Conference: Antisemitism and the Law
11/03/2026Against the backdrop of a rise in anti-Semitic incidents, the University of Würzburg is hosting a conference entitled ‘Werksbesichtigung Michael Wolffsohn’ on 13 November 2026. At the event, Michael Wolffsohn will be in conversation with the writer Julia Franck.
Michael Wolffsohn is a German historian, journalist and professor emeritus of Modern History at the University of the German Bundeswehr in Munich, where he taught from 1981 to 2012. He is regarded as one of the leading experts on German-Jewish history and German-Israeli relations, and regularly contributes as an author and commentator. Born in Tel Aviv in 1947, he has published numerous books and has received several awards for his academic work and social commitment.
Wolffsohn is now the focus of a conference at the University of Würzburg. Under the title ‘An Examination of Michael Wolffsohn’s Work’, the Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Legal Theory, Information Law and Legal Informatics (Prof. Dr Eric Hilgendorf) invites all interested parties to attend. In their presentations, the participating speakers aim to provide important insights into Wolffsohn’s work, analysing the changing values, the limits of religious freedom and the tension between secular and religious legitimacy. The conference language is German.
The programme
The proposed ”Constitutional Reform” in Israel initiated on January 4th 2023 and its actual results
Prof. Dr. Yoram Danziger, Tel Aviv, in englischer Sprache, Zoom
Ethische vs. funktionale Toleranz
Prof. Dr. Ruth Zimmerling, Mainz
Indikatoren für Wertewandel
Dr. Thomas Petersen, Allensbach
Grenzen der Religionsfreiheit im religiös pluralen Staat
Prof. Dr. Kyrill-Alexander Schwarz, Würzburg
Antisemitismus und Meinungsfreiheit
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Schmahl, Würzburg
Antisemitismus und Strafrecht
Prof. Dr. Frank Schuster, Würzburg
Frieden durch Föderalismus?
Prof. Dr. Horst Möller, München
Denkmalsturz? Friedenskanzler Willy Brandt
Prof. Dr. Peter Hoeres, Würzburg
Religiöse vs. säkulare Legitimität und die intellektuelle Selbstzerstörung des Westens
Prof. Dr. Dr. Eric Hilgendorf, Würzburg
Cultural evening discussion with Michael Wolffsohn and Julia Franck
The conference will take place on Friday, 13 November 2026, from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm in Lecture Theatre I of the Old University of Würzburg. The specialist presentations will run until 5.45 pm.
A particular highlight will be the evening programme starting at 6.30 pm: a public discussion between Michael Wolffsohn and the writer Julia Franck, moderated by Professor Stephan Kraft (Würzburg), will explore the theme ‘Family history as world history or literature?’.
No registration is required, and admission is free. As well as the option to attend the entire conference, it is also possible to attend individual lectures, in particular the evening event featuring Michael Wolffsohn and Julia Franck.
Contact
Prof. Dr Dr Eric Hilgendorf, Eric.Hilgendorf@uni-wuerzburg.de
