International Workshop on Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason After 100 Years
Hermann Cohen (1842-1918) was not just a leading academic philosopher but also an influential religious socialist and a prophetic voice in the defense of Judaism at a time when political anti-Semitism made its first appearance in modern mass politics. The centenary of his posthumous Religion of Reason Out of the Sources of Judaism was the occasion for an international workshop, held at the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies in June 2022. For many of the participants, this was the first post-pandemic academic gathering they intended in person since the beginning of the pandemic. Papers addressed theoretical aspects and nineteenth-century contexts, and explored aspects of ethics, virtue theory, and messianism in Religion of Reason, as well as discussed matters of influence and interpretation. Local and remote participants expressed their appreciation for the careful planning, the welcoming atmosphere and attention to detail, as well as the joy of intellectual exchange they experienced during the gathering.
Workshop Testimonials
We asked workshop participants to share their impressions with us. Here is what they wrote:
“I spent a few days at the Elie Wiesel Center at Boston University for a wonderful workshop on Hermann Cohen’s religious philosophy. The three-day conference was one of those rare occasions where truly enlightening discussions and learning took place. The setting – from the beautiful venue and the technical support to the refreshments available during the long days and the administrative arrangements – played a key role in making this possible.” – Roy Amir (Postdoctoral fellow at the Franz Rosenzweig Minerva Research Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
“Congratulations to Professor Michael Zank and the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies on organizing an edifying and collegial workshop on the centenary of Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason Out of the Sources of Judaism. The papers were excellent, the conversations warm and productive. It is rare to find spaces where doctoral students, giants in the field, and everyone in between come together in such a rich, lively, and egalitarian exchange of ideas. I came away from the workshop with renewed excitement about the state of the field. I am grateful to the organizers for all the work that went into this wonderful conference.” – Shira Billet (Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought and Ethics at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America)
“The way the Elie Wiesel Center first organized the workshop on Cohen and then favored the discussion between the participants, offering them a familiar atmosphere and great comfort in all respects, was beautiful and fruitful.” – Pierfrancesco Fiorato (Associate Professor of Philosophy at Università degli Studi di Parma)
“It is difficult to exaggerate how much I enjoyed the International Workshop on Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason this May. The workshop was postponed a number of times due to Covid, and at one point it was suggested that we move on-line and hold it remotely. I’m happy the decision was made to insist that it take place in person, even with the price of postponing again. Not only because Boston is beautiful, but because there is no better way to appreciate the richness and complexity of Cohen’s thought than by sitting in a room with world-leading scholars and think together with them. The paper I delivered, on Cohen’s account of selfhood and atonement in light of the broader Protestant discourse of his time, benefited greatly from their knowledgeable insights and input. I am grateful to Prof. Michael Zank and the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies for organizing such an engaging and thought-provoking workshop.” – Daniel M. Herskowitz (British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford.)
“I appreciate having had the opportunity to participate in the workshop marking the centennial of the publication of Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason that was organized by the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. The center truly put BU’s best foot forward as scholars from around the world had a chance, following the relative isolation imposed upon us by the pandemic, to reconnect in an intimate and convivial environment around the vital issues raised by Cohen’s posthumous magnum opus. The range of critical and analytic perspectives to the material that were on display and the consistent theme within the presentations that Cohen offers an all-too-often underappreciated approach to the relationship between profound religious thought and philosophical reasoning reinforced the workshop’s conclusion that more needs to be done to bring Cohen’s Religion of Reason into the undergraduate classroom. I learned a lot from my colleagues, and I wish to commend Prof. Zank and his team at the Wiesel Center for organizing this workshop.” – Mark A. Kaplowitz (Assistant Professor at Southwest Tennessee Community College)
“The theme of my contribution to the International Workshop on Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason was “Revelation and Repetition.” I discovered that many important things related to this work come in twos. Cohen makes the point that revelation comes twice in the Bible, first as experienced by Moses and the Israelites at Sinai and then again when it is repeated by Moses at great length in Deuteronomy. In my analysis I tried to show that the whole of chapter four of Cohen’s last work is itself structured as a series of repetitions. I also tried to situate his analysis of revelation in relation to Cohen’s repeated reading and critique of Spinoza’s view over his philosophical career. Finally, it seemed to me that the conference itself was repeated, first as an invitation to join other scholars in thinking about this book in 2020 and then to have it postponed and reconvened two years later as the pandemic waned just enough for us to gather in person. It was in fact the first in-person conference that I had attended since the beginning of the pandemic. The delay gave me the opportunity to think more deeply about this text than I might have if we had met when first planned. The wonderfully organized hybrid event was a renewal of my interest in this important book and in the very possibility of face-to-face scholarly exchange, even if it had to happen through masks. I am grateful to Michael Zank, the Elie Wiesel Center and its staff, and all the other participants for the chance to talk and learn about the work of Hermann Cohen.” – Michael A. Rosenthal (Grafstein Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the University of Toronto)
