The most significant concepts, movements and events in modern Jewish history arose from the radical idea that Jews are not basically a faith community but, variously, a nation, a national minority or an ethnic group. Radical paths to the fulfillment of that idea still resonate to this day. We’ll trace those paths and, perhaps, stumble across ourselves.

The Jewish American experience: How world events led to the first Jewish settlement on these shores — and its radical heritage. The American revolution and history’s very first voluntary Jewish exile. A radical anti-slavery rabbi is driven out of Baltimore by Jewish big shots. Reasons for the huge immigration wave: social or economic or both? Yiddish-speaking immigrants bring radicalism along with their Jewishness.

This AP dispatch can provide background for the first part of our discussion on Jan. 31:

Pandemic meets 500th anniversary of Magellan’s first global voyage – Los Angeles Times 

(Note to all participants: If you haven’t yet done so, you’re urged to learn about radical Jewish poets in the struggle for Black rights in the lecture by Prof. Amelia Glaser on “Songs in Dark Times: Yiddish Poetry From Scottsboro to Palestine.”  https://youtu.be/CPo_oOY3J7A)

This virtual discussion series is led by Hershl Hartman, Sholem’s Education Director, and co-sponsored by the Workers Circle.

 

REDISCOVERING OUR RADICAL ROOTS – Part 3

Discussion Series with Hershl Hartman

Sunday, Jan 31 @ 2 p.m. -3:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE for link