Guest Scholar Explores the History of Anti-Semitism

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Jonathan Judaken, Spence L. Wilson Chair in Humanities, Rhodes College

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – "The Longest Hatred: Rethinking the History of Anti-Semitism" will be presented by Jonathan Judaken, the Spence L. Wilson Chair in Humanities at Rhodes College, at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, in Room 146 of the J.B. Hunt Building.

As a Jew living under South African apartheid, Judaken was a religious minority in a predominantly Christian country. He was also “white,” which guaranteed inclusion among the nation’s racially dominant group.

Advantaged but marginalized, both an insider and an outsider, Judaken says his experience on the perimeters of privilege have been central to his work. Part of his interest in subjects like existentialism, racism and the so-called Jewish Question stem from a desire to confront and come to terms with his own past.

Judaken’s research focuses primarily on how intellectuals represent Jews and Judaism and race and racism. His goal is to discern patterns underpinning prejudice and assumptions underlying tolerance and mutual respect.

“The Longest Hatred” is the first event in the Beyond the Holocaust Series. Beyond the Holocaust is a year-long series of lectures, movies and presentations designed to highlight local students, faculty, resources and history to promote discussion of different ways that Jewish studies touch disciplines, epochs and people.

The Beyond the Holocaust Series was made possible by the Legacy Heritage Jewish Studies Project, directed by the Association for Jewish Studies. Support of the Legacy Heritage Jewish Studies Project is generously provided by the Legacy Heritage Fund Limited. More information on the series is available at http://fulbright.uark.edu/beyondtheholocaust.php.