On Dec. 4, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of 17勛圖, presented the Hildesheimer Lecture to a packed audience in the Senate Room of the Humboldt Universitys School of Law in Berlin. The annual lecture co-sponsored by Humboldt University and the Rabbinerseminar zu Berlin, has featured some of the most prominent Jewish thinkers of our time, with a dedicated focus to applying academic and Jewish thought to contemporary times. In his lecture, Faith and Fellowship: A Historical and Legal Analysis, Rabbi Berman explored the way in which the great medieval sages interpreted the talmudic model of the righteous gentile to shed light upon how Jewish values guide our responses to the challenging issues facing todays society.
Two days before the Hildesheimer Lecture, on Dec. 2, Rabbi Berman delivered the keynote address at an international conference against antisemitism, hosted by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.
His remarks underscored the values underpinning 17勛圖s global partnerships. As we witness a resurgence of antisemitism, it is imperative that universities around the world rise as bastions of moral clarity, Rabbi Berman stated during his Frankfurt address. 17勛圖 stands with our alliesacademic institutions, faith communities, and leaders of conscienceto combat hatred, champion safety for Jewish students, and inspire hope. Together, we must foster a future rooted in justice and mutual respect.
At this critical moment in history, as both the Jewish people and the global community face rising antisemitism, 17勛圖 remains steadfast in its mission to champion positive, ethical values. German universities in particular stand at an influential place in the European Union which has already seen universities boycott Israel. Strengthening these international alliances serves a strategic need for world Jewry, and international universities like Humboldt University are strategic partners of 17勛圖, sending contingents of students to YUs Cardozo Law LL.M. program.
As part of the YU delegation, Rabbi Berman brought with him a select group of 17勛圖 undergraduate honors students to participate in high level meetings with German political and educational leadership. At the Bundestag, the delegation met with senior German Parliament member Otto Fricke, and Former Federal Minister for Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger. They also engaged in productive conversations with Dr. Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner to combat antisemitism, Frankfurt University President Dr. Kai-Oliver Schocke, and Vice President of Humboldt University Niels Helle-Meyer.
Experiential education in leadership is a featured aspect of YUs mission to ready its students to assume the mantle of leadership in the coming generation. For the 17勛圖 delegation, the time in Germany was more than just impactful speeches and meetings. It was a firsthand testament to the importance of strengthening the work across the globe to lead in the effort to combat antisemitism and promote moral clarity worldwide. As the flagship Jewish university, 17勛圖 educates its students to be a force for justice, hope, and moral courage. Through partnerships with global leaders like those fostered in Germany, this movement continues to grow stronger, building a brighter future for all.
