I am posting this message which is rather long on behalf of Prof Ruvin
Ferber. The Conference promises to be very interesting and you may find it
possible to attend.
Summary of the suggested topics for discussion:
- Jews in Latvia >from 16th century to 1918: different historical and
cultural development in different provinces (Courland Jewry, Jews in
Latgale, Jews in Riga and Vidzeme);
- Jews in Lithuania and Estonia until 1918;
- Jews in the Baltic States between the wars (1918-1940);
- The Holocaust in Latvia and Baltics;
- Contemporary Jewry in the Baltic region: problems and prospects;
- Secular and religious philosophies and Jewish mysticism;
- Non-Ashkenazi communities.

Arlene Beare
President Latvia SIG


Subject: Riga conference

Fourth International Conference
JEWS IN A CHANGING WORLD
History and Culture of Jews in Latvia and Baltic Region
Riga, Latvia
November 20-22, 2001
University of Latvia Main Building, 19 Rainis Boulevard
In Honor of the 800th Anniversary of Riga (RIGA-800)
Sponsor: the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, New York
Honorary President of the Conference: N. Barkan, Chief Rabbi of Riga and
Latvia
Co-Chairmen of the Organizing Committee:
Prof. H. Branover (Israel)
Prof. R. Ferber (Latvia)
Organizers:
-Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Latvia (Riga, Latvia)
-M. Dubin Foundation of the SHAMIR Association (Riga, Latvia)
-Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture (New York, USA)
-The Chais Center for Jewish Studies in Russian, The International Center
for University
Teaching of Jewish Civilization, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
(Jerusalem, Israel)
-Latvian Council of Christians and Jews (Riga, Latvia)
-Latvian Academy of Sciences (Riga, Latvia)
-Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Beersheba, Israel)
The Fourth International Conference "Jews in a Changing World" will be held
in Riga, on November 20-22, 2001.
The conference invites - in honor of the 800th anniversary of the
foundation of the city of Riga - papers on the history and
culture of Jews in Latvia and the Baltic region, including the history of
Jewish communities and their religious, social, political life;
Jewish genealogy; education.
There will be special sessions on the dialogue between secular and
religious philosophies; Jewish mysticism; and non-Ashkenazi communities.
The conference also welcomes contributed papers on history and
Culture of Jews >from neighboring countries to the Baltic region such as
Belarus and Poland where Jewish culture once flourished.
Several invited lectures are planned on the above topics, as well as on an
historical overview of Baltic and European Jewry.
Contributed papers will be published in the book of proceedings.
Summary of the suggested topics for discussion:
- Jews in Latvia >from 16th century to 1918: different historical and
cultural development in different provinces (Courland Jewry, Jews in
Latgale, Jews in Riga and Vidzeme);
- Jews in Lithuania and Estonia until 1918;
- Jews in the Baltic States between the wars (1918-1940);
- The Holocaust in Latvia and Baltics;
- Contemporary Jewry in the Baltic region: problems and prospects;
- Secular and religious philosophies and Jewish mysticism;
- Non-Ashkenazi communities.



LANGUAGES: Latvian, English, and Russian with simultaneous translation.
DEADLINES:
July 15, 2001 Title and ca. 200-word abstract due (preferably by
e-mail), with 5 lines CV
Aug 15, 2001 Notification to authors of acceptance of papers
Nov 20, 2001 Full camera-ready papers must be submitted to the
Organizing Committee
before the start of the conference (electronic
version strongly recommended).
Papers submitted after might not be included in
the Proceedings.
Maximum length of contributed paper: 10 pages
SEND ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO EITHER:
In Latvia
Ruvin Ferber, Co-Chairman
University of Latvia
19 Rainis Blvd
Riga LV-1586 LATVIA
Tel: 371-7-615703
Fax: 371-7-820113
E-mail: ferber@...
Gita Umanovska, Conference Secretary
Center for Judaic Studies
University of Latvia
19 Rainis Blvd
Riga LV-1586 LATVIA
Tel: 371-7-325519, 371-2-271262
Mobile phone: 371-9-452273
E-mail: ugita@...
Aina Antane
Executive Director of the Center for Judaic Studies
University of Latvia
19 Rainis Blvd
Riga LV-1586 LATVIA
Tel: 371-7-034421
Mobile phone: 371-9-574526
Fax: 371-7-820113
E-mail: jsc@...
In Israel
Shulamith Friedman
SOLMECS Ltd.
POB 3026
Omer 84965 ISRAEL
Tel: 972-7-690-0950
Fax: 972-7-690-0953
E-mail: branover@...
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Prof. H. Branover, Co-Chairman (Israel)
Prof. R. Ferber, Co-Chairman (Latvia)
G. Umanovska, Secretary (Latvia)
A. Antane (Latvia)
Rabbi A. Bekker (Latvia)
Prof. L. Dribins (Latvia)
Z. Elkin (Israel)
A. Ferdman (Latvia)
Dr. J. Hochbaum (USA)
Z. Ioffe (Latvia)
I. Kanepaja (Latvia)
Prof. A. Kleckin (Latvia)
Dr. G. Krupnikov (Latvia)
V. Reznik-Martov (Latvia)
V. Rozite (Latvia)
Prof. S. Schreiner (Germany)
Dr. G. Smirin (Latvia)
Prof. A. Stranga (Latvia)
E. Valk (Israel)
M. Vesterman (Latvia)
Dr. Z. Wagner (Israel)

