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YIVO, Liberalism, and the Jewish Response to Fascism

Dec 7, 2016
Jews sorting books and other documents in the YIVO building, where the Nazis established a sorting center for Jewish cultural treasures looted from YIVO and other Jewish institutions, Vilna, ca. 1942. Members of this sorting team risked their lives to smuggle out and hide materials, some of which were recovered after the war. YIVO Archives.

When:
Thursday, December 22nd, 2016 | 6:30pm-8:00pm
Where:
YIVO at the Center for Jewish History | 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

Admission is free.
Reservations Available at: yivo.org/YIVO-Liberalism-and-the-Jewish-Response-to-Fascism

New York, NY – The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research will be hosting a panel discussion about the impact of recent political events in the United States and the question of how organizations and individuals respond to the emergence of authoritarianism.

Founded in 1925 in Vilna (Lithuania, then Poland), YIVO is the only Jewish Institution of Eastern Europe to survive both the Holocaust and Soviet occupations. From its early years in the ‘20s to its looting by the Nazis in 1941, YIVO experienced and responded to the profound political, social, and spiritual transformations taking place throughout Eastern Europe, Russia, and the West. Under enormous political duress and organizational strain, the YIVO Institute maintained the integrity of its mission, and survived the war.

How did YIVO respond to the rise of Fascist and nationalist movements in the ‘20s and ‘30s? What was the response of Jewish intellectuals then, and what parallels can be drawn to today? Join us for a panel discussion with Paul Berman, Cecile Kuznitz, and Richard Wolin, moderated by Jonathan Brent, YIVO’s Executive Director, as we consider the diverse responses to the emergence of Fascism throughout the 20th century—and on into the present.

About YIVO

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the preservation and study of the history and culture of East European Jewry worldwide. For nearly a century, YIVO has pioneered new forms of Jewish scholarship, research, education, and cultural expression. Our public programs and exhibitions, as well as online and on-site courses, extend our outreach to a global community. The YIVO Archives contains 24 million unique items and YIVO’s Library has over 400,000 volumes—the single largest resource for the study of East European Jewish life in the world. yivo.org / yivo.org/the-whole-story