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The Fate of Secularism the Sacred and the Profane: Confrontation, Collaboration, and Mutual Influence

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The Fate of Secularism the Sacred and the Profane: Confrontation, Collaboration, and Mutual Influence THE FATE OF SECULARISM THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE: CONFRONTATION, COLLABORATION, AND MUTUAL INFLUENCE The Second Gathering of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel, Jerusalem 29-30 November 2016 | 28-29 Cheshvan 5777 SUMMARY THE FATE OF SECULARISM THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE: CONFRONTATION, COLLABORATION, AND MUTUAL INFLUENCE The Second Gathering of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel, Jerusalem 29-30 November 2016 | 28-29 Cheshvan 5777 SUMMARY The Global Forum of the National Library of Israel in his/her own field guarantee an intellectual The Library we are toiling to rejuvenate is not discourse of rare quality. a museum. It is a living bridge connecting the wisdom of the ages with our world today The global recognition and personal prestige of and with the challenge of building a better the Forum participants contribute significantly tomorrow. The impact of the Global Forum of the to the success of the National Library’s renewal National Library of Israel is already being felt, an vision and to it taking its rightful place among the exceptional expression of the Library’s renewed leading cultural centers of the world. Over time, mandate and vision. The National Library of Israel is in the midst of people, viewing them as a source of identity and the Forum has remarkable potential to impact the a renewal project designed to position it as a inspiration, and as a relevant, challenging and cultural, social and spiritual lives of Israel and the vibrant, creative, and influential intellectual influential resource for the contemporary agenda. Jewish people. This will be achieved by the very center, which plays a meaningful role in the act of raising issues on the public agenda, the cultural, social and spiritual life of Israel and the The Forum’s discussion topics are not confined quality of the discourse and the encouragement Jewish people. The book in its deepest sense is to the relatively limited scope of issues relevant of public engagement with them. The Forum the essence of Jewish identity, and so it is only to the libraries of the past, which were primarily also helps enable the Library to fulfill its fullest natural for the “People of the Book” that this passive in nature. The vision of renewal assigns potential, addressing dilemmas specific to the cultural center be located in its national library. the Library an active role, to strive in making National Library of Israel, as its members provide the treasures it holds accessible and to bridge expertise, guidance, professional connections Realizing the National Library vision – which between the wisdom, heritage and values and advice. is vital for ensuring the continuity of Jewish embodied within them and the significant culture – is not by any means self-evident. It is dilemmas confronting us today. The Forum has a monumental task that requires the cooperation been created to aid the National Library in its new of the finest minds, foremost cultural figures and mission and is a central means through which it is best leadership that Israel, the Jewish people and striving to open it treasures to diverse and global the world have to offer. To this end, the National audiences. Library of Israel’s Board of Directors decided to establish the Global Forum of the National Library In the context of study, debate, education and of Israel and to appoint Prof. Moshe Halbertal and creation, the new National Library of Israel is also Mr. Leon Wieseltier as its co-chairs. obligated to encourage the work of interpretation and the deep critical discourse designed to hone The Global Forum is an important element in the an understanding of diverse meanings found in transformation of the National Library’s renewal the collective body of Jewish creative efforts, the vision into reality. Every two years, the Forum treasures of which are held within the Library’s brings together 80 prominent thinkers, cultural walls. The Forum has a leading role in this task figures and leaders, men and women, Jews and due to its intellectual might. It contains a most non-Jews alike. The discussions at the Forum, unusual concentration of wisdom, historical which touch upon the most significant issues knowledge, academic depth, cultural sensitivity for Israel, the Jewish people and the world at and love of the book and of books. The myriad large, take place with an emphasized linkage to fields to which the Forum members belong and the intellectual treasures of Israel and the Jewish the impressive achievements of each member 4 | The Second Gathering of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel Summary | 5 I am pleased that the Second Gathering of the The gathering of the Global Forum of the National National Library of Israel is convening in Jerusalem, Library of Israel, many of the members of which I evidence that this important Forum is becoming a know personally, assists in realizing