PERSPECTIVES studying studying studying lf relations lf lf relations relations between between between Jews Jews Jews Christians Christians Christians nstitute nstitute nstitute woo i & Muslims woo i woo i & Muslims & Muslims WINTER 2010–2011 IN ThIS ISSuE marginalised minorities PERSPECTIVES 5 studying studying studying lf relations lf lf relations relations between between between Jews Jews Jews Christians Christians Christians nstitute nstitute nstitute woo i & Muslims woo i woo i & Muslims & Muslims Perspectives Published by the Woolf Institute, uK registered charity no. 1069589 editorial Board Lucia Faltin, Ed Kessler, Editors Dan Avasilichioaie, Marketing Esther haworth Trisha Kessler, Culture Tina Steiner, News Lucy Glendinning, Editorial Assistant In media res: Marginalised Minorities submissions We welcome readers’ responses and Discussions at the Institute over the past six months have focused on Marginalised contributions. If you would like your Minorities against the backdrop of our study of relations between Jews, Christians material to be considered for publication, and Muslims. With our stream of international visiting fellows, student exchanges please identify it ‘for publication’. Email submissions are preferable. Images and collaborations within the academy, we are sensitive to developments in should be supplied as 300 dpi jpgs, at policy and other symptoms of change in relations between and treatment of faith least A5 size (148 x 210 mm). We also groups, nationally and internationally. Yet the theme has also attracted wider public welcome audio and audio-visual material attention of late, not least during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland and for Perspectives online. Files can be England, in the many column inches deconstructing what David Cameron’s plans emailed, uploaded to an ftp site (please for a Big Society really mean for communities, and in Angela Merkel’s admission of provide details) or burned on to a CD. the “utter failure of multiculturalism in Germany”. Contact Perspectives The discontent felt by and with minority communities can result in their isolation or Woolf Institute self-isolation from communal affairs, eventually leading to the gradual penetration Wesley house, Jesus Lane of extremism into mainstream society. It is a subject which cannot be ignored. Cambridge CB5 8BJ united Kingdom In this edition of Perspectives we explore the ideas of minority and marginalisation Tel: (44) (1223) 741 048 [email protected] of minorities from numerous viewpoints. The voices of Naomi Gryn, Navras www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/perspectives Aafreedi and Trisha Kessler bring to life the Jewish communities of India’s past and present. Daniel Langton engages us in the life and works of Grace Aguilar, a Distributed free of charge in the pioneering female Jewish voice in 19th century Britain. Rachel Ramsay explores uK and worldwide. the novel of Jewish Russian émigré Wladimir Kaminer who established the Cover Russendisko in 1990s Berlin. In the Culture section, award-winning novelist Marina Finding home #46 Tikkun ha-Olam Lewycka, whose books give voice to people often marginalised in society, talks to gouache and gold leaf on paper, Trisha Kessler. We also hear from one of the UK’s leading theatres working with 11.5” x 9” 2000 disempowered communities. Five of our alumni who work daily with minorities Artist: Siona Benjamin give a glimpse into their worlds. There is also a report on our standing-room only www.artsiona.com www.flomenhaftgallery.com debate asking whether Christians are the UK’s new marginalised minority. I name but a few of the well-researched and impassioned pieces I am pleased to present design & print management to you. h2 Associates, Cambridge Perspectives is printed on chlorine-free Lucia Faltin, editor FSC certified paper with vegetable- based ink. All opinions expressed in Perspectives are those of its individual writers. PERSPECTIVES 2 PERSPECTIVES Editorial In focus: India’s Jewish In media res ..............................................................................................................2 Communities From the Director ................................................................................................4 Diary Events ............................................................................................................................5 People at Woolf .....................................................................................................7 Pilgrimage on Wheels .......................................................................................31 Culture Book Shelf The Favourites of Sarah Joseph .................................................................36 Review Patrick Bade: Andrew Graham-Dixon, Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane .....................................................37 Reflections Working with Minorities ................................................................................38 Resources Courses | Publications | Dissertations | Online ............................... 