Final speaker in series examining antisemitism, Islamophobia

Cornell’s “Antisemitism and Islamophobia Examined” series concludes this semester with a talk by Derek Penslar, the William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History at Harvard University.

Penslar’s talk, titled “Beyond Sympathy and Antisemitism: The International Community and the Creation of the State of Israel, 1947-1949,” will focus on the emotions and perceptions of citizens in the Middle East/South Asia, France/Germany and several Latin American states regarding the Palestine question and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

He will also discuss how 1948 marked the beginning of the world’s abiding interest in the region, for reasons that go beyond events in Palestine.

The talk will be on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. in Room G10, Biotechnology Building. It will be livestreamed on eCornell; register here to attend the livestream.

“This series reflects the College of Arts and Sciences’ commitment to give students diverse viewpoints and voices on important topics, to increase their understanding and critical thinking skills,” said Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences. “Antisemitism and Islamophobia are pressing issues that academic exploration can help illuminate, and I’m grateful for the contributions of the Department of Near Eastern Studies and the Jewish Studies Program, as well as the interdisciplinary collaboration behind this series.”

Penslar’s research has engaged with a variety of approaches and methods, including the history of science and technology, economic history, military history, biography, post-colonial theory and the history of emotions. His most recent book is “Zionism: An Emotional State” and he is currently writing a book about worldwide reactions to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

“Cornell is fortunate to be able to host and learn from Professor Derek Penslar, who is one of the most prolific and widely respected scholars working today in the fields of modern Jewish history, antisemitism, Zionism and Israel,” said Jason Mokhtarian, the Herbert and Stephanie Neuman Associate Professor in Hebrew and Jewish Literature, and director of the Jewish Studies Program (A&S). “Professor Penslar’s academic expertise and sound judgment on these topics are a welcome and necessary contribution to Cornell’s educational mission to help navigate these complex issues in a difficult time.”

The series is sponsored by the Office of the Provost; the College of Arts and Sciences; the Department of Near Eastern Studies; the Jewish Studies Program; the Religious Studies Program; the Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures; the Clarke Initiative for Law and Development in the Middle East at Cornell Law School; Comparative Muslim Societies; Critical Ottoman + Post-Ottoman Studies; the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement; the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies; and the Society for the Humanities.

For inquiries about accessibility to the event or to request an accommodation, email Lori Sonken at ljs269@cornell.edu.

Linda B. Glaser is news and media relations manager for the College of Arts and Sciences.