A CONFERENCE at University College London on 16-17 June:

Sects and Sectarianism in Jewish History

UCL Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Summer Conference 2008

The notions of 'sects' and 'sectarianism' are well known but they are also tremendously problematic. Their relevance to Jewish history is commonly assumed, but their meaning and appropriateness needs to be reconsidered.

This conference will consider the phenomenon of sects and sectarianism in various periods of Jewish history. We will be looking at the identification of various Jewish religious groups and movements as 'sects' or 'sectarian', and considering the meaning of those terms in the context of Jewish history. A range of groups and movements from all periods of Jewish history will be presented and discussed by specialists in the relevant field.