The seminar was held October 28. The topics discussed were Vladimir Jabotinsky’s ideas and prognoses. The event was organized by RSUH, Embassy of Israel and Jabotinsky Institute in Tel-Aviv.
Mrs. Keren Kohen-Gat, Minister Plenipotentiary and Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Israel, was the guest of honor.
Rector Bezborodov said in his speech that the Jewish and Judaic research at RSUH was focused in the Center for Bible Studies and the Judaica and its pertinent results could be seen in the monograph by Professor Leonid Katsis “Russian Spring of Vladimir Jabotinsky”, recently published by RSUH Press. He also added that the fact of participation of the representatives of Jabotinsky Institute in the Seminar would increase the level of academic research and strengthen Russian-Israel relations.
Rector Bezborodov said, among other things: “The personality of Jabotinsky has a definite historical ring to it. Writer, publicist, journalist, he dedicated his life to fighting for the creation of the Jewish state. … Being a man of a truly planetary scale, he fought for his idea of a national Jewish state in Palestine in many countries. He has remained in the memory of the people as a prominent figure of the Jewish renaissance and of important national leader of Israel”.
Dr. Yossi Ahimeir, Chair of the Jabotinsky Institute, said that the seminar at RSUH had opened a series of celebratory events, which would presently continue in Yaroslavl and St.-Petersburg State Universities. He added that the Jabotinsky Institute had come into being before the State of Israel was created and by now its activity has become international.
Dr. Arye Naor, Head of the Academic Committee of the Jabotinsky Institute, in his presentation described Jabotinsky’s liberal nationalism as the idea of every nation being an individuality that plays its role in the international symphony of independent states.
Dr. Gideon Mitchnik, General Director of the Jabotinsky Institute, gave a talk «Jabotinsky as a visionary and creator», in which he talked about the dissemination of Zionist ideas in Israel and the world.
Dr. Ariel Bulstein, Member of the Board of Directors of the Jabotinsky Institute, gave a talk “Ze’ev Jabotinsky through the eyes of the Israel of today”, in which he talked about how the ideas of Jabotinsky were being realized in Israel and how Jabotinsky’s legacy was acknowledged by all political leaders, both of the ruling coalition and their opponents. He also said that, although not all of Jabotinsky’s ideas had been carried out yet, the main proof of his work was the fact that Israel existed and had been recognized as a state within its own right.
Dr. Leonid Katsis gave a presentation “Foreign Land by Jabotinsky: literature and politics in Odessa in 1905”, in which he discussed the future academic publication of memoirs and literary works by Jabotinsky.
Dr. Galina Eliasberg, Professor at the Center for Bible Studies and the Judaica, spoke on the subject of Jabotinsky’s early plays and the role they played in his later work “Foreign Land”.
Dr. Dmitry Maryasis, Head of the Department of Israel at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RAS, gave a talk on the transformation of the Jabotinsky’s political legacy in the Israel of today.
Ms. Keren Kohen-Gat expressed thanks to the organizational committee and said that she was willing to provide assistance in the organization of similar events in the future.
The event was organized by RSUH and Embassy of Israel in Russia.
