Call for Applications – Senior Academic Position in the Department of Jewish History

The Department of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University invites applications for a tenure-track position in Jewish History in the pre-modern Islamicate world, with an emphasis on intercommunal and interreligious relationships.

The department is looking for outstanding candidates whose area of research focusses on Jewish history in the pre-modern Islamicate world, and who deal with global questions related to the development of the Jewish civilization between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period from a broad historical perspective. In particular, we invite applications from scholars of the Cairo Geniza who are able to create interest in the study and research of the Cairo Geniza, both as part of the Jewish world as well as the wider Mediterranean world.

Candidates are expected to be familiar with modern historiographic approaches to research into the Jews of the Islamicate world, to be able to teach a large range of courses ranging from the beginning of Jewish relations with Islam up to the eighteenth century, courses also open to students from the Department of the History of the Middle East and Africa, and the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop an independent research project in the first four years of his/her appointment. S/he will also be expected to apply for research grants. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate independent and original research ability in research into Jewish civilization in the Islamicate world, and proficiency in the theory and methodology of up-to-date historical research. The candidate will also be expected to deal with and to teach theoretical subjects, with the aim of encouraging dialogue and research collaborations with a range of disciplines within the School of  Jewish Studies and Archaeology, the faculty of Humanities and the University in general.

The position requires teaching courses in Hebrew (by the beginning of the third year of employment) and English, and knowledge of literary Arabic/Judeo Arabic.

The position is open to candidates with a PhD or those who will obtain a PhD before the beginning of the employment.

Employment for this position will commence in January 2022.

This is a tenure-track position, which may lead to permanent employment at the end of the probationary period.

Salary and employment conditions will conform to Tel Aviv University regulations. The appointment procedure will be carried out according to the rules and regulations of Tel Aviv University and are subject to the approval of the University’s authorities. The position will become effective starting from January 2022 and the academic rank will be determined towards the beginning of employment.

Candidates should send their applications including a cover letter referring to the educational and academic trajectory of the candidate (max 2 pages), CV, list of publications, samples of publications, a short description of their next research project (max 2 pages), and 3 potential course syllabi to:

Dr Yuval Shahar

Head of the Department of Jewish History

Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv 69978

Or by email to: yshahar@tauex.tau.ac.il

The deadline of submission is 1st September 2021.

Candidates who proceed to the second stage of evaluation will be asked to have three reference letters sent directly from senior scholars to the above address.

We are interested in increasing diversity, broadly defined, in the Faculty of Humanities and in recruiting new faculty members representing a diverse multicultural society.

The position is open to all candidates. The appointment will be based on the candidate's qualifications and the needs of the Department and the School of Jewish Studies-Archaeology. The Department, School, Faculty or Tel Aviv University are not obligated to appoint any of the candidates who apply for this position.