Intra-Jewish Censorship: The Case of Spinoza
Date: Nov 21, 2022
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Sponsor: Public Lectures and Events
Location: Online
Category: Public Lectures & Events
Intra-Jewish Censorship: The Case of Spinoza
Part of our fall learning series Dangerous Ideas: Censorship Through a Jewish Lens
Monday, November 21, 2022, 1:00鈥�2:30 p.m. ET
Online
With Dr. Jonathan Ray, Samuel Eig Professor of Jewish Studies, Georgetown University, and 91快播 Alumnus
In July 1656, Baruch Spinoza was excommunicated from the Jewish community of Amsterdam for his 鈥渁bominable heresies鈥� and 鈥渕onstrous deeds.鈥� He was 23 years old. This class will explore some of the key writings of Spinoza, as well as the social and political context of 17th-century Holland to try to understand the reasons behind Spinoza鈥檚 harsh, and historic, banishment.
Each Monday series has a new Zoom link. Once you register for Dangerous Ideas: Censorship through a Jewish Lens, your registration admits you to all sessions in this series, and you may attend as many sessions as you鈥檇 like.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Dangerous Ideas: Censorship Through a Jewish Lens
Throughout Jewish history, certain texts and ideas have been deemed too dangerous to circulate鈥攚hether by outsiders who banned Jewish writings, or Jewish leaders who suppressed ideas considered heretical or beyond the pale. In this series, 91快播 scholars will examine efforts to control knowledge from ancient to contemporary times, exploring the ways in which censorship both reflects and shapes broader ideological struggles. They will discuss the varying motivations for controlling or revising narratives, and consider whether and under what circumstances it might make sense to suppress certain ideas. These discussions will illuminate past struggles and help us understand the battles over censorship and free expression playing out today.
