French program to host lecture on ‘The Jewish Question’ in France, 1789-present
“The Jewish Question in Post-Revolutionary France: Reflections on Jews, Jewishness and Anti-Semitism (1789-present)” is the title of a free and interdisciplinary public program at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29) in the University Union’s Christie Theatre.
Author and researcher Gayle Zachmann, a University of Florida professor, is the guest speaker. Zachmann will discuss the apparent dichotomy of France standing alone, post-revolution, as an egalitarian force and the first European country to emancipate the Jews of its territory, yet being plagued by rampant anti-Semitism at various times throughout its history. She says anti-Jewish fervor threatened the French republic’s national narrative as a global leader in human rights as early as the 19th century, and the 20th century brought new challenges to the citizenship and survival of the country’s Jews.
More recently, Zachmann lived, wrote and researched for years in Paris and Nice as a wave of highly publicized incidents brought 21st century attention to what is known in France as “the Jewish question.” Her interdisciplinary presentation at UW-Green Bay — of possible interest to those interested in history, sociology, anthropology, diversity, French studies and more — is co-sponsored by le Cercle Francais student organization, the French program, and the Office of the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
