The Centre for Studies of the Culture and History of East European Jews in co-operation with Lithuanian Institute of History invites applicants to participate in the fourth International Conference in Jewish Studies on March 4-5, 2008 in Vilnius.

The objective of the conference is to discuss factors which influenced the political, legal and social status of the Jews in East Central and Eastern Europe in the Early Modern period and the changes that took place in this status and in the political framework. Particular emphasis is on local and regional variants of the legal and political status of the Jews. The organizers encourage comparative analyses pertaining to other European ethnical and religious minorities (Tatars, Armenians, Romany, etc.) and social estates (nobleman, clergy, burgher and peasants). Christian societies of Europe attributed different social positions for the Jews (servi Camerae, non-burgher, not a member of Craftsmen Corporation, etc.), thus defining the position of the Jews in society and their possibilities of social and economic activities. Refused as members of the estates in Christian society, Jews developed alternative modes of circumventing segregation and integrating themselves into Christian society. The organizers encourage presentations discussing the transition from the Early Modern to the Modern period.

The following aspects of legal status of the Jews in Early Modern Europe will be considered:
• Forms of reception of Juden Recht and its local variations. The impact of Jewish privileges regarding the legal status of other national or religious minorities;
• Variations of non – estate Jewish status;
• Comparisons between the social and legal status of Jews and other national or religions minorities;
• Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe at the end of the Polish Commonwealth;
• Jews, burghers and peasants as objects of state reform discussion and as political agents in the 18th and early 19th century;
• The significance of emerging political frameworks at the end of the early modern period for the Jewish and other religious or ethnical communities.

In evaluation of applications and abstracts, preference will be given to new and original topics, based on previously unpublished research and unknown sources.
Working language of the conference: English. Length of presentation: 20 minutes.
Proceedings will be published. Presenters will be asked to reserve rights of publication for the organizers.
Organizers will cover costs of accommodation for all participants. Those who need travel grants are asked to refer to organizers.
Presenters are asked to send topics and abstracts of presentation (up to 300 words or one paper sheet) along with CV by e–mail: info@jewishstudies.lt until 15th of October.
Organizers will announce their final decision about participants by 15th December.

Organizing Committee:
François Guesnet – Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University of Oxford.
Judith Kalik – Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Larisa Lempertiené – Vilnius University, Department of History.
Larunas Liekis – Mykolas Romeris University and Vilnius Yiddish Institute.
Darius Staliunas – Lithuanian Institute of History.
Jurgita Verbickiené – The Centre for Studies of the Culture and History of East European Jews and Vilnius University.