The Regional Zionist Organization and the Formation of the Modern Identity of Galician Jews (1918-1929)

We invite you to an urban seminar by Nadia Skokova, at which she will present her dissertation research.

In the context of modernization, political movements became the main agents of influence in Jewish society in eastern Galicia, among which the Regional Zionist Organization (RZO) was able to gain the most support. Analyzing the activities of the RZO allows us to look at the broader context of Jewish society in the interwar period. In contrast to Western European secular Jews, the experience of Galician Jews combined tradition and modern meanings. The study of the activities of the largest modern Jewish political force allows us to study the history of Galician Jews in order to better understand the conditions and ways of transitioning from a traditional society to a modern identity.

The history of interwar Poland and the experience of Lviv Zionists make it possible to understand the key factors that influenced the national consciousness of Galician Jews, how the traditional worldview was transformed, and what challenges different generations of Jewish activists faced in formulating their own political program in the face of interethnic pressure and state restrictions.

This seminar will be held in a workshop format. Researchers are invited to discuss scholarly projects, research at various stages of development, and completed research that is being prepared for publication.

Participation in the city seminar requires preliminary reading and discussion of the researcher's text. If you would like to join the seminar, please email Yelyzaveta Bobrova ([email protected]), and we will send you the materials in advance.