Cutting-edge researchers in Jewish Studies from around the United States and Israel will lead discussions about issues on Israel during a conference open to the public at FAU on Feb. 26 and 27.

The Gimelstob Symposium in Judaic Studies is an event held by the College of Arts and Letters that aims to expose the community to the latest issues being researched in the field of Jewish studies.

“We want to communicate this material that’s going on at scholarly circles with the local community, with the campus, and also nationally,” Frederick Greenspahn said, an eminent scholar in Judaic studies at FAU and chairman of the event.

The symposium will bring speakers to discuss topics such as population and immigration in Israel, new politics of Israel in the American Jewish community, and religious fundamentalism.

According to the event’s flier, Michael Feige, a professor at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, will present the topic of religious fundamentalism in Israel. Feige’s book Settling the Hearts: Jewish Fundamentalism in the Occupied Territories won the Annual Shapiro Award in 2010 for best book in Israel studies.

Greenspahn said that he and the organizing committee selected leading researchers who can communicate the subjects clearly and with less bias on more controversial topics.

“I don’t want somebody here pushing their line,” he said. “I want somebody who can report to us what are the different positions.”

Based on the average attendance of previous symposiums in Judaic studies, Greenspahn expects between 100 to 150 people to attend this year’s event.

Registrations can be made at the door and it costs $5 for FAU students, faculty and staff, and $30 for the outside community.

On Feb. 26 the event starts at 8:30 a.m. and it will take place at the Lifelong Learning Center. On Feb. 27 it will happen at the Live Oak Pavilion.