‘United in Diversity’ – An Interdisciplinary Study of Contemporary European Jewry and Its Reflection Erasmus Project

Project Title

‘United in Diversity’ – An Interdisciplinary Study of Contemporary European Jewry and Its Reflection

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Research and innovation; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage

Project Summary

CONTEXT
 For millennia, European Jewish culture has represented “the Other” for Europe,  necessary for Europe’s self-definition. At the same time, however, in the narrower sense of Judaism and in the broader dimension of Jewish culture, Jews were at the birth and development of the European cultural sphere as we know it today. This phenomenon of the dual position of the Jewish minority in relation to the majority, which is not entirely unusual for Jewish Diaspora communities, manifested itself most distinctly on the European continent. The basic intention of the proposal was to encourage debate and reflection on the relevance of the European Jewish experience for contemporary Europe.
 OBJECTIVES
 The project’s main objective was to map the European Jewish heritage and thinking from an interdisciplinary point of view and to create a theoretical approach attempting to respond to current European challenges of social inclusion, non-discrimination and equality issues.
 These objectives were achieved during two subsequent phases: the initial one involved research, i.e., data collection and analysis. In the second phase, as a follow-up, a collective monograph under the working title: ‘United in Diversity’ – An Interdisciplinary Study of Contemporary European Jewry and Its Reflection was written and prepared for publishing.
 PARTICIPANTS
 Nine participants from four different universities Charles University (CUNI), Tel Aviv University (TAU), The Moses Mendelssohn Center for European Jewish Studies, University of Potsdam (MMZ/UP), Comenius University (CU) carried out the project. Prof. Jiří Holý and Dr. Marcela Menachem Zoufalá from CUNI, Prof. Dina Porat, Dr. Haim Fireberg, and Prof. Lilach Lev-Ari from TAU, Prof. Dr. Julius H. Schoeps and Dr. Olaf Glöckner from MMZ/UP, and Prof. Dr. Eduard Nižňanský and Katarína Bohová from CU.
 ACTIVITIES
 Exploration of the given subject, presented in various aspects under this project, aspired to achieve a deeper understanding of European identity through its reflection in Judaism.
 Specific activities were a Data collection/analysis; Learning/teaching material – an Academic publication, establishing of the Website; Transnational project meetings, and a conference – Multiplier event.
  RESULTS
 There are two different types of results achieved by this project: outputs and outcomes. The most significant intellectual output is the preparation of the above-mentioned collective monograph. This result is based on extensive research fieldwork, i.e., data collection and analysis in several European countries, representing the second output. The third meaningful output is a virtual platform, a website called “United in Diversity.”
 Among the results of the project are also listed the intangible ones. –  The outcomes include increased knowledge and improved abilities in the given field due to mutual learning and sharing each other’s views and experiences. A raised socio-cultural awareness, which was simultaneously one of the project’s main priorities, might also certainly be considered an added value.
 IMPACT
 The proposed project has a wide and complex effect on all local, national, and even international – mainly European – levels. There are four target groups identified that were reached and involved by dissemination activities:
 (1)university students, PhDs, and post-docs
 (2) faculty members and researchers
 (3) press and general public
 (4) public actors, civil society representatives, and the EU and national decision-makers
 Interested academics, non-academic groups, and individuals worldwide can benefit from the project’s results and additional achievements. Thank Open Access, virtual platform, and recorded conferences (organized without exception free of charge), everyone is invited to share and discuss the results of the acquired scholarship. The project’s intellectual outputs are also naturally available through the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform.
 LONGER-TERM BENEFITS
 The completed project emphasized the importance of the diverse and shared European cultural heritage by numerous means. In the long run, it is our ambition to directly reinforce the socio-economic sector by supporting new working positions and simultaneously strengthening tolerance and respect for diversity. The authentic idea of peaceful co-existence will be fastened.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 181906 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERZITA KARLOVA & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• UNIVERZITA KOMENSKEHO V BRATISLAVE
• TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
• Moses Mendelssohn Zentrum