We cordially invite you to a guest lecture by Professor Moshe Halbertal of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The lecture, entitled “Sacrifice and Violence,” will take place on Monday, May 11, at 10:50 in Room C240 (Celetná 20).
Abstract:
„In this lecture, Prof. Halbertal explores the concept of sacrifice from biblical ritual to its broader ethical and cultural meanings. Beginning with narratives such as Cain and Abel and the binding of Isaac, and moving beyond the notion of offering to God, sacrifice is examined as a form of self-limitation that shapes moral, religious, and communal life. What began as an offering to God has, in modern contexts, become the act of giving oneself up for a cause. Halbertal argues that this capacity for self-transcendence lies at the core of moral life, yet also carries a profound danger—the same logic can be used to legitimize violence, coercion, and abuse. The lecture therefore seeks to clarify both the ethical force of sacrifice and the limits that must be placed upon it.“
The event is organized in collaboration with the Department of Middle Eastern Studies and the Prague Center for Jewish Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University.
The lecture will be held in English and is open to the public.
(image © “Ursula and Kurt Schubert Archive“ in the Center for Jewish Art, HUJI)
