Festive colloquium in honor of Prof. Dr. Johannes Heil

On 19 March 2026, a celebratory colloquium was held at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies (HfJS) in honor of Prof. Dr. Johannes Heil. Rector Dr. Andreas Brämer delivered his laudatory speech to over 50 invited guests, paying tribute to his impressive career - from his biography and academic highlights to his time as Rector and beyond.

Prof. Johannes Heil was born in 1961 in Frankfurt am Main, a city with a rich Jewish heritage. After graduating from high school, completing his civilian service and studying art history, classical archaeology, medieval and modern history and Jewish studies (including in Tel Aviv and Haifa), he received his doctorate in 1994 under Johannes Fried. He worked at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, was a research assistant at the Center for Research on Anti-Semitism in Berlin and completed his habilitation at the TU Berlin in 2003. He has held the Ignatz Bubis Chair at the HfJS since 2005 and was co-opted by the University of Heidelberg in 2012.

Heil's research focuses on the history of European Jewry and anti-Semitism. His dissertation (1998) analyzes Pauline commentaries of the 9th century and their anti-Jewish constructions. His habilitation "Gottesfeinde - Menschenfeinde" (2006) uncovers the emergence of the Jewish conspiracy stereotype (13th-16th century). He recently published "Andere Juden" (2024), which sheds light on a "pre-rabbinic" Judaism in the western Mediterranean and highlights Jewish-Christian interdependencies. He is currently leading a DFG project on Jewish world heritage with Thomas Schmitt.

From 2008-2013 Heil was First Vice-Rector, from 2013 Rector of the HfJS until 2019 (with handover until 2020). He oversaw the new building, Bologna reform, accreditations and new degree courses, while continuing to teach. He positioned himself as socially relevant in debates such as Goldhagen and the circumcision ruling. As a "Mensch" (in the Yiddish sense of the word), he is committed to mentoring students and discreetly supports colleagues.

Heil remains active: a new research proposal has been submitted for review and he recently spoke at the Eugen Täubler Evening. The Rector thanks him for his influence on the HfJS and looks forward to further collaboration. עד מאה ועשרים - on his 65th birthday! 🎉