The Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies (MMZ) in Potsdam hosted an international workshop organized in the framework of the project „Jews, Muslims and Roma in the 21st Century Metropolises: Reflecting on Polyphonic Ideal and Social Exclusion as Challenges for European Cohesion.“ The project, led by Charles University, brings together researchers from a number of European countries to study inter- and intra-minorities relations in European cities.
As an introduction, Dr Olaf Glöckner provided a brief overview of MMZ, followed by an insightful session on the historical context of Jews and Muslims in Brandenburg. On the second day, participants embarked on enriching site visits to Berlin, immersing themselves in the city’s rich cultural tapestry. Highlights included a visit to the House of One, a guided tour of the Fraenkelufer Synagogue with Dr Dekel Peretz and a discussion at the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque, providing insights into liberal interpretations of Islam.
The following two days were dedicated to discussing future projects and sharing impactful findings from current research. The EUphony team, represented by Dr Marcela Menachem Zoufalá, Dr Olaf Glöckner, Prof Joanna Dyduch and Dr Artur Skorek, summed up the current state of the project and outlined future opportunities for collaboration. Dr Ben Gidley presented the findings of his Encounters project, while Dr Dekel Peretz talked about the Jewish community in Berlin in the aftermath of October 7. Charles University’s Timea Crofony, MA and Prof Petr Janeček contributed with their expertise on gender-sensitive communication and vernacular discrimination, respectively. The workshop also featured an online lecture by Prof Tariq Modood from the University of Bristol, who explored the complexities of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the Western world. The workshop’s conclusion, marked by a lecture from Prof. Jonathan Floyd on public political philosophy and inter-minorities dialogue, underscored the participants‘ shared commitment to promoting understanding and cooperation in diverse communities.
Parts of the workshop program were attended by students and scholars from the University of Potsdam. This outreach strengthened the project’s connection and impact on the local academic and student community and proved to be mutually beneficial.
The full program and participants bios are available here.
https://orient.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/badania/programy-badawcze/pocztdam-workshop
„The workshop was a result of the transnational project EUphony, titled ‚Jews, Muslims, and Roma in the 21st Century Metropolises: Reflecting on the Polyphonic Ideal and Social Exclusion as Challenges for European Cohesion,‘ generously supported by the Erasmus+ program, Cooperative Partnerships 2022-1-CZ01-KA220-HED-000089285.“