Dialogues with the Holocaust Memory | October 2023 – June 2024

The people of Israel, but also Jews all over the world, are traumatized by the events of October 7 and fear for the fate of the 120 Israeli citizens who are still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Concern is also growing for the more than 60,000 Israeli citizens who have not been able to return to their homes in northern Israel for almost nine months.

Under these circumstances, FES Israel, together with the Massuah Institute, hosted a conference that dealt with the various aspects of the events since October 7. Prof. Karine Nahon examined the role of social media and how to deal with untruths and propaganda, followed by Franziska Schröter, who looked at the development of right-wing attitudes and anti-Semitism as well as the perception of Israel in Germany. Prof. Gabriela Shalev, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, reported on her experiences with morality, law and order in the international arena.

The event was rounded off with testimonies from Holocaust survivors about how they dealt with the events of October 7, as well as a lecture by Avivit Agam Dali about the works created by artists since then and the question of what these works can tell us.