The Joseph Carlebach Working Group at the University of Hamburg (CAK) was founded in 1991. To this day it is committed to promoting research and teaching on Jewish history, culture and religion in the Hanseatic city. A central concern of the interdisciplinary working group, which includes members of the University of Hamburg and the Institute for the History of the German Jews, is the promotion of academic exchange between Germany and Israel. In close cooperation with the Joseph Carlebach Institute at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan/Israel, conferences and workshops are organized on a regular basis. The establishment of a fellowship, which enables young scholars to spend a research period in Hamburg, is intended to strengthen scientific exchange through such an additional funding format.
The fellowship is awarded in memory of Miriam Gillis-Carlebach (1922-2020), the daughter of Joseph Carlebach. She stimulated research on Joseph Carlebach's writings through the founding of the Joseph Carlebach Institute, and was active as an educator and scholar in Israel. Born in Hamburg, she fled to what was then Mandatory Palestine in 1938, where she survived the Shoah. After returning to the Hanseatic city for the first time in 1983, she worked tirelessly to re-establish contacts to foster academic exchange and broader forms of remembrance. In 1995 Miriam Gillis-Carlebach, who had already spent a year researching in Hamburg in 1988/89 at the invitation of the Senate, was made an honorary senator of the University of Hamburg.
For 2025, the CAK is once again offering the Miriam Gillis-Carlebach Fellowship to promote innovative academic projects in the field of Jewish Studies and to further intensify academic exchange between Germany and Israel. The fellowship is aimed at young scholars (PhD candidates and post-docs up until 7 years after the PhD) pursuing projects that are thematically anchored in the CAK's research profile and field of activities (see: https://www.carlebach.uni-hamburg.de) and who wish to use the rich specialized libraries and/or holdings in the various archives of the city and region for their studies. It allows for a research stay of up to three months in Hamburg, which can be freely chosen in 2025. Presence in Hamburg during the fellowship is required and participation in CAK events is expected.
The fellowship amounts to 1,700 euros per month for PhD students and 1,900 euros per month for PostDocs. In addition, one-time travel expenses of up to 600 euros will be covered. If possible and needed, accommodation in a single apartment in the guest house of the University of Hamburg can be arranged at the fellow’s own expense. Fellows are required to arrange for a visa and health insurance in good time.
Applications in German or English must be received by 30 August 2024. The documents should include:
- a letter of motivation,
- project outline of up to 4 pages,
- a curriculum vitae including a list of publications (maximum 5 pages),
- and one letter of recommendation (only for applications of PhD students).
Please send a complete application in electronic form in one PDF file to:
kontakt@igdj-hh.de and bjoern.siegel@igdj-hh.de.
Inquiries about the Miriam Gillis-Carlebach Fellowship Program should be directed to:
Dr. Björn Siegel
Institute for the History of German Jews
Beim Schlump 83; 20144 Hamburg
bjoern.siegel@igdj-hh.de