Institutum Judaicum Aboense, Biskopsgatan 16
20500
00000 Åbo
Finland
- Research
Institutum Judaicum Aboense functions as a part of the Faculty of Theology at Åbo Akademi University, Finland, and the department of Exegetics and Judaic studies. The institution has no independent economy (being a part of the state funded faculty) but can independently apply for project funding when needed. IJA is led by a steering board consisting of members of the scholarly staff of the faculty and external members, including a representative of the Turku University and the Jewish community. The chairman is Dr. Pekka Lindqvist who works also a university techer at Åbo Akademi. IJA has, especially through personal contacts, contacts to other Institutum Judaicums in Europe and an official treaty of co-operation with Centro de Estudios Judaicos, Universidad de Chile. IJA has also been an active actor in the Scandinavian Society for Jewish Studies (Sällskapet för judaistisk forskning) and the redaction of the journal was during several years in Åbo. The library of IJA is the largest library in the field of Jewish Studies in Finland.
To promote Judaic studies in Finland by maintaining a library and promoting scholarly activities. 1) upprätthålla ett bibliotek över judaistikens huvudområden (judarnas historia, religion, kultur och samhällsförhållanden); 2) samordna och utveckla forskning och undervisning inom judaistiken vid Åbo Akademi; 3) samarbeta med vetenskapliga institutioner inom landet och utomlands; 4) anordna seminarier och symposier; 5) befrämja publiceringen av vetenskapliga undersökningar samt undervisnings- och informations-material inom judaistiken; samt 6) att handha övriga ärenden som tillhör institutets verksamhetsområde.
Scholars connected with IJA have personal research projects or act as members of larger bodies and networks. The most important is the international scholars' network on the Reception History of the Bible, which publishes the series "Studies in the Reception History of the Bible (SRB)". IJA organises also public lectures in the fields of Judaic studies and interreligious encounters and confrontation between the three monotheistic faiths.