TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — 4,000 years of exile and migration were explored as the Troy University Libraries hosted a public lecture series on Jewish history.
Anne Frank Center USA CEO Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather discussed the migration of Jews around the world, the devastation of the holocaust, as well as Jewish identity.
Many students there said they attended the lecture because they were interested in learning about their own Jewish heritage. Bairnsfather hopes that education on Jewish history will combat antisemitism.
“We see antisemitism on the rise all around us,” Bairnsfather said. “Part of the reason is that people don’t know anything about Jews. The more people know about Jews, the better our chances are of stopping this wave of antisemitism that is a threat to Jews, but really is a threat to everyone.”
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Tuesday’s lecture was the second in a series of four lectures on Jewish history by Dr. Bairnsfather being held across Alabama. Two more lectures are planned:
- Feb. 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Temple Beth Or, 2246 Narrow Lane Road, Montgomery
- Feb. 19, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham
The lecture series’ creation is thanks to grants from The Alabama Holocaust Commission and the Alabama Humanities Alliance. The lectures are free and open to the public.