42 Noticeboard Giving Marginalised Minority Writing Calendar & Highlights ...........................................................................................44 Minorities a Platform in German Features Daniel Langton 10 Eva-Maria Ziege 14 Rachel Ramsay 19 Marginal Minority Experience: The Case The Frankfurt School in Minority Writing in German: Study of the Nineteenth-Century Jewish American Exile Self-Portraits and Representing Theologian and Novelist, Grace Aguilar the Other In Focus Naomi Gryn 23 Trisha Kessler 27 Navras Jaat Aafreedi 30 The Jews of India Baghdadi Jewish Female Voices: The Indian Jews: Their Relations with From Calcutta to Golders Green Muslims and their Marginalisation Culture: Conversations Marina Lewycka, award-winning novelist 32 Anna Myers, Tricycle Theatre 34 & Trisha Kessler & Esther Haworth Finding Beauty in Cast-Offs Giving Marginalised Minorities a Platform www.woolf.cam.ac.uk From the Director Welcome to the Winter issue of Perspectives, which explores the theme Marginalised Minorities and, as always, includes the latest news about the Woolf Institute’s educational programmes. The learning environment at the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations will be particularly fruitful this academic year with three Visiting Fellows: in the autumn Daniel Cowdin has been researching Christian ethics and the Talmud, and in the Spring we will benefit from the wisdom of two eminent American professors, Jay Geller and Amy-Jill Levine from Vanderbilt Divinity School. As well as welcoming the new 2010–11 Masters students from Europe and North America, we look forward to the first students undertaking a new teaching programme (via e-learning) entitled Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: modern challenges. The Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations is also making good progress. Josef Meri, who has been appointed CMJR Academic Director, has initiated some important research projects including an academic journal in Muslim-Jewish Relations and a Reader. CMJR is also pleased to be working closely with the Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge. The Public Education Programmes is responding to increasing demands for its high-quality lectures, seminars and short courses. Unfortunately, we are only able to fulfill a small number of the requests due to limited resources but during the year we plan to build up a bank of Woolf Institute-trained tutors in order to respond to the increased demand. Thank you, as ever, for your ongoing support and encouragement, which are vital to our success. Although there is so much more to be achieved in improving understanding among Jews, Christians and Muslims, you are helping the Woolf Institute make a significant contribution to this urgent cause. Dr Edward Kessler, Founding and Executive Director PERSPECTIVES 4 DIARY Recent developments at the Woolf Institute Are Christians the UK’s New ‘Marginalised Minority’? It was a full house at the Woolf Institute’s spectrum in what was a frank and lively Williams believes that current developments debate on Tuesday 5 October as over 75 discussion. According to the European make the Equality Bill ironically named. people packed into the Michaelhouse President of the Humanist Federation She argued that Christians are becoming a chancel to attend the Woolf Institute’s David Pollock, it is “scarcely credible that marginalised majority, a position she says discussion asking, ‘Are Christians the UK’s Christianity is marginalised given its […] will prove detrimental for the country. New Marginalised Minority?’ Views were control of one in three state schools and expressed from the full range of the privileges in religious broadcasting”. He Rev Dr John Binns of Great St Mary’s, suggested that an increase in secularism in Cambridge took a more liberal stance the public realm would eventually create a arguing that there “cannot be an imposing neutral state. This was challenged by writer, pattern of faith but there must be room for broadcaster and leading authority on Islam, an individual response to God’s call”. Professor Ziauddin Sardar. He talked about a society which ‘ridicules religion’ and Dr Edward Kessler argued that Christianity described many Christians as feeling ‘shame is becoming a renewed minority and is and guilt’, and a subsequent unwillingness to “experiencing the pains of adjustment” to publicly declare themselves to be Christian. the growing religious and cultural pluralism. Yet he challenged