Feb 8, 2011
Speaker: Dr. Michael Brenner, Chair of
Jewish History and Culture at the University of Munich in
Germany
Location: JCC of Greater Washington; Rockville,
MD
Contrary to common belief, Jewish life in Germany before the rise
of the Nazis was culturally thriving. While one segment of the
Jewish community was assimilated, there was a tendency, especially
among the younger generation, to show renewed interest in Jewish
matters. German Jewry in the 1920s was perhaps the first Jewish
community that lived in a relatively open and democratic society
and began at the same time to look for modern expressions of its
Jewish identity. In many respects it serves as an example for
modern American Jews, even though the circumstances of its
existence were quite different. Dr. Brenner discussed everyday life
among German Jews, their religious expressions, and some of their
important intellectuals, like Franz Rosenzweig, Gershom Scholem,
and Leo Baeck.
This program was made possible by the generosity of Gary and Bernice Lebbin as part of a series of programs on German-Jewish Cultural Heritage.