A couple of interesting exhibits with a military history connection

I received two emails today asking me to mention two events, one exhibit and a symposium, both dealing with the Dreyfus Affair.

An Exhibition ~

The Power of Prejudice: The Dreyfus Affair

Who: Presented by the Florence and Chafetz Hillel House at Boston University, The New Center for Arts and Culture, and Boston University

What: Exhibition

The Power of Prejudice: The Dreyfus Affair

Documents, photos, cartoons and film on the case with accompanying videos describing
the history, legal aspects, media reactions, and the role of Jews and power, as well
as a symposium and films.


When: February 27 – April 6, 2008
11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays
1 p.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays

Where: Gallery 808, Boston University
808 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

Why:

The Dreyfus Affair, as it was known, was a seminal event in French history of the
late nineteenth century, which still resonates today. Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew
in the French army, was accused and then convicted of being a traitor. It was later
proven that he was innocent. This exhibit is based on Dreyfus – The Fight for
Justice, an exhibition of the Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme, Paris, with
original objects from the Lorraine Beitler Collection at the University of
Pennsylvania. It explores how the case led to the idea of separation of church and
state in France; issues of national security, military vs civilian justice; how it
was the first “trial in the press” with Emile Zola’s famous editorial “J’accuse”;
and how its impact inspired a journalist covering the trial, Theodor Herzl, to
initiate plans for the formation of the State of Israel.

Admission: The event is open and free to the public

About Florence and Chafetz Hillel House at Boston University

The new Florence & Chafetz Hillel House opened in the spring of 2005. This
beautiful facility is a vastly flexible space with many resources, and is open to
everyone. The physical space of BU Hillel is more than just beautiful; it reflects
an essential philosophy, informed by tradition and open to change. The Jewish
community at BU prides itself on being pluralistic and fluid; its different
communities and interest groups overlap and enrich each other. Students come from a
variety of backgrounds, both ideologically and in their Jewish experience.


About the New Center for Arts and Culture

The New Center for Arts and Culture connects the people of Boston and the world
through exploration of the creative arts, diverse cultures and contemporary ideas,
to foster mutual understanding and appreciation among people of all backgrounds and
ages.

For more information, please visit
http://www.ncacboston.org

Here is information on the symposium:

The New Center for Arts and Culture is organizing a symposium called Catalyst to History:
Why Dreyfus Matters to discuss how the issues of military justice, anti-Semitism,
separation of church and state, and trial by media which were part of the 19th
century French trial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus still reverberate today.

The panelists are:

Alan M. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law
School

Jeffrey Mehlman, University Professor and Professor of French Literature at
Boston University

Robert Zelnick, Journalism Professor of National Security
Studies and Journalism Department Chair at Boston University.

Dan Abrams, NBC News Chief Legal Affairs correspondent, will moderate.

The event will be on Sunday, March 2, 2008, 2 to 5 p.m. at the Jacob Sleeper Auditorium, Boston University, 871Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.

Admission is free and open to the public.

About The Dreyfus Affair:

The Dreyfus Affair, as it was known, was a seminal event in French history of the
late nineteenth century, which still resonates today. Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew
in the French army, was accused and then convicted of being a traitor. It was later
proven that he was innocent. The Dreyfus Affair was one of the most notorious cases
of criminal injustice in history, marked by anti-Jewish riots in every major city in
France. It was the world’s first trial by media and became known as “a dress
rehearsal for the Holocaust”. It also led to the formal separation of church and
state in France, and the movement to establish a sovereign Jewish state.

The symposium is being held in conjunction with the exhibition The Power of
Prejudice: The Dreyfus Affair. Presented by The Florence and Chafetz Hillel House
Boston University, the New Center for Arts and Culture and Boston University, the
exhibit is being held at 808 Commonwealth Gallery at Boston University. This
compelling exhibition featuring documents, cartoons, film, video, and other
artifacts, begins February 27 and runs through April 6. The hours are Tuesdays
through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

I would encourage anyone interested in this subject to consider attending these events.