"At Home in Exile" Book Release Event
Alan Wolfe
Boston College
Date:听October 28, 2014
Location:听Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, Mass.
Abstract
Many Jewish thinkers have considered it close to heresy to validate life in the Diaspora. But what if the Diaspora is a blessing in disguise? In听, Alan Wolfe, writing for the first time about his Jewish heritage, makes an impassioned, eloquent and controversial argument that Jews should take pride in their Diasporic tradition. It is true that Jews have experienced more than their fair share of discrimination and destruction in exile, and there can be no doubt that anti-Semitism persists throughout the world. Yet for the first time in history, Wolfe shows, it is possible for Jews to lead vibrant, successful and, above all else, secure lives in states in which they are a minority. Wolfe argues the Diaspora can be good for the Jews no matter where they live, Israel very much included鈥攁s well as for the non-Jews with whom they live, Israel once again included. Not only can the Diaspora offer Jews the opportunity to reach a deep appreciation of pluralism and a commitment to fighting prejudice, but in an era of rising inequalities and global instability, the whole world can benefit from Jews鈥� passion for justice and human dignity.听At Home in Exile听is an inspiring call for a Judaism that isn鈥檛 defensive and insecure but is instead open and inquiring.
Speaker Bio
Alan Wolfe听is听the founding director of the Boisi Center and professor of political science at Boston College. He is the author and editor of more than twenty books, including, most recently,听At Home in Exile: Why Diaspora Is Good for the Jews听(2014),听Political Evil: What It Is and How to Combat It听(2011),听The Future of Liberalism听(2009),听Does American Democracy Still Work?听(2006),听Return to Greatness听(2005),听The Transformation of American Religion: How We actually Practice our Faith听(2003),听Moral Freedom听(2001) and听One Nation After All听(1999). Widely considered one of the nation's most prominent public intellectuals, he is a frequent听contributor to the听New听York Times,听Washington Post, and听Atlantic, and has delivered lectures across the United States and听Europe.
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Further Reading
Works by Author
Alan Wolfe, "Giving Diaspora Its Due," excerpt of听At Home in Exile: Why Diaspora Is Good for the Jews,听Chronicle of Higher Education, September 8, 2014.
Alan Wolfe,听听(New York: Free Press, 2003).
Alan Wolfe, 鈥�,鈥澨�Chronicle of Higher Education, March 25, 2012.
Alan Wolfe, 鈥�,鈥澨�The Chronicle of Higher Education, November 17, 2006.
Reviews of听At Home in Exile
Peter Beinart, ","听New York Times, November 6, 2014.
Rabbi Dan Dorsch, ","听Haaretz, December 7, 2014.
Jane Eisner, ""听Forward, November 17, 2014.
Michael S. Roth, ","听New York Times, October 26, 2014.
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