WHAT UNITES AND WHAT DIVIDES ANTI-SEMITES AND ISLAMOPHOBES?
The growing presence of Muslim migrants in the public sphere is transforming European politics. At stake is not only and simply xenophobia, the fear and hatred of foreigners. The new politics concerns Islam as a religion and a way of life. Restrictions on building minnerts, animal slaughter, male circumcision, and women veiling are a few examples of alleged islamophobia. Since the nineteenth century and still today, anti-Semites have raised similar challenges against Jewish traditions, including animal slaughter and male circumcision. When attacking religious practices, anti-Semites and Islamophobes are in close alignment. However, when the public discussion moves from religion to politics, anti-Semites and Islamophobes find themselves in rival camps. Muslim groups are charged with anti-Semitism, and Jewish communities across Europe express Islamophobic sentiments. Based on a close study of the interaction of religion and politics in contemporary Germany and more broadly in Europe, the talk will discuss the historical and contemporary affinities and conflicts between Anti-Jewish and Anti-Muslim sentiments.
Shai Lavi, Professor of Law, director of the newly founded Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and co-director of the Minerva Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, both at Tel Aviv University.
Moderator: Isolde Charim, philosopher, author