Review: The Middle East - Between Politics, Religion and Society
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Benedikt MüllerDirector of Academy
On Monday, June 17, 2024, we opened our Bergson Academy. We want to promote and deepen the discourse in the areas of culture, science, sustainability and current affairs in various word formats. Our aim is to open up new perspectives and encourage reflection through exciting lectures and discussions.
A fascinating start: Prof. Dr. Michael Wolffsohn
Prof. Dr. Michael Wolffsohn kicked off the lecture series under the title "The Middle East - between politics, religion and society". In his in-depth lecture, he took the audience on a historical journey through 3,000 years of Israel's and Judaism's history.
Discussion about Palestine and the Middle East problem
In the subsequent discussion with our program director and moderator Maximilian Maier, Prof. Dr. Wolffsohn also discussed the division of Palestine under the rule of the British protectorate at the time, during which the tectonics in the Middle East shifted decisively and led to the fact that "state people" and "state territory" were no longer congruent. To this day, this change makes the much-discussed two-state solution so difficult and almost impossible to implement. Wolffsohn sees a kind of federal system as a possible solution.
Anti-Semitism
Another important point addressed by Prof. Dr. Wolffsohn was the increasing anti-Semitism worldwide. He explained how it is gaining influence not only in certain regions, but globally, and how it threatens Jewish life. His remarks, enriched by personal experiences from his own family history, made the evening particularly impressive and moving.
Invitation to the second part of the lecture series
We are already looking forward to the second part of our lecture series and cordially invite you to attend:
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024
Topic: THE MIDDLE EAST - A DIPLOMATIC HIGH SEASON
Guests: Dr. Benedikt Franke and an Israeli expert on diplomacy and foreign policy
Join us and enrich the discourse with your questions and thoughts. We look forward to another evening full of exciting insights and intensive discussions.
