Willimsky, Carolin

I am a research assistant on the project “Beyond Conflict and Coexistence. Entangled History of Jewish-Arab Relations”. I have been enrolled in the master’s programme in Middle Eastern studies at the LMU, which I expect to complete in 2023.

In 2021, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies (Hochschule für Jüdische Studien) and Islamic studies (University of Heidelberg). In my thesis, I wrote about prostitution in the Levant during the colonial period. In doing so, I focused on the memoirs of an Egyptian prostitute and the trafficking of Jewish girls into brothels in the Levant.

During my studies, I decided to focus on the languages of Hebrew and Arabic. Therefore, I attended courses in both Biblical and Modern Hebrew, as well as Modern Standard Arabic. This means I now enjoy working with primary sources, for I prefer first-hand information.

I have always been fascinated by religions and cultures, as well as their influence on one another. In particular, the similarities between Islam and Judaism and their various cultural characteristics attract my attention. I especially like to focus on women as shapers of history women’s movements within Jewish and Islamic cultures during the colonial period and also the present. In addition, I have been interested for many years in the circumstances that lead to the radicalisation of religious groups and individuals.

During my master’s programme, I hope to intensify my studies and learn even more about the connections between Islam and Judaism. Furthermore I am looking forward to applying the languages that I have been studying.

Joining the project “Beyond Conflict and Coexistence. Entangled Histories of Jewish-Arab Relations” enables me to apply and deepen my knowledge and thus contribute to scientific knowledge.

Areas of Interest

influence of religion, women as actors of history, Jewish–Muslim similarities, Hebrew, Arabic, radicalisation

Historical Periods of Interest

Colonial period through to present

Positions

Education