International Winter School
Enhancing Publications Skills in the Field of Jewish Studies in East and East Central Europe
Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik,
February 5–7, 2024
For photo gallery of the event please click HERE
A group of institutions in the field of Jewish Studies (University of Wrocław, University of Warsaw, Charles University, Prague, University of Zagreb, Central European University, University of Vilnius, Ukrainian Catholic University, L’viv, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) held the Winter School at IUC in Dubrovnik, 5–7 February 2024 that was devoted to the enhancement of English-language publishing strategies and skills.
Our immediate goal was to bring together seasoned scholars and editors of academic publications with a group of younger doctoral or post-doctoral scholars to work together to maximize participants’ awareness of publishing strategies as well as techniques for recognizing and negotiating trans-local academic publishing cultures. Our long-term goal is to enhance the field’s exposure in reputable academic venues in general, and in English-language venues in particular.
Winter School was organized for three full days in four sessions and five text discussions as well as individual consultations. Sessions addressed different topics about enhancing publications skills with presentations of experienced scholars and editors in academic journals, while text discussions included papers presented and prepared for publication by young scholars. Each session was followed by intense discussion.
Session 1: Variety and types of academic journals, and how to choose among them; typology of scholarly publications and their characteristics (research article, documentary publications, polemics, reviews, etc.). Publications and academic evaluation/promotion included the “Journal and publishing strategy” presentation by Marcin Wodzinski (University of Wroclaw, Taube Department of Jewish Studies). Pavel Sladek (Charles University in Prague, Department of Middle Eastern Studies) held a presentation on the importance of bibliometrics in today’s research and publishing strategies. Jurgita Verbickiene (Vilnius University, Faculty of History) had a presentation on COARA-Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment.
Text Discussion 1 was moderated by Jurgita Verbickiene (Vilnius University) on “Regulations of Jewish Life in Radzwill-owned Private Towns from the End of the Sixteenth until the Beginning of the Eighteenth Centuries” by Aivaras Poška (University of Vilnius). The discussion focused on clarifying the terminology and particular position of private towns as opposed to other types of town administration.
On the second day, Session 2 started with Formulating a research argument and organizing source materials for a successful article/publication moderated by Semion Goldin (Hebrew University of Jerusalem – Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry). Michael Miller (Central European University in Vienna) offered an example of how to phrase a relevant research question, illustrating it with his article on Czech-Jewish history. He also explained how to approach different audiences by considering differences between fields and journals of Jewish Studies and others. Eli Lederhendler (Hebrew University of Jerusalem – Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry) explained the peer review process. He also elaborated on the issue of how authors treat their text that is initially written in another language and then translated into English for publishing. He stressed the importance of contextualizing certain parts of the research into the broader global framework.
In Text Discussion 2, moderated by Pavel Sladek (Charles University in Prague), Olga Petrova (Central European University in Vienna) presented her paper “Ukrainian-Jewish Rapprochement Through the Prism of Letters: Solomon Goldman and His Correspondence in Ukrainian,” followed by a discussion on Jewish and non-Jewish sources available for the researchers.
In Text Discussion 3, moderated by Karolina Szymaniak (University of Wroclaw, Taube Department of Jewish Studies), Ulyana Kyrchiv (Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv) presented her paper “Blood from the Sky: Piotr Ravicz’s novel about the Holocaust as a source for studying his intellectual biography.” The discussion that followed addressed the genres of biography in the research.
In Session 3: Structure and style in scholarly publications. Most common mistakes in preparing scholarly publications moderated by Eli Lederhendler (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Scott Ury (Unversity of Tel Aviv, Department of Jewish History) presenting in the capacity of Senior Editor of the journal History and Memory: Studies in Representation of the Past gave a presentation on what makes a good submission and a successful publication process and how long the reviewing process could be, as well as tips on how to prepare article before submission. His presentation was followed by Karolina Szymaniak (University of Wroclaw, Taube Department of Jewish Studies), the co-editor of journal East European Jewish Affairs and continued by open discussion.
On the third day, Michael Miller (Central European University in Vienna) moderated Text Discussion 4, during which Anna Kroupova (Charles University in Prague) presented her paper “Post-war Transit of Jewish Refugees in Historical and Ideological Context Re-defining Bricha Through the Case Study of Czechoslovakia.” The discussion focused on the issue of transnationality, with many examples from different areas of Central and Eastern Europe.
In Text discussion 5, moderated by Naida-Michal Brandl (the University of Zagreb, Chair for Jewish and Holocaust Studies), Katarzyna Kwiatkowska-Moskalewicz (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań) presented her paper “Great Terror in Kharkiv of the 1930s. The Case of Konrad Weisselberg and Anna Mykalo” followed by discussion and suggestions. The primary focus of the paper problematized the issue of the sources, which, in this case, were letters and documents referring to interrogations during the Stalinist terror.
During Session 4: Individual consultations, the participants had a chance to meet with senior staff members for individual conversations about their research projects, the plans for publication, etc.
List of Participants
Staff
- Michal Brandl, University of Zagreb
- Andrea Feldman, University of Zagreb
- Semion Goldin, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Eli Lederhendler, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Michael L. Miller, Central European University
- Jurgita Verbickienė, University of Vilnius
- Pavel Sládek, Charles University, Prague,
- Karolina Szymaniak, University of Wroclaw and EEJA
Participants
- Timo Aava, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Anna Berezowska, University of Wroclaw
- Dovilė Capaitė Gile, University of Vilnius
- Anita Fiket, University of Zagreb
- Viktoria Gerasimova, Warsaw University
- Agata Grzybowska-Wiatrak, Warsaw University
- Emilia Hruszowiec, University of Wroclaw
- Marijana Kardum, University of Zagreb
- Karolina Koprowska. Jagellonian University, Cracow
- Uliana Krichiv, Ukrainian Catholic University, L'viv,
- Katarzyna Kwiatkowslka – Moskalewicz, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
- Anna Kroupova, Charles University, Prague
- Aleksandra Naróg, Jagellonian University
- Olga Petrova, Central European University
- Aivaras Poška, Lithuanian Institute of History, Vilnius
- Nikola Svobodníková, Palacký University, Olomouc
- Iulia Ticărău, University of Sibiu