Day One Highlights: 2020 ISGAP-Oxford Summer Institute

Dr. Charles Asher Small, Executive Director, ISGAP Research Scholar, St. Antony’s College, Oxford “Introduction – Creating Critical Contemporary Antisemitism Studies: Breaking a Taboo”

This introductory lecture will provide an outline of the purpose of the Summer Institute as a whole, mainly, the need to create critical contemporary antisemitism studies in academia. This summary will examine the state of the study of contemporary antisemitism in academia, and the need to create a vibrant community of scholars to engage in the subject matter at this crucial moment.

Rabbi Akiva Zweig, Dean (Rosh Yeshiva), Talmudic College of Florida
“The Loneliness Pandemic and the Human Capacity for Cruelty and Empathy”

We will be exploring the Torah’s explanation of the role of the Jew in the world and how antisemitism is a rejection of that paradigm, and the resulting consequences in human social mores. Also, we will look at the impact of global loneliness and how contemporary society is furthering that condition. We will also look at the Torah’s solution for loneliness and elucidate how that solution breeds empathy as opposed to cruelty.

Natan Sharansky, Chair, ISGAP 2020 Genesis Prize Laureate, Former Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Former Cabinet Minister of the Government of Israel
“Defining Anti-Semitism Clearly: Can Red Lines Unite Us, not just Divide Us – and Liberate Debate, not just Suffocate Debate”

The international definition of antisemitism, including the 3D principle, was intended to define the borders between legitimate criticism of Israel and the new antisemitism. In today’s world of extreme polarization and cancel culture, clear definitions of antisemitism are especially important if we are to pursue a struggle against racism that will unite us and not divide us.