An introduction to our Guest Speakers in Session B

with CHARLES LANDAU

This great course will investigate Jewish attitudes to the non-Jewish world, and non-Jewish attitudes to Jews. We will look at issues that have impacted upon Jews and non-Jews alike for a thousand years and more, which shape attitudes and thinking today.

The British Press and the Jews

Has the attitude of the Press changed? We will consider the press from mid nineteenth century, and then at pivotal moments in Jewish history including the Balfour Declaration, Churchill and Palestine, WWII, Israel, war, intifada, Zionism and antisemitism.

English Literature and the Jews

A study of the portrayal of the Jew in English literature. The origin of the Devil-Jew-
Judas triumvirate, the Wandering Jew and the good Zionist Jew. We will consider the writings of morality plays, Chaucer, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Milton, Shelley, Scott, Dickens and Eliot. Additionally, what of the Jewish contribution to literature through the writings of Golding, Zangwill, Richler and others.

Minorities and the Jews

Are Jews considered to be a ‘minority’ that is discriminated against, or part of the ruling middle classes? Jews are often the greatest fighters against racial discrimination and apartheid, yet often spurned for their efforts. Listen to Chaim Herzog as he attacks the UN in its attempt to equate racism with Zionism.

Moslems and Jews

Opinions have been born, developed and spread for fourteen hundred years from the Koran and Sharia Law. Statements about ‘the People of the Book’ as disbelievers are not complimentary, to say the least. To what degree does the Hamas Charter reflect genuine Moslem belief? Do their views of us reflect our views of them? Do they truthfully distinguish between Zionists and Jews? Importantly, what hope is there for the future?

Dr Charles Landau is a Jewish historian of note and an outstanding public speaker. Over the years, Charles has enlightened thousands of students at KLC with his passion for Jewish history and comparative religion. He completed his MA dissertation on the ‘Christian roots of anti-Semitism‘.