Racism and Antisemitism
12-30-2019The 2019 Hannah Arendt Center Annual Conference “Racism and Antisemitism” began with Arendt’s insight that antisemitism is a form of racism in that both are ideologies of supremacy and inferiority based on racial difference. Enjoy this video about the conference made by Bard Student and Arendt Center Fellow Jonathan Fine.
The attack during Chanukah on a Rabbi and guests in his house near New York City is not an isolated incident but one of near daily attacks on Jews just in New York City. Across New York and the United States, attacks on Jews are part of an outbreak of widespread antisemitism. At leaast nine antisemitic attacks have been reported in New York City in the last week. These antisemitic attacks are committed by both black and white antisemites. In both communities, antisemitism is part of an ideological claim that Jews are the source of the world’s problems.
As always, the Arendt Center seeks to deepen our understanding of the world we love in the provocative and bold spirit epitomized by Hannah Arendt. You can read my year-end-letter here. I wish you a thoughtful and provocative New Year.
Roger Berkowitz