TWO-PART SERIES
February 3 & 10 at 7:30 PM ET
Presented by Professor Marshall Breger
Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America
Explore the multifaceted concept of holy space in our two-part series, "Sacred Spaces and Conflicting Claims." Join us to delve into the profound theological and political dimensions of holiness, as we examine historical and contemporary issues surrounding sacred sites in Israel.
We will begin by analyzing the evolving perceptions of Jerusalem’s sanctity from early Christian views to Protestant reinterpretations, and explore the Talmudic discussions on the Temple Mount's holiness post-destruction. We will also address the complexities of Christian sacred spaces with a particular look at recent controversies under the Netanyahu administration.
The second session will continue to investigate Jewish perspectives on sacred space, including traditional prohibitions on accessing the Temple Mount and the influence of messianic and nationalist movements on these views.
We will then shift focus to Muslim sacred spaces, especially the Haram al-Sharif, and delve into Islamic legal and theological perspectives and the role of these sites in current political mobilization.
Professor Breger will also address international and local legal challenges related to the protection of cultural heritage in the West Bank and Gaza and consider proposals for managing sacred spaces in a post-conflict environment, including potential frameworks for shared access and maintaining order at critical sites.
This series offers a comprehensive look into how Israel's sacred spaces are contested and managed amidst shifting political, theological, and nationalistic landscapes.
Register to receive the Zoom link to join us online for this series.
Barring technical issues, the programs will be posted on our Program Recordings Archive.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mark Kahan for sponsoring these lectures in memory of Arnold Hammer, Martin Goldman, and George Johnson. All three were lifelong Jewish learners, devoted members of Mark’s Study Group for half a century, whose contributions had a profound and lasting impact on the Institute.
Marshall J. Breger is a professor of law at the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America. From 1993-95, he was a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.
During the George H.W. Bush Administration he served as Solicitor of Labor, the chief lawyer of the Labor Department with a staff of over 800 people. During 1992, by presidential designation, he served concurrently as Acting Assistant Secretary for Labor Management Standards.
His government service includes being appointed chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, an independent federal agency, and alternate delegate of the U.S. to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Professor Breger was appointed special assistant to President Reagan and liaison to the Jewish Community.
In Fall 2002, Breger was Lady Davis Visiting Professor of Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In Fall 2003 he was Distinguished Sy-Cip Fulbright Lecturer in the Philippines.
Breger is a contributing columnist to Moment magazine. He has writen over 25 law review articles in publications including the Stanford Law Review, Boston University Law Review, Duke Law Journal and North Carolina Law Review. He has published as well in periodicals such as The Middle East Quarterly, The National Interest, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
Professor Breger holds a B.A. and M.A., 1967, from University of Pennsylvania, a B.Phil., 1970, from Oriel College, Oxford University; and a J.D., magna cum laude 1973, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was an editor of the law review and a member of the Order of the Coif.
Together with his wife, Jennifer, and two daughters, Sarah 18 and Esther 16, he lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.