Argentinian and South American Research on Judaism: Late Ancient Jewish History as an Example

LAHAM COHEN, RODRIGO

Heidelberg

Congreso; Grey Areas: Two Centuries of Wissenschaft des Judentums; 2019

Hochschule für Jüdische Studien

In this presentation I will offer an overview of how Jewish history is studied in South America in general and in Argentina in particular. Even though there are specific academic institutions, organizations, and groups that focus on Jewish history, a large number of scholars carry out research relatively isolated within the structures (and subject areas) of the local universities. Research is also undertaken in Jewish communal institutions, outside the academic system but in dialogue with it. Nearly all of these studies tend to be restricted to the history of the Jewish community between the end of the 19th century and the present, a period which still receives most of the attention.As a case study of the pros and cons of studying Jewish history in Argentina I will present my own experience as a specialist in late ancient Judaism in two Argentinian universities (Universidad de Buenos Aires and Universidad Nacional de San Martín) and in the Argentinian National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). I will stress not only the problems that I face (few other specialists in the field to work and collaborate with; insufficient material in Argentinian libraries, distance to the most important research centers, limited funding, etc.) but also the advantages (total freedom of research; time devoted to research; incentives to make contacts abroad). All in all, I will try to show that while studying Jewish History from Argentina ? even late ancient Jewish history ? might be difficult due to certain limitations, it is possible and rewarding.