What Can Jewish Culture of Pre-War Germany Teach Us Today?

Speaker: Professor Michael Brenner

Series: Rabbi Joshua O. Haberman Distinguished Scholar Series

Location: Adas Israel Congregation

Date: October 23, 2018

The 19th Century German Jewish community was the first to attempt to integrate Jewish traditions into a modern European society. Today, it might appear that this attempt failed as a result of the rise of Nazism, and the tragic events of World War II and the Holocaust. But from a distance of almost 80 years, perhaps this conclusion should be reconsidered, as we look at the extent to which the prewar German Jewish community served as the cultural pioneers and role models for Jewish communities generally, and in particular the American Jewish community.