Fall 2000Tuesday, December 12, 2000The Center co-sponsored an event with the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and the Department of Politics at Brandeis University. A roundtable discussion on the 1999 conflict in Kosovo and its lessons for the future, featuring members of the Independent Commission on Kosovo, chaired by Judge Richard Goldstone of South Africa. The occasion for this forum was the release of the report by the Independent Commission on Kosovo, a 13-member panel sponsored by the government of Sweden. The report was presented to Secretary-General Annan on October 23, 2000, and it is available on the Commission's web site at http://www.kosovocommission.org. The report examines key developments prior to, during and after the Kosovo war, including systematic violations of human rights in the region. |
Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Ongoing CGES Lecture Series onThe New Europe Confronts Diversity
Hitler Hunting: Tales of a Journalist in Post-Holocaust Europe
Timothy W. Ryback, director of the Salzburg Seminar (at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg) and a frequent contributor to The New Yorker on Holocaust-related issues, spoke about his experiences writing as an American about German issues. Timothy Ryback is author of "The Last Survivor: Legacies of Dachau," and is currently at work on a book about Hitler's extended family, "Hitler Family Memoirs."
Dr. Ryback told his audience about Hitler's family and Hitler the "family man", the Karl-Reimer-Strasse in Dachau, where family homes were built at the back wall of the former concentration camp, the burrial sites in Stalingrad, his encounters with survivors of concentration camps, and his own moral dilemmas in trying to take up German issues, and address Holocaust issues in the 21st century as a journalist and historian.
Thursday, November 9, 2000
"Remembering Reichskristallnacht - Synagogues in Germany"
Meeting of the German Jewish Dialogue with artist Michael Messmer.
Friday, November 10, 2000
Ongoing CGES Lecture Series on The New Europe Confronts DiversityThe Immigration Issue in Europe - Is a Common European Policy possible?
The lecture was presented by Patrick Weil, Professor at the University of Paris I, Sorbonne.He is the author of the "Weil Report" on Immigration in France, and a Consultant on Immigration Policy to the European Commission.
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Majesty of Holiness: 19th Century Liturgical Music from BerlinConductor Joshua Jacobson "transported" his audience of about 35 guests and students into Jewish life of the mid-19th century in Berlin. Dr. Jacobson had many audio examples and illustrations of the changing style of liturgical music, especially from choirmaster and composer Louis Lewandowsky, who shaped and influenced Jewish liturgical music so profoundly in 19th century Berlin.
Dr. Jacobson is a Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Jewish Cultural Studies at Northeastern University. He is also the conductor and host of the PBS film "Zamir: Jewish Music Returns to Poland."
Thursday, October 19, 2000
Making Money: Creating the American Single Currency and Lessons for the European UnionKathleen McNamara, Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University spoke to an audience of 35 students and faculty. Her lecture compared and contrasted the processes that consecrated the greenback US dollar and a single US currency zone in the 19th century with those leading to EMU and the Euro in the 1990s in the European Union.
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
Bohemian and Moravian Jews: A Case Study in AssimilationHelen Epstein (Brandeis University) presented this lecture in front of more than 40 guests. This talk was connected to the ongoing exhibition of the art and collection of Michael Messmer in cooperation with the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, the Starr Gallery and the Goethe Institute Boston.
September 27, 2000
German-Jewish Dialogue: "Jewish Life in the Reunified Germany. A Trip to Berlin 2000."At the first meeting of the Jewish German Dialogue this semester, the members of the group who went to Berlin this summer on the invitation of the German government described and discussed their experiences. The Dialogue was attended by some 40 people.
September 19, 2000
Opening ReceptionThe opening reception of the new academic year was held in the Faculty Center Lounge. It was well attended by students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, administration, and guests from the Goethe Institute and the German Consulate. The reception marked the beginning of another exciting and eventful year for the Center.
September 14, 2000
"Ending Violence: A Sociological Framework for Comparing the Peace Processes in Northern Ireland and South Africa."We were delighted to be able to present this lecture by Professor Brewer, organized by the Sociology Department at Brandeis University and co-sponsored by the Center for German and European Studies.
Spring 2000
April 13, 2000
Eva Hoffman, Author of Lost in Translation and Sthetl gave a lecture on
Poles and Jews:
Some Perspectives on a Contested Past
in front of a large audience in Rapaporte Treasure Hall at the Faber/Goldfarb Library at Brandeis University. Before the lecture, Ms. Hoffman attended a luncheon with faculty and students. We were delighted to be able to present this lecture as "the finale" of the spring semester 2000.
April 5, 2000
"The First Annual Brandeis Colloquium in Contemporary German-Jewish writing: Barbara Honigmann."The German-Jewish writer Barbara Honigmann read in German and English from her most recent work "Damals, dann und danach." The reading was followed by a panel discussion and open to the public. The panel was comprised of Thomas Nolden (Wellesley College), Amir Eschel (Stanford University), and Frank Stern (Ben Gurion University of the Negev).
Thursday, March 30, 2000
German-Jewish Dialogue: A Rabbi in Germany TodayRabbi Bea Wyler from the newly established Jewish community in Oldenburg came to talk to us about "A Rabbi in Oldenburg/Germany Today," or: "How to learn Russian with 200 teachers."
