International Conference: Bohemian and Czech Jews in America
20.04.2010 / 19:49 | Aktualizováno: 13.01.2011 / 21:54
(This article expired 21.04.2011 / 02:00.)
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington DC, and American University´s Jewish Studies Program and Department of History presented the international conference "Bohemian and Czech Jews in America“ on April 14, 2010.
The conference was opened by H. E. Petr Kolář, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, who introduced the conference´s guest of honor, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, H. E. Jan Fischer. Mr. Fischer attended President Obama´s Nuclear Security Summity in Washington, DC, on April 12-13, and took his time to open the conference. In his remarks, he stressed not only the accomplishments of the Bohemian and Czech Jews in America, but also a vibrant renewal of the Jewish community in the Czech Republic after the 1989 revolution. Prime Minister Fischer also took pride in his active personal participation in the life of this community.
The presenters and panelists of the conference included:
Mila Rechcigl (former President of the Society for Arts and Sciences); Petr Brod (Czech journalist and author); Wilma Iggers (Canissius College, Buffalo); Mark Talisman (President of Project Judaica); Helen Epstein (author and journalist); and Peter Demetz (Yale University).
The panels were chaired by Jenna Weissman Joselit (Smith Professor of Judaic studies and Professor of History, The George Washington University) and Pamela Nadell (Inaugural Patrick Clendenen Professor of History and Director, Jewish Studies program, American University).
Remarks about the English translation of Matej Mináč´s book Nicholas Winton´s Lottery of Life and about popularization of the remarkable story and achievements of sir Nicholas Winton were offered by Peter Rafaeli (Czech Honorary Consul, Philadelphia).
Closing remarks of the conference, which audience comprised of more than one hundred atendees, were offered by Tom Dine, President of American Friends of the Czech Republic.
Please see the bios of the speakers and the panelists, as well as texts of prepared remarks for the event below.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM, CLICK HERE, to download.
BIOS OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, CLICK HERE, to download.
The presenters below have their papers available for downloading. Please click on the name to download their paper.
Mila Rechcigl
Helen Epstein text
Peter Demetz
Pictures from the event:
