Ideology, Violence & Justice
Since October 7, the term settler colonialism has moved from academic and activist circles into mainstream conversation. Some progressives now use it to justify Hamas’ attacks, arguing that Israel, created on land taken from an indigenous population, can never be legitimate. In On Settler Colonialism, poet and literary critic Adam Kirsch expands on his October […]
The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz
What role could music possibly play in a death camp? In 1943, 50 female inmates were conscripted into an orchestra at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Amid unimaginable brutality, they performed for both exhausted forced labourers and their Nazi captors—a harrowing existence that, nonetheless, saved nearly all their lives. Award-winning historian Anne Sebba brings this extraordinary story to light, […]
Writing Israel: Yossi Klein Halevi & Daniel Taub
For decades, Yossi Klein Halevi and Daniel Taub have explored Israel’s complex story with nuance and insight. Now, they come together to discuss the challenges and opportunities of writing about the country today. Halevi’s Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist recounts his journey from being a follower of Meir Kahane to rejecting Jewish radicalism, while his […]
The Battle for Israel’s Soul
Israel stands strong in a hostile region, bolstered by military prowess and global business innovation. Yet, it is more divided than ever. The old guard of socialist elites and idealists is fading, while the country’s democratic foundations face unprecedented challenges. The New York Times Jerusalem correspondent Isabel Kershner, in conversation with journalist Jenni Frazer, presents […]
The Legacy of Yehuda Bauer
“I come from a people who gave the Ten Commandments to the world. Time has come to strengthen them by three additional ones: thou shalt not be a perpetrator; thou shalt not be a victim; and thou shalt never, but never, be a bystander.” Yehuda Bauer, who passed away in October aged 98, was considered […]
Richard Rodgers: Something Wonderful
For our grand finale, join us for an enchanting celebration of Richard Rodgers, hailed as one of the greatest popular melodists of all time. Writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson teams up with Radio 3’s Petroc Trelawny to explore Rodgers’ iconic collaborations with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II and to recount the story of Julie […]
Susan Neiman in Conversation with Mary Fulbrook
What is it like to be an American Jew living in modern Germany? Philosopher and writer Susan Neiman brings four decades of experience to this compelling discussion with UCL Professor of German History Mary Fulbrook. Offering unique personal and historical insights, Neiman vividly recounts life in Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall in […]
Loving Strangers
Loving Strangers: A Camphorwood Chest, a Legacy, a Son Returns is a powerful family memoir reimagining Jewish identity beyond the familiar landscapes of Europe and the Shoah, journeying through Iraq, India, China, and Singapore. Described by Claudia Roden as “a beautiful and moving story that brings to life a fascinating part of Jewish history,” it explores […]
My Thirty-Minute Bar Mitzvah
What kind of bar mitzvah lasts just half an hour? From the highly unusual ceremony as he turned 13 to the day his family secrets exploded, Denis Hirson recreates 1960s Johannesburg in his breathtaking memoir. With the surprising help of his 11-year-old daughter, the writer and lecturer confronts the troubles of his past with wisdom […]
Richard J. Evans: Hitler’s People
Why did so many Germans take part in Nazi crimes? How did they come to support Hitler and follow him almost to the very end? Renowned historian Richard J. Evans strips away the veneer of legend from the faces of the Third Reich, using a mass of recently unearthed new evidence to present a more […]
One Day in October: Forty Heroes, Forty Stories
On October 7, 2023, thousands of terrorists crossed into Israel in a brutal attack that claimed the lives of 1,200 people and changed the country forever. One Day in October, co-authored by Yair Agmon and Oriya Mevorach, bears witness to that day through forty accounts of extraordinary courage, told by those who risked everything to […]
101 Treasures from the National Library of Israel: Building a Collection
To mark the opening of its new home in Jerusalem, the National Library of Israel has published a magnificent volume showcasing its most extraordinary treasures. From Maimonides’ autograph to Sultan Suleiman’s poetry and Isaac Newton’s theological musings, these items span centuries and continents, offering a fascinating glimpse into Jewish and global heritage. Head of Collections Raquel […]