Hadassah-Brandeis Institute announces book translation competition
WALTHAM, Mass– The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute (HBI) at Brandeis University has established a landmark grant for book translation. In keeping with its mission, the institute is seeking books that deal in a significant way with Jews and gender. The competition, which is open to fiction, academic or trade books with general public interest, is intended to bring fresh perspectives on Jewish women’s history, lives and experiences to a greater audience.
The HBI has already subsidized the translation of various books in the HBI Series on Jewish Women (UPNE, Brandeis University Press), and now is ready to be even more proactive.
The first two books selected for translation in the pilot phase of the project were Esther Carmel-Hakim’s biographical study, “Hanna Maisel’s Lifelong Mission: Agricultural Training for Women,” which was translated from Hebrew into English, and “The JGirl’s Guide: The Young Jewish Woman's Handbook for Coming of Age,” which was translated from English into Spanish.
Though the HBI does not guarantee that winning books will be published in one of its book series, the institute believes its goal of expanding the network of Jewish women’s studies around the world will be impacted by this grant.
“Among Jewish women, we find a booming market in Hebrew, French, Russian, German, Spanish and other language books - many of which we English-only speakers will not be able to enjoy or learn from,” says HBI director Shulamit Reinaharz. “If we don't read those books, we will become increasingly ethnocentric, believing that the experience of Jewish women is our experience,” Reinharz continues. “The more books we have translated, the larger the impact can be.”
An advisory committee will select the winners, with preference given to books requiring translation into English. Books published at any time will be considered. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15, 2009. A complete list of guidelines can be found on the HBI website.
About the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute:
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute develops fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide by producing and promoting scholarly research and artistic projects.
