengthened by confirmed participants)
  • Clear connection to European Jewish Studies community

For Research Grants:

  • “Scholarly excellence as well as the potential to develop research cooperation in the disciplines constituting Jewish Studies across Europe will be key criteria”
  • Strong track record demonstrated through CV and publications
  • Clear research objectives with specific archival or library needs
  • Potential for scholarly contribution to Jewish Studies field

Funded Project Examples (2023-24)

Recent successfully funded conference topics demonstrate the breadth of acceptable proposals:

  • Digital humanities in Jewish Studies (#DHJewish Conference)
  • Jewish artistic heritage of Ukraine
  • Modern Talmudic hermeneutics (Winter School)
  • Jews, gender, and sexuality (multidisciplinary approaches)
  • Jews and colonialism in Africa
  • Enhancing publication skills in Jewish Studies
  • Tefillah (prayer) as Jewish knowledge

Recent research grant recipients covered:

  • Holocaust refugee histories in Shanghai, North China, and Manchuria
  • Jewish refugees in British colonial Africa
  • Prostitution in East European Jewish communities
  • Jews and citizenship politics in Romania 1938-1948
  • Violence and healing in Algerian War contexts
  • Lost notarial records of Valencia's conversos

Strategic Advice

Leverage the Funding Consultant: Jonathan Starbrook at University of Manchester is available specifically to advise on applications. Use this resource before submitting.

Emphasize European Cooperation: Both programmes prioritize projects that build networks across European institutions. Single-institution or single-country projects are less competitive.

Support Early Career Researchers: The organization explicitly values supporting early career scholars. Applications that provide opportunities for PhD students and postdocs are viewed favourably.

Post-Award Requirements: Successful applicants must provide:

  • Short financial report (how grant money was used)
  • Short academic report about research trip/event
  • Agreement to publish academic report on EAJS website

These reports become public examples of successful grants, so consider reviewing published reports to understand what the EAJS values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Membership is mandatory but affordable - join before applying, with fees as low as £40 annually (free for PhD students)
  • Two clear funding streams - conferences/events (£1,600-£8,000) and individual research (up to £2,500) with different application cycles
  • European cooperation is paramount - single-country or non-collaborative projects are significantly less competitive
  • Use the funding consultant - free expert advice available from Jonathan Starbrook (University of Manchester) specifically for EAJS applications
  • Early career focus - projects that develop professional networks for PhD students and early career scholars have strategic advantage
  • Academic excellence required - publications list and track record matter for research grants; confirmed prestigious participants matter for conference grants
  • Funded by Rothschild Foundation - understanding this core funder's mission (supporting Jewish Studies across Europe) helps align applications
  • Public reporting required - successful grants are published online, creating transparency about what gets funded (review past recipients before applying)

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References