SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture begins its season of free lectures in Carlsbad and in Coronado with visiting Israeli scholar, Dr. Sariel Birnbaum who will speak on “The Image of the Jew in Arab Cinema”. His talk will takes place in the Schulman Auditorium of the Carlsbad Dove Library on Monday, October 20 at 7:00 pm, and in the Winn Room of the Coronado Library on Wednesday, October 22 at 10:30am.
How does the Arab cinema portray Jews? Jews are depicted in many films from the 1950’s and 1960’s according to anti-Semitic stereotypes, while in the 1990’s and 2000’s anti-Semitism was relegated to the margins. Are anti-Semitic motives in Arab cinema based on ancient Islamic traditions, or imported from Europe? Dr. Birnbaum will also discuss films concerning the early days of Islam and the place of Jews within them.
Future free monthly lectures will feature outstanding scholars speaking on their own areas of research. James D. Long of Foundation Stone will speak in November on “The Riddle of the Exodus.” In December, Steven Cassedy (UCSD) will present “Connected: How Trains, Genes, Pineapples, Piano Keys, and a Few Disasters Transformed Americans at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century.” Other speakers include scholars Joellyn Zollman, Ibrahim al-Marashi, Thomas Barton and Gabrielle Orsi.
The Scholar Lectures on Jewish Studies in Carlsbad and the Mandelbaum Family Lecture Series in Coronado are programs of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, co-sponsored by Jewish Federation of San Diego County and Leichtag Foundation. All lectures are free and open to the public.
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Preceding provided by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, which may be reached for more information at 858-362-1327.