Antisemitism and the Enlightenment: From the Dreyfus Affair to Today (Hybrid)

In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew and captain in the French army, was accused and convicted of sending military secrets to the Germans, despite evidence of his innocence. For many in France and around the globe, the overt antisemitism that emerged during this international affair was evidence that, even in France, the birthplace of Jewish emancipation, Jews were no longer safe. (Theodore Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, was one of them.)

In recent days in the US, particularly following horrific events such as the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Shooting and alt-right cries of “Jews will not replace us,” many have wondered if history is now repeating itself. In this three-part series led by Yoni Kadden, chair of the history department at Gann Academy and a favorite visiting scholar at TBE, we will explore the history of the Dreyfus Affair and antisemitism in the US today, and we will explore the debates that surround the safety, security, and place of Jews in the most sophisticated and enlightened societies of the modern era.

This course follows a sequential structure, but anyone is welcome to join at any point, or to drop in to any class. If you have questions regarding participation, please contact the program leader.

Dates: May 20, June 3, June 10

Registration: This program is available online and in person. Please click the appropriate purple bar above to join us.

This class is part of eLeMeNTs | Lishma: Monday Night Torah – Connect to community and to ancient and modern Jewish wisdom through eLeMeNTs, TBE’s newest innovation in adult learning. Join us starting at 7:00 pm every Monday night for community connection, words of Torah, a dedication of learning, and a Kaddish opportunity before classes begin at 7:30.