the vision of regular event in the life of our people and country. fostering an inspirational intellectual beacon. We The shared study of the book, books in general are all proud of our National Library, and together and of their relevance to contemporary issues is we will continue to ensure that it is a priceless essential to our identity and our shared future. treasure of enlightenment, progress, intellectual Mr. Shimon Peres, z”l liberty and creative freedom. The Ninth President of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of the State of Israel The Global Forum of the National Library of Israel The aim of the Global Forum is to create a regular has been established as an integral element of the community of thinkers, scholars, writers, artists transformative renewal process upon which the and others who will attend to the noble work of National Library has recently embarked. The Forum interpretation, and take upon themselves the brings together leading thinkers and scholars pleasures and the strains of attempting to establish, from Israel and around the world in Jerusalem for by means of dialogue about central ideas and central a rare gathering of intellectual depth, historical texts and central images from all the eras of Jewish knowledge, cultural sensitivity, love of the book civilization, the many meanings of what together and the written word. we all cherish. Mr. David Blumberg Prof. Moshe Halbertal and Mr. Leon Wieseltier Chairman of the Board, The National Library of Israel Co-Chairs of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres z"l, Honorary Chairman of the Global Forum Mr. David Blumberg, Chairman of the National Library of Israel of the National Library of Israel Greetings from the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu to the Global Forum Members Prof. Moshe Halbertal, Co-Chair of the Global Forum of the Mr. Leon Wieseltier, Co-Chair of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel National Library of Israel 10 | The Second Gathering of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel Summary | 11 Tuesday, 29 November / 28 Cheshvan Wednesday, 30 November / 29 Cheshvan 08:30 15:15 08:30 15:00 Gathering and Registration Secular Revolutions and Religious Gathering and Registration Dilemmas of Accessibility in a Multicultural Mount Zion Hotel Counterrevolutions Mount Zion Hotel Society Mishkenot Sha'ananim Conference Center, Working groups held simultaneously 09:00 open to the public 09:00 National Library of Israel Opening Session The Fate of Secularism – The Political Mount Zion Hotel Chair: Prof. Leora Batnitzky Dimension Working group Chairpersons: Prof. Nili Cohen, Keynote address: Prof. Michael Walzer Mount Zion Hotel Adv. Ali Haider, Prof. Menahem Magidor, Chair: Dr. Raquel Ukeles Speakers/Respondents: Prof. Eva Illouz, Prof. Jonathan Sarna, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow Welcome and opening remarks: Mr. David Prof. Kesavan Veluthat, Mr. Leon Wieseltier Chair: Prof. Dominique Moisi Blumberg, Prof. Moshe Halbertal Speakers: Mr. Mustafa Akyol, 16:30 Introductory keynote speech: Prof. José 17:15 Prof. Ruth Gavison, Prof. Moshe Halbertal Religion and Secularism in the Tumultuous Casanova Violence in the Name of God – No Exit? Middle East “The Sacred and the Profane: Confrontation, Mishkenot Sha'ananim Conference Center, 11:20 Open to the public Collaboration, and Mutual Influence” open to the public President of Israel’s remarks: The National Library of Israel, Givat Ram Respondent: Dr. Yochi Fischer Mr. Reuven “Ruvi” Rivlin Chair: Prof. Rachel Elior Mount Zion Hotel Chair: Ambassador Prof. Daniel Kurtzer 10:30 Keynote address: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Speakers: Prof. Karen Barkey, The Fate of Secularism – The Moral- 12:00 Prof. Noah Feldman, Prof. Mati Steinberg, Philosophical Dimension 18:30 The Fate of Secularism – The Social Dimension Prof. Shibley Telhami Mount Zion Hotel Reception & Dinner Mount Zion Hotel The National Library of Israel 18:15 Chair: Prof. Avishai Margalit Chair: Prof. Fania Oz-Salzberger The Fate of Secularism – Literary and Cultural Speakers: Prof. Meir Buzaglo, 20:30 Speakers: Prof. Shmuel Feiner, Prof. Haviva Creation Prof. Jonathan Lear, Prof. Tamar Ross A Different World Than We Knew? Pedaya, Prof. Diana Pinto Closing session Panel and Discussion Open to the public 12:00 The National Library of Israel 13:30 The National Library of Israel, Givat Ram Lunch Lunch Mount Zion Hotel Chair: Prof. Moshe Halbertal Mount Zion Hotel Chair: Mr. Assaf Inbari Panelists: Mr. Mustafa Akyol, Prof. Dominique Speakers: Mr. Ozvaldo Golijov, Ms. Agi Mishol, Moisi, Mr. Leon Wieseltier 14:15 Ms. Nicole Krauss, Rabbi Haim Sabato 13:30 Tour – New National Library of Israel Concluding remarks: Mr. David Blumberg, Jerusalem and the Overlappings of the Sacred Building Site Mr. Leon Wieseltier Mishkenot Sha'ananim Conference Center Speakers: Ms. Emuna Elon, Prof. Sari Nusseibeh, Mr. Amos Oz 12 | The Second Gathering of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel Summary | 13 Second Gathering of the Global Forum The Sacred and the Profane: Confrontation, Collaboration, and Mutual Influence of the National Library of Israel Prof.
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