The Franz Delitzsch Society (Franz-Delitzsch-Gesellschaft)

The Franz Delitzsch Society (FDG)  is the scientific support organization of the Institutum Judaicum Delitzschianum (IJD).

It supports the IJD in promoting the following two areas through research and teaching:

  • Christian-Jewish relations in the past and present
  • Academic research and communication of the history, literature, theology and philosophy of Judaism

The Society promotes these areas in particular through the Franz Delitzsch Lectures and the Franz Delitzsch Prize.

Franz Delitzsch Lectures

Every year in November, the FDG and the IJD organize the public Franz Delitzsch Lecture, for which renowned scholars are invited who have distinguished themselves through their academic work in at least one of the above-mentioned fields.

Their lectures are printed in the IJD and can be purchased via the FDG. For more information click here.

Every year a prize is awarded to students who have written a paper on one (or both) of the above topics. More on this under Franz Delitzsch Prize.

Board of Directors

The board consists of:

  • Prof. Dr. J. Cornelis de Vos
  • Pastor Dr. h.c. Annette Kurschus
  • Pastor Gerhard Jacobs

In an advisory capacity:

  • Prof. Dr. Lutz Doering (Director of the IJD)
  • Prof. Dr. Ursula Rudnick (Representative of the Central Association)
  • Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht

The namesake Franz Delitzsch

Franz Delitzsch (1813-1890) was a famous Old Testament scholar and one of the best non-Jewish experts on Judaism of his time. He was in regular contact with Jewish scholars all over the world and strongly advocated a profound knowledge of Judaism and against contemporary anti-Semitism. However, in the spirit of the times, he was also interested in the mission to the Jews. Even though the IJD and the FDG retain Delitzsch's name in the name of the institute for historical reasons and in consideration of his scholarly interest in Judaism and the Hebrew language, they also distance themselves resolutely from the mission to the Jews. More about Franz Delitzsch and the history of the IJD at History of the IJD.

Membership of the Franz Delitzsch Society

You too can become a member of the Franz Delitzsch Society. In doing so, you support the Institute and its promotion of Christian-Jewish relations.

As a member, you will also receive an annual invitation to the Society's General Assembly and to the Franz Delitzsch Lecture and workshop.

The annual membership fee is € 20.00 for individuals and € 10.00 for students. If required, non-students can also ask for the moderate fee.

For applying membership please fill out this form.