30th Anniversary of the Dubnow Institute

In the 30 years since it was established, the Dubnow Institute has developed into a renowned and internationally well-connected research institution focusing on Jewish history and culture. In challenging times, we wish to celebrate this occasion and at the same time take it as an opportunity to examine the past, present, and future of the institute through the lens of the core questions of our research agenda. In the process, we will also consider the development of Jewish studies in Germany and in Eastern Europe since the ruptures of the years 1989/90.

On 29 April 1994, the Saxon State Parliament voted unanimously to establish an Institute for Jewish History and Culture in Leipzig. One year later, this institute went into operation. Since 1996, it has been associated with Leipzig University through a cooperation agreement, becoming an affiliated institute in 2000. In 2018, the institute was accepted into the Leibniz Association.

On the recommendation of the establishing committee, the institute was named after Simon Dubnow (1860–1941). This Russian Jewish historian acted as a cultural intermediary between the Jewries of Eastern and Western Europe. This choice of name reflected the institute’s agenda: It was to serve the interdisciplinary and trans-epochal research of Jewish life above all in Central and Eastern Europe from early modernity through to the present. At the same time, Jewish history was always to be regarded in the context of its non-Jewish environment and understood as a seismograph of general historical developments.

Insight into the program

Celebratory event »30 Years of the Dubnow Institute« and 24th Simon Dubnow Lecture 

Im Schweigen der Ruinen der Gesang der Buchstaben.
Vermächtnisse der jiddischen Literatur
with Sabine Koller

Thursday, November 6, 2025, 5 p.m. 
Venue: Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig

Registration for the event is no longer possible.

Book presentation: »In Other People's Houses. Poles and Jews in Lower Silesia after 1945«
with Anna Holzer-Kawałko (Jerusalem) and Tim Buchen (Wrocław)

Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 6 p.m.
Location: Polish Institute Berlin – Leipzig Branch

Registration for the event is no longer possible.

Further information about the event
Further information about the publication

Times of Transformation
Annual conference

The Dubnow Institute's annual conference »Times of Transformation« will also take place from November 5 to 6, 2025. 

Further information 

Registration for the event is no longer possible.
Please note that space is limited. We ask for your understanding regarding bag and ID checks at the entrance.