JICNY History series continues... Since last year, JICNY launched a new History series. But this is NOT your typical history lecture!!!! We are meeting in a beautiful private apartment, and renowned academics will be enlightening us on specific and unusual aspects of Jewish History in a laid back learning atmosphere.. If you never enjoyed history in high school, try again with us: we'll change your mind.....
More details: Elissa Bemporad is the Jerry and William Ungar assistant professor in East European Jewish history at Queens College, the City University of New York. She teaches a variety of courses related to modern Eastern Europe, the Holocaust, and gender in Jewish history. Elissa is the author of numerous articles on the social and cultural history of the Jews of Russia and the Soviet Union. Her book, Becoming Soviet Jews: The Bolshevik Experiment in Minsk, is forthcoming with Indiana University Press.
In her talk, Elissa will discuss some peculiar aspects of the Blood Libel in the context of Eastern Europe, in particular Poland and Soviet Russia, from the 1920s to the 1950s. The blood libel dates from medieval times and deals with the blatantly untrue and defamatory accusation that the Jewish religion calls for the periodic ritual consumption of the blood of Christians. The accusation is intimately intertwined with the history of anti-Semitism. Although we are well informed about the reappearance of the blood libel canard since the fall of Communism, we know little about how it manifested itself in Soviet times, as well as the ways in which Polish and Russian Jews responded to the accusation.
The event takes place in a private home & snacks and drinks will be available. Hope that you will join us for this unique, historical evening.
Cost: No charge, suggested donation of $10
JICNY requires donations to fund its operations. If you want to sponsor this event, contact us at events@jicny.com
