Connect
Find out how you can connect with us and get involved.
Core events
Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) on 27 January is a national commemoration day in the United Kingdom dedicated to the remembrance of Jewish people and others who suffered in the Holocaust under Nazi persecution. It was first held in January 2001. The chosen date is the anniversary of the liberation of by the in 1945, the date also chosen for the and some other national .
Since 2005, Holocaust Memorial Day has been supported by the , a charity set up and funded by the UK Government. ‘For a Better Future’ is the chosen HMD theme for 2025.
Each year, the Weidenfeld Institute organises several events to mark HMD. We will update this page with more information for the HMD 2025 series.
Max and Hilde Kochmann Summer School for PhD Students in European-Jewish History and Culture
AVÊÓƵ (Brighton, UK) 29 June – 2 July 2025 
The Sussex Weidenfeld Institute of Jewish Studies at the AVÊÓƵ (/research/centres/jewish-studies/) in cooperation with the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Graf and the European Association of Israel Studies invite applications for the 2025 Max and Hilde Kochmann Summer School for PhD students in Jewish, Holocaust and Israel Studies.
The Kochmann Summer School brings together early career researchers who are currently working on topics in Jewish history and culture, Israel Studies and digital humanities, giving them the opportunity to present and discuss their projects in an informal and friendly atmosphere with leading scholars in the field. The Summer School continues the tradition of previous events, creating an interdisciplinary network of new scholars engaged in areas of European-Jewish Studies from the early modern period to the present day. In 2025 we particularly encourage scholars exploring the intersection between digital humanities and Holocaust commemoration to apply, as well as those engaged in Israel studies.
Applicants must be PhD students at the time the Summer School commences. Candidates are invited to send, via email, a 500-word proposal outlining their PhD project, a short CV and one reference from their supervisor or relevant scholar in the field. Applications must be in English and sent as one PDF document to:
Diana Franklin d.franklin@sussex.ac.uk
For enquiries please contact:
Gideon Reuveni g.reuveni@sussex.ac.uk
Katrin Steffen K.Steffen@sussex.ac.uk
The Sussex Weidenfeld Institute will offer a travel allowance of up to £300 for candidates coming from Europe. Candidates from Israel, the United States and other non-European countries will be considered but may be asked to contribute towards their travel costs. Accommodation costs will be covered for all students.
Application deadline: 19 January 2025
Displacement, Forced Migration and Reparation: Comparisons and Controversies
AVÊÓƵ, Arts A, room 108. 12-13 December 2024
Please find the programme of events here: Displacement, Forced Migration and Reparation: Comparisons and Controversies [PDF 174.68KB]
Donations
We are delighted to count the governments of Germany and Austria, various foundations and some individuals as early supporters of our endeavours. Thanks to the German Government’s support, we appointed a Professor of Jewish Eastern European History in 2021. The Austrian Government has enabled us to arrange a cohort of Visiting Research Fellows to work with us. Foundations have enabled us to engage scholars to carry out PhDs at the Institute.
We are seeking additional supporters to provide funding that will enable the Institute to continue in its transformative work and help to consolidate its success. Funding is required to grow the new Visiting Fellowship programme; to offer PhD scholarships for outstanding scholars, as well as to enhance the Institute’s vibrant outreach programme through staffing appointments and outward-facing activities. A key element of the latter is the expansion and digitisation of the Institute’s archive as part of the process of developing it as an effective educational resource. Using the archive, we plan to assist with the revision of Holocaust education in primary and secondary schools in the UK and beyond.
You can donate to the and/or the by selecting either from the drop-down menu.
Please note:
The AVÊÓƵ (of which the Weidenfeld Institute of Jewish Studies and the Centre for German-Jewish Studies are a part) is an exempt charity and, as such, is not required to register with the Charity Commissioners. This is because the institution is already responsible to another statutory body – The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). As an exempt charity The University has exactly the same rights as any registered charity. The Inland Revenue claim number is XN1306 and tax claims are treated in exactly the same way as those of any registered charity.
Staying in touch
Discover what is happening by reading our latest Newsletters, joining our mailing list and .