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The Identity Paradox: How Our Multiple Identities Both Divide and Unite Us: Part II
September 15, 2019 @ 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Judith Levi returns to speak on the topic, The Identity Paradox: How Our Multiple Identities Both Divide and Unite Us. In Part 2 of this talk Dr. Levi explores further the paradoxical nature of our identities, and how our attachment to them can be both functional and dysfunctional, both beneficial and harmful. She gives special attention to how our identity can affect our willingness to reconcile with The Other, and shows how one particular kind of identity—victim identity—can be a major obstacle to reconciliation. She concludes with observations on the challenge and promise of identifying with our common humanity. After coffee/refreshment time, Dr. Levi will be available to those who want to meet for further discussion of the topic in Room 102 (the RE room).
The US-born daughter of German Jews, Judith Levi has been engaged for the last 20 years in German-Jewish dialogue and reconciliation. In 2015, she was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her “exceptional achievements in promoting reconciliation between the German and the Jewish peoples.” In 2016, her book on her long journey to German-Jewish reconciliation was published in Germany. It is from that book that her talk today and next week is drawn. Levi’s research specialty is language and law.
About 15 minutes after coffee hour, Prof. Levi will be happy to meet in Room 102 with anyone interested, for further informal discussion of the ideas raised in her talk.