The 6th International Conference of the International Society for the Study of African Jewry (ISSAJ) took place on 9\u201310 March 2026 at the Mus\u00e9e d’art et d’histoire du Juda\u00efsme (mahJ) in Paris. The conference brought together scholars from various disciplines and regions to explore the theme, \u201cFrom Beyond the Rivers of Cush: African Communities Negotiating Jewish Identities\u201d.
Due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the event was held in a hybrid format, enabling scholars who could not attend in person to participate remotely.
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Spanning two days, the conference provided a rich and nuanced exploration of the diversity of Jewish life across the African continent and its diaspora. The papers covered a range of topics, from historical and biblical perspectives to contemporary ethnographic and political analyses, highlighting both long-standing traditions and emerging forms of Jewish identification in sub-Saharan Africa, Israel, Latin America and other regions.<\/p>
The event was further enriched by the presence of several individuals from various African and Black Jewish communities, who made valuable contributions. Insightful presentations were also given by representatives of prominent mainstream Jewish organisations, including the Commonwealth Jewish Council. Kulanu, an ISSAJ partner organisation, also gave a presentation on academic and activity-related matters.<\/p>
Beyond the presentations, the conference fostered dialogue among emerging and established scholars, community members, and participants representing various perspectives. A notable benefit was the provision of a platform for the articulation of divergent viewpoints in a candid yet respectful atmosphere, thereby underscoring ISSAJ’s role as a distinctive forum for such constructive exchange.
Looking ahead, ISSAJ plans to build on the momentum of its sixth gathering by hosting regular webinar sessions at least once a year. These online meetings will provide further opportunities for scholarly exchange, allowing participants from different regions to continue engaging in discussions, sharing new research, and strengthening the growing international network of scholars and communities interested in African Jewry. Further updates will follow.<\/p>
Words from ISSAJ President Edith Bruder:
At the conclusion of this sixth gathering, a few changes have been initiated to enhance ISSAJ\u2019s relevance to its current members and other actors who share our vision. Going forward, ISSAJ will transition from being an organisation with members to becoming a network with a mailing list. This inspiring conference has also prompted us to launch a newsletter to help us stay connected. Additionally, this recurring event opens the door to further initiatives, such as hosting webinars and more in-depth sessions on a regular basis.<\/p>
We welcome your suggestions.
Finally, we are delighted to announce the addition of two new board members to ISSAJ: Ayode Daniel Dossou of the Geneva Graduate Institute and Noam Cohen of Leipzig University.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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