Sign In Forgot Password

Swarsensky Memorial Weekend Keynote and Brunch: Antisemitism and American Exceptionalism: Rethinking the Place of the Postwar Era in US History

Sunday, November 10, 2024 • 9 Cheshvan 5785

9:45 AM - 12:00 PMSwarsensky Social Hall & Zoom

When it comes to antisemitism, is America different from the rest of the world, as many scholars have argued?

In this keynote talk, Chad Alan Goldberg, UW–Madison professor of sociology and Jewish studies, will examine how the “golden age” of American Jewry from the 1960s to the mid-2010s may itself be the exception in the history of antisemitism in the United States—a crucial insight as we respond to the challenges of today.

Engaging with past and more recent scholarship on the question, Professor Goldberg will trace how antisemitism in the US has changed in form and severity, revealing two key insights for our time.

First, the resurgent antisemitism today primarily takes a political (rather than religious, racial, or economic) form. Second, the period from the 1960s to the mid-2010s, which some now call the “golden age” of American Jewry, is not so much evidence of enduring American exceptionalism—instead, it stands as an exception in the history of antisemitism in the United States.

We will learn from Professor Goldberg how American Jews thrived in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, despite the constant presence of antisemitism.

These insights will help us address crucial questions we face today: How can we live in a world with increased antisemitism, and how can we respond, both as individuals and as a community?

The annual Swarsensky Memorial Weekend is a time of community learning, honoring the memory of Rabbi Manfred Swarsensky, who served as rabbi of Temple Beth El from 1940 to 1976 after escaping Nazi Germany in 1939.

Learn more about all the Swarsensky Memorial Weekend events. Please register below for any or all of the weekend's events. 

Please note that anyone entering the building on Sunday mornings during Religious School will be now asked for their door code, event registration, or photo ID. We ask for your patience and understanding as we proactively implement these new procedures to create a more secure environment during school hours. 

Find our accessibility measures and visitor guide on our in-person information page.

Register

Swarsensky Memorial Weekend Shabbat Worship: Recognizing the Sources of Antisemitism in Lech L’cha
Swarsensky Memorial Weekend Interactive Torah Study: Curses and Blessings: What Can We Learn from Lech L’cha about Responding to the Longest Hatred?
Swarsensky Memorial Weekend Keynote: Antisemitism and American Exceptionalism: Rethinking the Place of the Postwar Era in US History.
Share Print Save To My Calendar
October 27, 2024 25 Tishrei 5785