Salo W. and Jeannette M. Baron Awards
for Scholarly Excellence in Research of the Jewish Experience

Senior Scholar Award

Salo W. Baron famously described the Jewish experience as follows: “Suffering is part of the destiny” of the Jewish people “but so is repeated joy and ultimate redemption.” The Salo W. and Jeannette M. Baron Award for Scholarly Excellence in Research of the Jewish Experience will therefore recognize achievements of the highest excellence of researchers from all fields of study whose work focuses on the relationship of Jews and non-Jews and perceptions and understandings of Judaism in the wider societies in which they live, including but not limited to the history, culture, religion, and institutions of the Jewish people as well as their persecution. The Award may honor the outstanding lifetime achievements of an individual scholar or in recognition of the significant impact of an original book dedicated to an aspect of the Jewish experience that demonstrates excellence in research on a national or international scale.

The Salo W. and Jeannette M. Baron Award for Scholarly Excellence in Research of the Jewish Experience is awarded biannually. The Award is for scholarly excellence and will therefore be open to qualifying candidates without regard to national origin, ethnicity, confession, gender, orientation or other personal circumstances.

Recent Award Winner

Sarah Abrevaya Stein, distinguished professor in Mediterranean Jewish Studies at UCLA, wins the third Salo W. and Jeannette M. Baron Award for Scholarly Excellence in Research on the Jewish Experience, established in 2020 by the University of Vienna and the Knapp Family Foundation.

Stein's research focuses on Jewish experiences in the Mediterranean and Sephardi Studies, including crucial topics such as the Nazi persecution in North Africa. Sarah Stein's work has reshaped our understanding of Jewish history and her commitment to research is matched by her love of teaching

She says he is greatly honored by this recognition: 

It is with pride and humility that I accept the Salo W. and Jeannette M. Baron Senior Scholar Award from the University of Vienna. Dr. Baron's brilliance, creativity, and analytic acumen have served as models throughout my career. His intellectual and personal collaboration with the equally talented Jeannette M. Baron is a reminder that none of us work in isolation, and that passionate, engaged conversation shapes the very best scholarship.

Previous Award Winners