ABOUT THE WJSA

The Western Jewish Studies Association (WJSA) was established as a response to the geographic concentration of Jewish Studies scholars in the Northeast United States, particularly within the Association for Jewish Studies (AJS). The WJSA was founded to respond to the challenges faced by Western scholars in accessing conferences and fostering regional collaborations. 

WJSA Founding President Lawrence Baron published a paper outlining the inception, development, and operational dynamics of the WJSA from its founding in 1995 to 2013 in Shofar, noting the importance of diversifying conference locations to better accommodate Western Jewish Studies communities, advocating for broader representation and accessibility within academic Jewish Studies. 

Possibly unique to the WJSA, our Association has an anthem, written by Lawrence Baron in 2013 and sung to the tune of Paul McCartney's In My Life. 

There are cities in December

Where the AJS still convenes.

Much too cold and inconvenient,

Far away from temperate scenes.

Smart Jews flee the North in winter

Go South or West to warmer climes.

And the scholars in these regions

Prefer to meet at better times.

Of all places and all seasons

These are the ones which suit me best.

They’re the autumns in mid-country

And the springtime in the West.

Though I know I’ll never lose connections

With AJS colleagues from yesterday,

It’s closer and more haimisch

At the WJSA.

While the WJSA meets in a broadly defined "West," and many members are from the Western US and Canada, our conferences bring together scholars from all over North  America--and all over the world--and our membership is likewise international in scope. 

Prof. Baron's article may be accessed on Acacademia.edu: 

https://www.academia.edu/123411396/The_Western_Jewish_Studies_Association_1995_2013

The WJSA Anthem

 A rendition of the WJSA Anthem may be found here.