Ludmila Ulitskaya came from Russia to talk about her extraordinary novel, Daniel Stein, Interpreter. Based on the real life story of Oswald Rufeisen who miraculously survived the Holocaust by working in the Gestapo as an interpreter and went on to become a Carmelite monk in Israel trying to bring Christianity back to its Jewish roots. She discussed with philosopher Brian Klug the character of Daniel as symbol of love, humanity and tolerance.

Antony Lerman’s The Making and Unmaking of a Zionist: A Personal and Political Journey movingly describes his gradual disenchantment but continuing thoughtful engagement with Israel and Zionism. Diana Pinto’s Israel Has Moved is a profound and unsettling account of a country that is no longer where we might think it is. As leading advocates of the revival and autonomy of European Jewish life, they discussed their contrasting experiences and conclusions about Israel’s trajectory.