Ep. 8: The History: On the History of Zionism (Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner – LMU Munich & American University Washington, D.C.)

Guest: Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner, Professor of Jewish History and Culture, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München / American University Washington, D.C. Hosts: Philip & Yusuf Bio: Michael Brenner is Professor of Jewish History and Culture at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and at American University in Washington, D.C. He is one of the world’s leading experts on Zionism. He is an elected fellow of the Bavarian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy for Jewish Research and is the International President of the Leo Baeck Institute. His books include In Search of Israel: The History of an Idea, A Short History of the Jews, Prophets of the Past, and Zionism: A Brief History. He co-authored the four-volume German-Jewish History in Modern Times, which won the National Jewish Book Award, and has edited nineteen volumes. Beyond academia, Prof. Brenner is a prominent public voice on antisemitism, racism, and memory politics in Germany and Europe. In this episode: This episode explores Zion and Zionism within Jewish self-determination. Prof. Brenner discusses the religious meaning of Zion, its role in the diaspora, and continuous Jewish presence in Palestine over two millennia. He traces thinkers such as Moses Hess, political Zionism under Herzl, and leaders of Cultural Zionism like Ahad Ha’Am. The discussion covers movement currents, reception among Jews, reactions in the Arab world, colonial influences, and the Balfour Declaration. Topics include Jewish migration before/during the Holocaust, Israel's role for survivors, and global Jewish attitudes after 1948. Finally, Brenner reflects on contemporary Zionism, its influence on Israeli society, and the responsibilities of education and remembrance in Germany eighty years after the Holocaust. This episode offers a concise introduction to the intellectual, political, and historical dimensions of Zionism. This episode was recorded on June 24, 2025. Links: Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner: LMU München: https://tinyurl.com/2bmdjay7 American University, Washington, D.C. https://tinyurl.com/4p4wcuf5 Further Resources: Herzl, Theodor. Der Judenstaat and Altneuland. Edited by Shlomo Simonsohn, Dover, 1987. https://tinyurl.com/3ay4h3zc Herzl, Theodor. Altneuland: Roman. Wien: M. Breitenstein, 1902. https://tinyurl.com/3xkt53x3 Brenner, Michael. Geschichte des Zionismus. 4th updated ed., C.H. Beck, 2016. https://tinyurl.com/4j76u9rp Please also check out our other episodes to explore multiple perspectives. Disclaimer: Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast team. Technical legal terms are explained in Episode 36 with Prof. Claus Kreß; contested histories are addressed by Prof. Gudrun Krämer in Episode 21.