International Forum of Young Scholars on East European Jewry

The Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Faculty of History, University of Warsaw, the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto, the University of Florida, the Program in Jewish Culture and Society at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow, is pleased to invite applications for the twelfth session of the International Forum of Young Scholars on East European Jewry.

This session will take place in Warsaw, hosted by POLIN Museum, the Jewish Historical Institute, and the Faculty of History, University of Warsaw. Its purpose is to promote the research and professional development of promising early-career scholars from around the world.

About the Forum

Since its founding in 2004, the Forum has been hosted by leading academic institutions in Europe and North America. Each session brings together 15 advanced PhD students (ABD) and early-career PhDs (before tenure-track appointments) from various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences related to East European Jewry.

The Forum provides a unique opportunity for participants to present and refine their research in dialogue with peers and an esteemed group of senior scholars. The faculty is led by Natalia Aleksiun, Eugene Avrutin, Israel Bartal, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, David Engel, Eli Lederhendler, Rebecca Kobrin, Anna Shternshis, Yfaat Weiss, and Marcin Wodziński.

Each session of the Forum includes:

• Research presentations by participants
• Professional-development workshops
• Visits to local archives and libraries
• Research trips to Jewish historical sites

These elements are designed to foster meaningful scholarly exchange, practical training, and immersion in relevant historical and cultural contexts.

The Nevzlin Center at the Hebrew University serves as the Forum’s permanent headquarters.
 

Eligibility and Application Guidelines

We welcome applications from scholars working in all fields of the humanities and social sciences related to East European Jewry.

Required Application Materials:

1. Cover letter with full contact details
2. Updated curriculum vitae (CV)
3. Scanned university transcript
4. List of publications (if applicable)
5. A two-page précis of your current research project
6. Two letters of recommendation (to be sent directly by the referees to the Nevzlin Center)

Please Note:

• Applicants who have participated in or applied to previous Forum sessions are welcome to reapply. However, priority in funding will be given to first-time applicants.
• All application materials must be submitted by January 31, 2026.
• Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by early March 2026.

Funding and Support

• Accommodation during the Forum will be fully covered by the organizers.
• Travel reimbursements are offered as follows:
  • Up to $300 for participants traveling from Israel
  • Up to $150 from Europe
  • Up to $500 from North America

Any additional travel expenses must be covered by the participant’s home institution or other funding sources.

Submission Instructions

Please send all application materials to:
merkaznev(at)savion.huji.ac.il 

Call for applications as PDF (non-accessible PDF)