"The Brain Drain is Gradual, but the Collapse Will Be Sudden" by Jonathan Grossman
telem.berl.org.il, 13.08.2024
The term "brain drain" refers to the emigration of highly professionals from one country to another, often in search of better opportunities. While this is a common phenomenon worldwide, Israel is currently facing a particularly challenging situation. As increasing numbers of highly educated professionals leave the country, recent political turmoil has been accelerating this trend. This growing brain drain raises serious concerns about Israel’s future stability and prosperity.
In this Hebrew-language article, published in "Telem - A Platform for a Different Political Conversation”, Jonathan Grossman explores these issues and what they mean for Israel's future.
For the full article (in Hebrew) click here
"My Encounter with the BDS Movement" by Jonathan Grossman
haaretz.co.il, 27.06.2024
In this article published in Hebrew in Haaretz newspaper, Jonathan Grossman recounts his recent experience at an academic conference in the United Kingdom, where an activist in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement targeted him because of his Israeli nationality. What started as a promising professional opportunity soon deteriorated, when the activist publicly and aggressively demanded Jonathan's exclusion from the conference. Despite the organizers' firm commitment to academic freedom, many attendees withdrew from the program, including the conference's keynote speaker.
In the article, Jonathan reflects on his decision to attend despite the challenging circumstances and discusses the growing BDS pressures on Israeli academics abroad.
For the full article click here
"The Challenge of Human Rights after October 7th" by the Center for Women's Justice
Podcast series, Episode 19, 11.04.2024
Anne Rethmann shares her insights in the podcast series "Voices of Women at Wartime." During the discussion, she recounts her personal experience in Israel following the events of October 7th and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Moreover, she delves into the concept of "dignity" within the framework of human rights discourse, shedding light on the disparity between individual and collective human rights.
To listen to the episode click here
"We cannot afford to be isolated" by Barak Medina
alfredlandecker.org, 07.12.2023
The attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7 and the war in the Gaza Strip since then have been the subject of heated debate in the academic world. Anne Rethmann interviews Professor Barak Medina, of the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, about the effects of one-sided academic open letters, and the current situation in Israel. The interview first appeared in the print edition of the German weekly Jungle World (2023/48).
Read more, for the German version click here
"Germans Received Compensation for Property Taken From Jews, Documents Reveal" by Ofer Aderet
haaretz.com, 17.01.2022
A new historical study by Iris Nachum reveals that ethnic Germans who were expelled after the war from homes stolen in Central and Eastern Europe from Jews received West German state compensation for “loss of property.” The German authorities often believed the false claims of the Germans over Jewish Holocaust survivors and their heirs.
Read more, for the Hebrew version click here
“Girl in a Red Coat: A Picture in Four Acts” by Yehudit Dori Deston
Mimeo blog post, 26.05.2022
This essay investigates the famous image of the girl in the red coat and presents three alternative versions of it. One given in the testimony of Holocaust survivor Dr. Martin Paldi at the Eichmann trial, one presented in Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List, and one preserved in the memory of Gabriel Bach, who served as the prosecutor in the Eichmann trial. The blog suggests that the Eichmann trial contributed to enshrining this image in the collective memory of the Holocaust and, at the same time, in the personal memory of Bach, who was born in Germany and immigrated to Palestine during WWII.
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The Girl in the Red Coat: Scene from Steven Spielberg’s movie - Schindler’s List: Universal Studios.