We are excited to invite the submission of volumes and monograph proposals for the series Research in Latin American Jewish Studies (RLAJS).
Spanning the Humanities and Social Sciences and embracing interdisciplinary and comparative approaches, RLAJS seeks to redefine and expand the boundaries of Jewish and Latin American Jewish Studies.
This series aims to develop groundbreaking methodologies and draw upon the depth of Jewish thought to foster new epistemologies. We focus on both contemporary phenomena and the historical development of Jewish cultures in Latin America, including its islands and the Caribbean.
We welcome studies on a wide range of themes, including but not limited to:
- Transnational Perspectives: Problematizing relationships between the Global South and the North through Jewish transnational experiences and examining how Jewish cultures have shaped and been shaped by modern Latin American states.
- Jewish Languages – Development and Contact: Exploring interactions between Jewish, autochthonous, and colonial languages at a time when Jewish linguistic traditions face challenges of decay and decline as well as analyzing Jewish glottopolitics across the continent.
- Historical and Future Studies: From early utopian visualizations of America in the 15th century to contemporary and speculative Jewish cultural expressions, including the impact of the Anthropocene and new predictive technologies.
- Social and Political Movements: Examining Jewish social development in Latin America, its sociopolitical interactions with Third-World movements, and research on Jewish involvement in Communism, Socialism, Anarchism, as well as the emerging right-wing echoes in the continent.
- Archival and Historiographic Studies: Unearthing national and Jewish archives across Latin America and other continents to advance Jewish Archival Studies.
- Migration, Diaspora, and International Relations: Analyzing power dynamics among nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico in their interactions with Israel, Spain, Germany, and the U.S., as well as among Latin American countries through Jewish perspectives.
- Peace and Conflict Studies: Contributions from Latin America to conflict resolution, political consciousness, and negotiation dynamics within Jewish communities.
- Allosemitism and Memory Studies: Analyses of anti-Jewish sentiment in Latin America and trauma studies related to genocide, dictatorship, and political violence as well as examinations of philosemitism across the continent and in comparative perspective.
- Middle East Representations: Sociopolitical and cultural perspectives on how Latin America and its Jewish communities respond to the Israeli-Palestinian war on one side, and peace-building efforts on the other, challenging and rethinking decolonial theories. Legal perspectives will also be welcome.
- Interdisciplinary and Philosophical Approaches: Addressing epistemology, ecocriticism, and Medical Humanities as they relate to Jewish experiences.
- Cultural and Liturgical Studies: Jewish Book Studies, aesthetics, contemporary art, musicology, and anthropological insights into liturgical transformations.
- Jewish Thought and Religious Studies: Investigating Jewish thought in Latin America and the reception of Western Jewish philosophy, as well as the development of religious practices; studying the anthropology of new practices of organization and orthodoxy in emerging Jewish communities and interfaith dialogue in Latin American countries.
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Submission Guidelines
We welcome book proposals and volumes in multiple languages (including Jewish languages), aligning with LAJSA’s advocacy for the multilingualism inherent in Jewish cultures. We seek contributions that foster interdisciplinary dialogues and methodological experimentation.Â
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How to Submit:
If you are interested in contributing to this groundbreaking series, please send a detailed book proposal, including:
- A three-page abstract
- Chapter outline
- A brief author bio
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Submit your materials to simania.lajsa@gmail.com and cynthia.gabbay@mail.huji.ac.il.
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We look forward to your innovative contributions that will enrich and redefine the field of Latin American Jewish Studies.
