Anti-Semitism: Beginning of informative briefings at universities

As part of the project ''Combating Anti-Semitism and Promotion of Religious Tolerance in South America,'' that Puente Democratico Program of CADAL implements with support from the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF), the first briefing was given in universities of Argentina on “Origin, myths and influences of anti-Semitism in the world.''

As part of the project ''Combating Anti-Semitism and Promotion of Religious Tolerance in South America,'' that Puente Democratico Program of CADAL implements with support from the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF), the first briefing was given in universities of Argentina on “Origin, myths and influences of anti-Semitism in the world."

This time, the talk was delivered at the University of Belgrano and was in charge of Professor Ricardo López Göttig, Doctor in History (PhD) from the Charles University of Prague. López Göttig is professor at the University of Belgrano, Argentina, and the ORT Uruguay University. He is a member of the CADAL Academic Council and a representative in the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. He participated as a fellow of the International Seminar for Teachers of Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) in Jerusalem, January 2008.

During the conversation the modern anti-Semitic discourse is explored to explain prejudice and false assumptions on which it is based, as well as persistent conspiracy theories that have spread. Issues such as the pseudoscientific theories of racial superiority, the dilemmas of Jewish assimilation into European modernity, and the rise of Zionism, the Holocaust and Soviet anti-Semitism are covered. The aim of the talk is to provide tools in ninety minutes to clear doubts and errors, in order to contribute to the existence and approximation of different peoples and religions.

Anti-Semitism has been an ideological component that characterized the twentieth century world politics. Its roots are founded in the past, but its massive expression was delivered in the thirties and forties with the persecution and extermination of Jews in Europe and new forms persists after the creation of the State of Israel.

The objective of the project "Combating Anti-Semitism and Promotion of Religious Tolerance in South America" is to allow a specific group of civil society actors concerned about religious tolerance to conduct a proper and more efficient battle against anti-Semitism, thus providing an environment more favourable to the fundamental freedoms and respect for human rights.