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Prof. Y.T. Assis (Israel)
Prof. I. Bartal (Israel)
A. Beare (UK)
M. Birk (Latvia)
Dr. M. Chernenko (Russia)
V. Dubnova (Russia)
Dr. M. Grubarg (Russia)
P. Kalms (UK)
Z. Katz (Latvia)
M. Leinwand (Israel)
Dr. N. Patlas (Israel)
Prof. S. Redlich (Israel)
Prof. J. Stradinsh (Latvia)
Prof. J. Veinberg (Israel)
C. Whippman (UK)
Prof. E. Zeiger (USA)

HISTORY OF THE "JEWS IN A CHANGING WORLD" CONFERENCES
*The First International Conference "Jews in a Changing World," held in Riga
on August 28-29, 1995, received considerable attention in Latvia and the
CIS. 37 papers on demography, culture, philosophy, Jewish education, and the
Jewish communities of the former Soviet Union were presented at the
conference by participants >from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus,
Ukraine, Russia, Israel, the USA, and Great Britain. Its proceedings were
published in English and Russian and may be obtained >from the Center for
Judaic Studies at the University of Latvia (see address above) or from
B'Or Ha'Torah, SHAMIR, POB 5749, Jerusalem, Israel (tel: 972-2-642-7521;
fax: 972-2-538-5118; e-mail: bhtorah@...).
**The Second International Conference "Jews in a Changing World" was held in
Riga on August 25-27, 1997. It presented analyses of contemporary issues

from both modern secular and traditional Jewish perspectives. Lecturers from

8 countries discussed medical ethics; business ethics; culture & religion;
Torah & science; the Holocaust; Jewish Education; and philosophy & Hhstory.
The proceedings of its 55 lectures were published (in Russian) and may
be obtained at above addresses.
***The Third International Conference "Jews in a Changing World" was held in
Riga on October 25-27, 1999. In honor of the 80th anniversary of the
University of Latvia, the conference discussed the lives and contributions
of outstanding Baltic Jewish thinkers and leaders in religion, science,
medicine, and the humanities. There was an extended session on the late Sir
Isaiah Berlin, as well as on the contribution of Latvian Jews to
building the State if Israel. The proceedings of conference lectures
(Russian version) may be obtained at above addresses.

REGISTRATION
There is no registration fee.
TRAVEL
The Riga International Airport receives direct and connected flights by Air
Baltic, SAS, Lufthansa, British Airways, Finnair, Lot, Czech Airlines, and
others. Direct weekly flights >from Ben-Gurion airport (Tel Aviv) are
provided by Latpass Airlines. (For information, contact the Latpass
representative in Tel Aviv, Mr. Mendel Shugal, tel: 03-587-7823).
Visitors entering Latvia by train, bus or car must prepare their visas in
their home countries. Visitors to Latvia >from other Baltic States, the USA,
Israel,
EC and most of Central European countries do not need visas.
Visitors >from the former Soviet Union (outside the Baltic) must prepare
their visas in their home countries, using the special visa invitation forms
provided by the conference organizers. Conference participants who provide
the Organizing Committee with arrival data will be picked up at the airport.
Taxi fare is about $15 >from the airport to Riga center.
FOOD
3 weekday kosher meals may be ordered for approximately $30.
3 Shabbat kosher meals may be ordered for approximately $40.
ACCOMMODATION
Rooms may be reserved upon request. We suggest Hotel Riga (22 Aspazijas
Blvd., reservation by tel: 371-7-044222). Single room-approximately $80;
double room-approximately $120. The hotel is a 5-minute walk >from the
conference site and 10-minute walk >from the synagogue. More economic
accommodation, starting >from ca. $35 a night for a single room, may also be
arranged. If requested in time, it will be possible to recommend cultural
events (tours, concerts, etc.) before and after the conference.
FOR PARTICIPANTS >from FSU AND SOME COUNTRIES
IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE
There are a limited number of grants to cover conference expenses (regular
visa, travel fare via train or bus, decent accommodation in university
dormitory double rooms during the conference >from the afternoon of November
19 to the morning of November 23).
PRELIMINARY TIMETABLE
Monday, November 20
Arrival
Registration
Cultural gathering at the Riga Jewish Community Center
Tuesday, November 21
Conference sessions
Official opening of the conference
Plenary meetings
Wednesday, November 22
Conference sessions
Roundtable discussion
Closing of the conference
Conference dinner
===================================================================
Ruvin Ferber
Dept of Physics University of Latvia
19 Rainis blvd Riga, LV - 1586
Phone +371-7227301 Fax +371-7820113
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