Teaching Jewish Philosophy and Politics in the Aftermath of October 7 and the Campus Protests

The fallout following the events of October 7, 2023 has touched many spheres of American life, yet colleges and universities have seemingly been at the center. Headlines, controversy, and human suffering generated by Hamas’s attack and Israel’s response have gripped dozens of campuses including here at WashU. The surprising impact of a distant regional conflict on campus leadership and life dominated our news cycles with discussion of the conduct of university presidents, hostilities among students, appropriate “time, place, and manner” of campus protests, police involvement in dismantling encampments, and fundamental questions of free speech and identity.

Lost amidst all of this has been the effect of these events on what is perhaps the university’s central mission: teaching.

Join us for a conversation with Professor Shira Billet on how October 7 and the ensuing campus protests have affected the teaching of subjects related to Jewish philosophy and politics including the interrelationship of liberal democracy, Zionism, and antisemitism.

Shira Billet is Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought and Ethics at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she serves as the Academic Director of the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice and the B.A. advisor for the Jewish Ethics major for students in JTS’s joint program with Columbia University and Barnard College. Before joining the faculty at JTS, Shira completed a PhD at Princeton University with research focused on the German Jewish philosopher Hermann Cohen (1842-1918), and was a postdoctoral associate in Jewish Studies and Philosophy at Yale University.

Dr. Judah Isseroff, postdoctoral fellow at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, will lead the discussion, and there will be time for audience Q&A.

We’re pleased to provide a reception/light lunch fare following the lecture for all attendees.

Free and open to all.