The Dreyfus Affair and its Relevance Today

Led by Jay Sorkin

Join us for lunch and an afternoon of lively conversation, camaraderie, and entertainment! The cost is $15 per person for lunch.

What could link a court-martial trial in 1890s France to the events of today? The answer is antisemitism, prejudice, and persecution, which has persisted throughout history. This cause-célèbre has been directly captured in film seven times, and forms the basis of the 1991 film School Ties, which brings the case forward almost a hundred years, and illustrates the famous French phrase, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” From the trial to the journalism of Theodore Herzl to the establishment of the State of Israel, to the events of last October 7 and the ongoing war between Gaza and Israel, explore the links that put all of this into context, showing that “the longest hatred” is always present, just looking for an excuse to awaken.