Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History,, Stanford University
Many people in both the Arab world and the West are disappointed that parliamentary elections in Egypt and Tunisia have resulted in the overwhelming victory of Islamists and wonder if “Islam” is compatible with “democracy.” Our speaker, Prof. Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of Middle East History at Stanford University, suggests that perhaps parliaments aren’t the decisive factor in creating democracies. If so, what are the social forces that created the “Arab spring?” And where are they now?
Of all the stories in the Hebrew Bible, the Exodus from Egypt is the master narrative of Jewish tradition. Jewish liturgy, law, and collective identity are all undergirded by the story of the Israelites being freed from bondage. We welcome Rabbi Sarah Wolfe, Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills as she traces some of the ways the story has been woven into Jewish thought and practice and explores why this story continues to be so compelling to Jews and non-Jews alike.