March 26-29, 2000
The Impact of the Holocaust on Contemporary Society. An International Conference.In cooperation with The Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry, Brandeis University. See website for more information.
March 21, 2000
Germany at the Core of EuropeDr. Jürgen Chrobog, the German Ambassador to the United States of America, visited Brandeis University, the Center for German and European Studies, and the "New Europe"-Seminar on March 21. His presentation on Germany and its role in the EU and the international community was open to the public and attended by more than 70 people. Dr. Chrobog primarlily discussed Germany's role and objectives within the European Union. Germany, according to the Ambassador, is too large and powerful to stand alone, especially considering its recent history. Being aware of the special responsibilities attached to this history, Germany seeks to remain one of the driving forces behind European integration; its perspective is to be a strong member of a strong European Union. Furthermore, Dr. Chrobog emphasized the importance of the transatlantic relations between the European Union and the United States, and stressed that differences and conflicts can be overcome by mutual efforts and a recognition of each other's views and interests. Dr. Chrobog's presentation sparked a lively and remarkably interesting discussion. The event was another highlight of the Center's lecture series this semester.
March 17, 2000
"Austria, Europe, and the Rise of the New Right."Dr. Peter Katzenstein, Professor of International Studies at the Department of Government at Cornell University, discussed the current events in Austria, the rise of Jörg Haider and his FPÖ, the phenomenon of an emerging populist New Right in Europe, and the EU's response to the FPÖ's participation in Austria's new government. Dr. Katzenstein provided valuable insights based on his extensive research on Austria and a close analysis of the recent events and left the audience with a much broader perspective and understanding of the internal Austrian as well as the larger EU issues involved.
March 10, 2000
"Towards a Transatlantic Agenda 2010: Reflections on the future development of the EU-US relationships."The new Ambassador of the European Commission to the United States, Dr. Günter Burghardt, made his first debut in his new position in front of an academic audience in the United States at Brandeis. His topic was the current and the future relationship between the European Union and the United States. Dr. Burghardt emphasized that, despite the existence of serious problems and disputes in EU-US relations, a mutual effort and the recognition of the universal importance of the transatlantic relationship could overcome these problems. This despite the major tasks ahead, such as EU enlargement, institutional reforms, trade policy, and common European foreign and security policy (CFSP). The lecture was very well attended and a great success for the Center.
March 7, 2000
"The Challenge of a Common European Foreign and Security Policy - NATO and European Defense"Joachim Bitterlich, the Ambassador of the German Federal Republic to Spain, presented his insights as former Ambassador to NATO and former National Security Advisor to the German Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl before an audience of 80 people in Alumni Lounge, Usdan Student Center. The event was part of the Center-sponsored seminar "The New Europe at the Millenium," but open to the public. Ambassador Bitterlich emphasized today's exceptional opportunity for progress in the field, and criticized the general lack of political courage to actually implement CFSP. Nevertheless, his view and future expectations were carefully optimistic. Mr. Bitterlich saw institutional difficulties, EU enlargement, the EU's military capabilities, the European relationship with the United States, and cooperation with NATO as the main challenges to CFSP.
February 22, 2000
Trying to Get Into the Club: EU Enlargement. A Case StudyDr. Dimitrij Rupel, Foreign Minister of Slovenia and Brandeis Ph.D., lectured on EU enlargement from the Slovenian point of view. The lecture, part of the "New Europe" seminar but open to the public, was held in Alumni Lounge, and was attended by more than 100 people. Dr. Rupel discussed what he labelled the "eastward extension of the West," and its consequences. His lecture, though focusing on Slovenia, also addressed general aspects of EU enlargement. Dr. Rupel’s visit turned out to be an outstanding event for the Center for German and European Studies at Brandeis University.
February 15, 2000
Making a New Market: A Case Study on Deregulating TelecommunicationsAs part of the "New Europe"-seminar, but before a public audience, Dr. Herbert Ungerer from the Competition Directorate of the European Commission and EU Fellow at Harvard University, presented his insights and experiences in the deregulation of European telecommunications.
February 8, 2000
4:40 - 5:30 p.m.The European Economic and Monetary Union and its Significance
Dr. Peter Cornelius, former employee of Deutsche Bank and now member of the World Economic Forum and Harvard Fellow, lectured on the Economic and Monetary Union and the Euro. He focused on the new currency's significance, its performance so far, its consequences, and the future challenges. The event was part of the Center-sponsored seminar "The New Europe at the Millenium," but open to the public.
February 7, 2000
Jewish-German Dialogue: "France and the Holocaust."The French Counsel General Stéphane Chmelewsky addressed the German Jewish Dialogue group on Monday, Feb 7, 2000 in Rapaporte Treasure Hall. The meeting was preceded by a kosher dinner sponsored by the Center. The subject was the Holocaust and France with the respondant Professor Paul Jankowski of the Brandeis History Department. There was a spirited discussion about the role of Vichy and the French in the round up and extermination of French and foreign Jews during World War II. The meeting was a mixture of personal recollections by Jews who had lived in France during that period, scholarly reflections about the historical and moral issues, and frank differences of opinion. It was therefore productive, painful, and illuminating, as it should be.
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