Congratulations to Shira Freed on Her Acceptance to the Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme 2026/27

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We are delighted to congratulate Shira Freed, a fellow at the Institute and a PhD candidate in the Department of Jewish History, on her acceptance to the prestigious Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme for 2026/27.

Shira's doctoral research, "Bais Yaakov and Agudath Yisrael (1924–1939): Orthodoxy, Politics, and Gender," examines the intersections of religious life, political movements, and gender in Jewish history. Her work is conducted under the supervision of Prof. Yfaat Weiss and Prof. Aya Elyada.

This achievement follows another significant recognition of Shira’s academic excellence: earlier this year, she was awarded the University's Yiddish Program Scholarship, in acknowledgment of her outstanding scholarship and dedication to the field.

The Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme supports exceptional doctoral candidates whose research makes a significant contribution to the study of the history and culture of Central European Jewry. Shira’s acceptance into this highly competitive programme is a testament to the quality and importance of her research.

We warmly congratulate Shira on this well-deserved achievement and wish her continued success in her academic endeavors.

Mazal Tov, Shira!