Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) announces the Lakin Lecture Series on Antisemitism. This four-part series will tackle the tough topics that permeate today’s headlines and weigh heavily on Jewish communities’ hearts and minds.
Three of the four program dates are already set in this exciting line-up. The series begins on Sunday, August 27 with Arno Rosenfeld as he presents The Battle to Define and Defeat Antisemitism Today. Rosenfeld is an award-winning investigative reporter for the Forward where he chronicles the Jewish-American response to rising fears over antisemitism. He has also covered the experience of Jewish college students confronting hostile political climates on campus, reported on local communities grappling with a surge of white supremacist propaganda, and exposed the deep rifts among national organizations over how to best address antisemitism.
The second event takes place on Thursday, September 28 and will examine local antisemitism in Southern Arizona. A diverse panel of local and regional leaders and experts will help participants understand antisemitism at home and what organizational, legislative, and individual efforts are being made to fight back.
On Sunday, October 22, the Museum welcomes Ben Freeman, internationally acclaimed author, diversity equity and inclusion specialist, and founder of the Jewish Pride Movement. Freeman will present his two books – Reclaiming our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride and Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People. His groundbreaking work seeks to educate, inspire, and empower Jewish people to reject the shame of antisemitism enabling them to begin the process of defining their own identities through Jewish experience, history, and values.
The fourth and final event of this series, date and speaker still to be determined, will tackle the complexities of anti-Zionism, anti-Israel bias, and antisemitism.
The Lakin Lecture Series on Antisemitism is funded by a grant from the Alma and Ed Lakin Education Fund. This incredibly special fund was established at the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona by their daughter in order to honor Alma and Eddie’s lifelong commitment to Holocaust Education, the people of Israel, to Jewish life, and to combatting antisemitism and advocacy to social justice.
Tickets for all four events are free of charge, in keeping with TJMHC’s Mission, but pre-registration is required. Please visit us here to learn more and register for the August 27 lecture.
