Research centers in Judaic studies—defined as institutions with the infrastructure to support the creation and dissemination of knowledge, and distinguishable from Jewish studies programs that have an educational mission—house research libraries, archives and museums; they organize conferences and publications; and they provide fellowships and other support that have proven indispensable to the careers of individual scholars. But is this all that research centers can do? What are the missions of such centers? Are they accomplishing their goals? Are there new directions to move in, or other effective ways to support research?

Bringing together the directors of different kinds of research centers in North America, Israel, Eastern and Western Europe, this roundtable seeks to promote collective reflection about the impact, ambitions and potentials of major research centers in Jewish studies. How do current center directors imagine shaping the field? In what directions are centers moving and how do they determine their goals? What are guiding principles, models and structures of governance? What can centers learn from each other about best practices? About adapting to changes in the broader academic culture? About connecting to the world beyond academia? The session hopes to stimulate new thinking about how such centers can support research, collaborate or help build the future of the field.