Despite the Nazi Party being defeated over 60 years ago, a new lecture will posit that anti-Semitism is still strong throughout the world.
Alvin Rosenfeld from Indiana University will deliver a lecture Monday night entitled “What is the new anti-Semitism, and what can we do about it?” which will address the rise of anti-Semitism in the past 10 years.
Rosenfeld said his pursuit in researching modern anti-Semitism resulted from a natural progression. After years of studying the Nazi Party and the Holocaust, looking at modern anti-Semitism was the next step to take.
“Me and other scholars had a naive hope that the defeat of the Nazis would end anti-Semitism,” Rosenfeld said, “but that’s just not the case.”
Rosenfeld will discuss how strong anti-Semitism began to resurface in 2000 in areas of Europe, the Middle East and parts of the United States. Rosenfeld will look at the nature of the new anti-Semitism, the sources of the hostility and what might be some possible solutions.
The lecture, sponsored by the Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program, is part of a yearly program that the Judaic Studies Program puts together. Featured speakers are always distinguished scholars in the study of Jewish culture, a title Rosenfeld is more than qualified to bear.
Rosenfeld has taught at Indiana University since 1968. He currently teaches both English and Jewish Studies and is the Director of the Institute for Jewish Culture and the Arts. He is also the director of the university’s Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and holds the Irving M. Glazer Chair in Jewish Studies.
His writings include “Confronting the Holocaust: The Impact of Elie Wiesel,” “Imagining Hitler” and “A Double Dying: Reflections on Holocaust Literature.”
He recently returned from testifying before the Canadian Parliament in an effort to help the government’s investigation into recent anti-Semitism. Rosenfeld is also going to Jerusalem to give a lecture on new anti-Semitism.
Gilya Schmidt, chair of the Judaic Studies Program and coordinator of the lecture, encouraged all interested students to come, saying that anti-Semitism is always a topic of important interest.
“(Rosenfeld) has looked closely at anti-Semitism,” Schmidt said. “Students (going to the lecture) will be able to ask, ‘What is anti-Semitism? What is it today?’ They will know how to recognize it and what to be looking for.”
A reception with food and drinks will take place after the lecture. The event is open to both faculty and students.
Schmidt said the reception will allow students to talk to Rosenfeld in a more informal setting and perhaps ask additional questions from the lecture.
Rosenfeld said this is not only his first visit to Knoxville but to the entire state of Tennessee. He said he is looking forward to seeing the city and meeting UT’s students.
The lecture will take place in the UT College of Law, room 132 at 7 p.m.