For further information:
https://robinson.huji.ac.il/news/cfp-unravelling-legacies-1952-holocaust-reparations-agreement
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany, we invite submissions for an international workshop exploring the multifaceted and far-reaching impacts of the Holocaust reparations agreement signed on September 10, 1952, in Luxembourg. This unprecedented accord – negotiated between West Germany, Israel, and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany – sought to address moral and material debts arising from the genocide of European Jews. While it set a historic precedent for the international community, affirming that crimes of genocide must not go unpunished and that the moral debt they incur must be acknowledged, it was soon pushed to the margins of historical discourse. This workshop seeks to critically reassess the agreement’s significance by unravelling its varied – and at times unexpected – consequences, thereby reinstating its relevance in historical and contemporary debates.
Aim and Scope
This workshop seeks to explore the complex legacies of the 1952 Holocaust reparations agreement, providing a comprehensive examination of its wide-ranging effects.
We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
– The agreement’s impact on German-Jewish relations, Israel-German relations and Israel’s relationship with the Jewish Diaspora,
– the agreement’s influence on subsequent reparations models and cases,
– the political, economic and social implications within Germany and Israel,
– the agreement’s legacy in contemporary debates on justice, reconciliation and historical accountability.
We encourage an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from various fields such as history, international relations, economics, and Jewish studies. Comparative studies discussing other reparations models are also welcome, offering broader insights into the unique challenges and legacies of the 1952 agreement.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit an abstract (up to 300 words) and a short bio by April 10, 2025.
Submissions should be sent to .
Workshop Details
Selected participants will be invited to present their papers at the workshop scheduled to take place at Sde-Boker Campus (Midreshet Ben-Gurion) of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev from Tuesday, September 2, to Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Refunds for flight costs (economy) will be granted based on the number of participants and budgetary considerations. Full accommodation will be provided for the duration of the workshop.
For the Program, click here