Midwives, Musicians, Soldiers, Rabbis:Whose Stories will become Jewish History?

Come join leading musicians, historians, and an award-winning novelist on March 12 to celebrate the release of The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Volume 6: Confronting Modernity, 1750-1880, edited by Elisheva Carlebach.

A lively discussion will explore “Whose stories will become Jewish history?” as Deborah Dash Moore, Elisheva Carlebach, Dara Horn, Itamar Borochov  bring to life through words and music the period of CONFRONTING MODERNITY,1750-1880, “in which every aspect of Jewish life underwent the most profound changes to have occurred since antiquity.”

For some Jews, this period announced a transition into modernity, for others into colonial rule, while for others yet, a growing confidence that they could achieve security in lands of relative civic equality. We’ll listen to voices that are rarely heard as part of Jewish culture, such as that of Roza, a multilingual Jewish midwife or that of a Jewish soldier during the Civil War.

And we’ll hear about Jews who championed a movement to integrate “indigenous” music into the Western canon while Jews debated all sides of religious and political issues. Some defended and others repudiated the notion of private property. Some defended and others repudiated the institution of slavery.

What happens to our understanding of Jewish civilization when those often marginalized move to the center of the story? Come and discover the unexpected breadth of Jewish culture.

A festive reception with music by Cabinet of Melodies, led by Ira Khonen Temple will follow the discussion.

Ticket Info: $10 general; $7 seniors; $5 CJH/Partner members; students free at posenlibrary.bpt.me or 800-838-3006