“I was not able to attend the Cohen workshop in person but only via Zoom. In most conferences that I attended since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, participants through Zoom were not sufficiently integrated into the sessions. During those “hybrid” scholarly gatherings, even when the internet connection worked well and the talk was delivered smoothly, still communication between the speaker, the chair, and the rest of the participants did not flow. This was not the situation at the conference in Boston. Thanks to the thinking ahead and hard work of the conference organizers and conference team, attendees on zoom, myself included, were truly part of every session. We were able to see the participants physically present at the Elie Wiesel Center’s conference room and interact with them, and similarly, participants were able to see and directly interact with us. I was therefore able to follow all the conference sessions, despite the zoom fatigue, and actively participate in the rigorous discussions.” – Ori Werdiger (Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Philosophy and the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto)
“I spent a few days at the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies in Boston during the International Workshop on Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason. Three great memories constitute my experience at the center: the beautiful facilities, the striking hospitality of the hosts, and the inspiring atmosphere during the workshop. The facilities allowed for a diversified program, including time for side discussions, walks at Boston River, and intellectually stimulating lunches. Michael Zank and his employees did not shy away from any efforts to turn the event into an unforgettable experience, which made it possible to bridge interdisciplinary obstacles and to approach Hermann Cohen’s philosophy of religion from various angles. The international component of the event was also expressed in the spoken languages at the conference: English, German, and Hebrew. The warm atmosphere at the conference was conducive for young scholars like me, who felt comfortable exchanging their ideas with established and world-leading Cohen scholars in a welcoming setting. All this made my stay a wonderful experience I would not want to miss.” – Elisabeth Widmer (Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo)
“The Elie Wiesel Center has a prominent reputation in research and teaching. The workshop organized by Prof. Michael Zank included experts from six countries. One focus was on the logical, ethical and aesthetic presuppositions of Cohen’s Jewish thought. But contemporary interconnections in the politics of religion and in personal relations were also illuminated in sharp detail. A clear result emerged: Cohen’s philosophy is highly relevant for some central questions of our times. However hardly anyone in the academic public is cognizant of that. This leads to three new challenging tasks:
- an English translation of Cohen’s System of Philosophy;
- the publication of surveys on his works (e.g., Companion to H. Cohen);
- the development of a university-level curriculum.
Teaching in particular demands something more: Cohen fused a deeply felt religion with uncompromising sober conceptual reflection. The university lecturer today must be able to illustrate this fusion in his own person. This pedagogical ability is in strikingly short supply in current academe. But what young students need most is precisely this paradigm of a philosophical synthesis resonant in the very person of their instructor.” – Hartwig Wiedebach (Privatdozent, Uni Kassel/ETH Zurich; formerly Director of the Hermann Cohen Archiv, University of Zurich)
“The “International Workshop on Hermann Cohen’s Religion of Reason After 100 Years,” organized by Michael Zank, captured the best features of in-person workshops. Michael brought together an international group of scholars to spend three generous days considering Cohen’s thought, its contexts and afterlives. With ample time for discussion built into each day’s schedule, we were able to think together through the new associations and unresolved challenges introduced in the formal presentations. Several of the panels attended to lesser-known features of Cohen’s work, namely Cohen’s nineteenth-century context and his students and readers. Of particular note were the lectures of a new wave of Cohen scholars, including Roy Amir, Shira Billet, Daniel Herskowitz, Christoph Kasten, Jacob Levi, Ori Werdiger, and Elisabeth Widmer. The workshop was committed to accessibility, with care taken to mitigate health risks and virtual platforms seamlessly integrated into the program. The grace and conviviality of the workshop was sustained, in large measure, by the inimitable efforts of Theresa Cooney, Khadija El Kharfi, and Jeremy Solomons.
This workshop was a fitting conclusion to Michael Zank’s tenure as Director of the Elie Wiesel Center, exemplifying his long-standing commitments to invest in and provide a platform for junior scholars and his gift for curating vibrant conversations that reflect his perception of unexpected interrelationships. True to form, Michael’s generosity of spirit and collegiality enriched this workshop as they enriched the impressive collection of events he organized over the years of his directorship.” – Alexandra Zirkle (Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo)
You can find the detailed program for the Cohen Workshop HERE.