EU

The ECLJ Takes Part in the Symposium "Transitions - The Jewish Diaspora in Europe"

Symposium on the Jewish Diaspora

By ECLJ1616202120000

Grégor Puppinck, Director of the European Centre for Law and Justice, will take part in the SYMPOSIUM on the issue of the “New Challenges to Freedom of Religion in Europe”.

Dr Puppinck will expose how religious freedom is a very complex concept. Divergent interpretations of religious freedom can be observed in different times, countries and instances, not only at the superficial level of its prudential application, but also at the level of its philosophical foundations. The complexity of this notion is therefore both practical and philosophical; it is the source of many ambiguities. These did not pose any legal difficulties in the West as long as recourse to the right to religious freedom was reduced, that is to say, during most of the second half of the twentieth century. At present; religious freedom is increasingly used against the expression of religions.

 

Presentation: The past ten years have seen attacks on Jewish institutions in various European cities, and Jews have been verbally, symbolically and physically attacked with violence. At the same time, in many places, Jews have been increasingly vocal in demanding an accepted role in their home societies. Against this backdrop, the Jewish Museum Frankfurt aims to examine Jewish life in Europe.

The symposium reflects on the paradoxical developments characteristic of the European Jewish diaspora. On the one hand, Jewish life is increasingly at risk while organized membership of Jewish Communities is decreasing across Europe. On the other hand, growing numbers of young Jews are openly articulating their Jewishness, contributing to the increasing visibility of a multitude of Jewish voices across Europe.

What is the relationship between the diversity of contemporary Jewish culture, on the one hand, and the Jewish communities of Europe, on the other? Is Europe a cultural and political space where Jewish life can flourish, as in the United States and Israel, or is the Jewish diaspora on the continent in decline? What conditions must be ensured or established so that Jews can continue leading self-determined lives? And what role do Jewish museums play in this process, and how do their collections reflect the outlined developments?

The Jewish Museum is organizing this symposium over a day and a half to contribute to a differentiated discussion on the present situation of Jews and to combine expert discourse with reflections on social and political developments. Given the atmosphere of threat to which Jews in Europe are exposed, the symposium offers a platform for visions that should pave the way for future coexistence and a Jewish future in Europe.

Link to the broadcast.

Cookies & Privacy

There is no advertising for any third party on our website. We merely use cookies to improve your navigation experience (technical cookies) and to allow us to analyze the way you consult our websites in order to improve it (analytics cookies). The personal information that may be requested on some pages of our website (subscribing to our Newsletter, signing a petition,  making a donation...) is optional. We do not share any of this information we may collect with third parties. You can check here for our privacy & security policy for more information.

I refuse analytics cookies