(held in Sweden, August 14-16)

Jewish Perspectives on Transformations in Contemporary Europe

Uppsala University, Sweden
August 14-16, 2011

Preamble

Transformations within the manifold societies in which Jews have lived, along with the shifting locations of Jewish life, by necessity have caused Jewish thinkers to engage in new ways of understanding the central concepts and principles of Judaism. Accelerated by the scientific revolution, the rise of modern philosophy and the Enlightenment, Jewish thinkers have had to consider the timeless versus the timely, and change as both an enriching possibility and a threatening challenge. It might even be claimed that the continual vicissitudes of Jewish life have made Jewish thinkers virtuosos in dealing with adaptation and change.

The conference celebrating the decennial year of Paideia will consider three elements of Jewish life that have undergone great flux and transformation; three elements that are also relevant to the transformations that Europe is presently experiencing. Each session will factor together Jewish thought, an assessment of the challenges for European societies, and responses from a panel. The three areas of transformation to be analyzed and discussed are:

I. The Challenge of Religion to Democracy

Although some scholars have demonstrated that many of the roots of democracy stem from the Bible and Talmudic Jewish sources, nevertheless in contemporary societies religion and democracy are often pitted one against the other. Can democracy, based upon notions of the autonomous self and immersed in an anthropocentric perspective be harmonious with theocentric frameworks of authority? Is the "separation of church/synagogue and state" principle essentially a concession to an anthropocentric political structure? Can a democratic system respect the religious, or should it not maintain a suspicious posture? In Israel this issue is paraphrased as: "Is Israel a State of the Jews, or a Jewish State?" How do the speakers reconcile these seemingly opposed perspectives, if at all?

II. The Stranger Among Us

Many European nation-states perceive an encounter with "the other" in what they have perceived as their heretofore essentially homogenous societies as a challenge and often a threat. Similarly, it could be claimed that throughout Jewish history the "other" was seen as the cultural and ideological opponent, starting with a diatribe against idolatry and pagans, and proceeding throughout much of its diasporic history where the "other" functioned as an antagonist. Yet, together with that, many post-Enlightenment Jewish thinkers, notably Buber and Levinas, developed encounter philosophies in which the "other" became an essential element in the emergence of the developed and autonomous Self.

The question of the reconciling of these opposing views will form the center of the discussion. Is there any way of acknowledging the "otherness" of the other without conceding one's own claim to truth, and without descending into a relativism? Is our expectation that the "other" will become like us a pre-requisite for the "other" to be reconciled with our own culture? How do the speakers resolve the opposing perspectives in Judaism in light of contemporary Europe?

III. Being A Part and Yet Apart

Within Jewish sources and experience, there have been two phrases that have come to epitomize two opposing views towards identity; "Am l'vadad Yishkon", "A nation that dwells by itself", Numbers 23:9) and "Or l'Goim", "A light among the nations". Both phrases have been used to justify isolationist versus integrative social policies for the Jewish community. In a global context, where identities have become more individualistic and porous to other cultures, what are essential elements must be maintained in order for a culture to be sustained? Can literature and texts, and ideas sustain an identity? Ritual? Community? Has the Jewish experience yielded any perspectives that can be appropriate to contemporary Europe?

IV. Reflections and Visions

A number of invited academicians and Paideia alumni will comment on the sessions, identifying striking, challenging, pregnant ideas. Each will reflect on a possible package of concepts to be taken away from the conference and that could have implications for navigating the roadmap of future Jewish culture in Europe.



In cooperation with
Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The Hugo Valentin Centre at Uppsala University & the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities

Sponsored by
Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Clas Groschinskys Minnesfond, Helge Ax:son Johnson Stiftelse, Annika Urwitz Stiftelse, the Swedish Arts Council,
The Embassies of Germany, Poland, the U.S., Israel, Spain, Ukraine, the Czech Republic & Romania