Sadly, the topic of antisemitism is even more relevant than it was a year ago. Join Cantor Bruce Ruben in a two-session class to explore primary sources together and consider the historical context for the events we are living through today. Soup will be provided.

The Holocaust and the “New Antisemitism”: The Holocaust was the culmination of the nineteenth century’s racial antisemitism. After its devastating conclusion many hoped that this pathological hatred had run its course. Sadly, antisemitism has reemerged throughout Europe, the United States and especially in the Middle East. The themes are recycled versions of the older forms, though the contexts are new. How did Middle Eastern countries embrace the worst of the Nazi racism in their fight against the State of Israel? How did both the Left and Right in America and Europe return to their earlier prejudices?

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A notable musician with compositions published by G. Schirmer, Dr. Ruben was cantor at Temple Shaaray Tefila for 24 years, served at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, and is now fulfilling his cantorial duties at Sinai Temple in Massachusetts. As an educator, he has published articles on Jewish music and Reform Jewish history, taught adult and college classes on subjects ranging from Jewish history, liturgy, and music, to comparative religion and mysticism, and was director of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Dr. Ruben teaches Jewish history at Hunter and b’nai mitzvah students at Central Synagogue.