Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies, Potsdam
Am Neuen Markt 8
14467 Potsdam
Germany
The Moses Mendelssohn Center for European Jewish Studies (MMZ) in Potsdam was founded in 1992 and named after the Enlightenment philosopher Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786). The MMZ is an interdisciplinary academic facility that conducts basic research in history, philosophy, religion, literature, and the social sciences. The MMZ is an institute affiliated with the University of Potsdam and involved in the Jüdische Studien (Jewish Studies) program. The staff, fellows, and guest lecturers at MMZ bring their broad research interests and vast knowledge to teaching in this program.
Research at MMZ focuses on the history, religion, and culture of European Jews and Judaism. A particular research interest is the history of the relationship between Jews and their non-Jewish environments. One research focus is on problems surrounding integration and acculturation of Jews into majority society (including Haskala research). Further, the center conducts comparative social history research on questions of living conditions, and geographical and social mobility, and well as sociocultural aspects and the history of ideas (literature, art, religion, philosophy, music). Regional and local history is a further research area, particularly centered on the region of former East Germany as well as on migration history. German-Jewish cultural heritage in the receiving countries is a special research focus.
Together with the Jewish Places team, a model seminar titled “Digital Detective Work with the Jewish Museum: The Topography of Jewish life in Germany” was held at the University of Potsdam. Students gained competency in the areas:
• Local Jewish history in Brandenburg
• Working with archives
• Intellectual property rights
• Narrative writing
Participants wrote histories of Jewish sites and biographies for Jewish Places and compiled site entries. The seminar is planned to be held at regular intervals and its content expanded.
Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies, Potsdam
Point of contact:
Dr. Elke-Vera Kotowski
moses@mmz.uni-potsdam.de
Am Neuen Markt 8
14467 Potsdam, Germany
T: +49 / (0)331 / 28094-0
F: +49 / (0)331 / 28094-50
www.mmz-potsdam.de/en