The series Contemporary Israeli Voices was initiated, is curated and has been organized by Dalit Katz, Director of the Center for Jewish Studies. The series showcases the most contemporary voices in Israeli society especially in the arts: literature, films and TV shows. The series was conceived in 2002 and is offered annually in the fall. All events in the series are an essential part of the Hebrew program’s groundbreaking curriculum at Wesleyan University. Contemporary Israeli Voices celebrates women’s and minorities’ voices as well as the growing success of Israeli films and TV in Hollywood and around the world.
Contemporary Israeli Voices is free and open to the Wesleyan community as well as the general community.
| Thursday, September 18, 2025, 8:00 PM 7:30-8:00 PM Hors d’oeuvre Reception HUNTING IN AMERICA: WRITING AT THE INTERSECTION OF GENDER, WORK AND VIOLENCE In this lecture Tehila Hakimi will introduce her new novel Hunting in America (Penguin, 2025), an award-winning, thrillingly subversive novel about an Israeli woman who moves to America, takes up hunting, and is drawn into a world of predator, prey, and dark attraction. In her work Hakimi explores the links between capitalism, workplace power dynamics, and femininity. By examining the impacts of migration, weaponry, and war, she reveals how these themes intersect with the cultural narratives of both American and Israeli cultures. Location: Frank Center for Public Affairs (PAC) 100, 238 Church Street, Middletown, CT. |
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| Thursday, October 16, 2025, 8:00 PM 7:30-8:00 PM Hors d’oeuvre Reception HOW THE BRAIN UNDERSTANDS STORIES Author Iddo Geffen asks: What happens in our brains when we read or watch a captivating story on TV? Drawing from his research in cognitive neuroscience at Columbia, this talk explores how narratives shape memory, decision-making, and our perception of reality. We will dive into the brain’s mechanisms for processing stories, the link between fiction and lived experience, and how storytelling can influence our emotions and beliefs. Through scientific insights and literary examples, the deep connection between storytelling and the human mind will be uncovered. Location: Frank Center for Public Affairs (PAC) 100, 238 Church Street, Middletown, CT. |
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| Thursday, November 13, 2025, 8:00 PM 7:30-8:00 PM Hors d’oeuvre Reception CAN AUTOCORRECT SAVE THE HUMAN CONDITION? Etgar Keret is internationally renowned for his tragicomic and surreal short stories. His new fiction book Autocorrect includes stories about underdogs, modern dance, Artificial Intelligence, Hassidic wisdom, and his beloved white rabbit Hanzo. Join Etgar Keret and his darkly funny stories as he explores themes of identity, reality, and meaning Location: Frank Center for Public Affairs (PAC) 100, 238 Church Street, Middletown, CT. |
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