Vienna, Austria – The 2024 Wiener Festwochen cultural festival opened on Wednesday, May 8th with a highly anticipated event at the Viennese Judenplatz. Organized by the Wiener Festwochen and the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna), the event featured a speech by Israeli-German philosopher Omri Boehm entitled “Eine Rede an Europa” (A Speech to Europe).
The event, which had been the subject of heated debates in the week leading up to it, was attended by 800 people in person and an additional 1200 viewers through a livestream. It was also broadcasted by ORF, reaching even more viewers.
The event began with an introduction by IWM Rector Misha Glenny and Wiener Festwochen Artistic Director Milo Rau, who defended their decision to invite Boehm to speak at the Judenplatz. As a self-proclaimed universalist, Boehm addressed Europe’s problematic past, including colonialism and the Holocaust, as well as its current challenges with the rise of right-wing populism. He also emphasized the importance of acknowledging Europe’s historical responsibilities while upholding its ideals.
Despite some silent protests from representatives of the Viennese Israeli community, the majority of the audience warmly welcomed Boehm’s speech, frequently applauding him throughout and at the end.
Boehm, who is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York, is known for his commentaries on Israeli politics and philosophy in publications such as Haaretz, Die Zeit, and The New York Times. His book “Radikaler Universalismus” (Radical Universalism) was awarded the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2024.
For more information on the event, visit https://www.festwochen.at/en/eine-rede-an-europa-2024. Photos from the event can also be found at https://www.apa-fotoservice.at/galerie/36690/.
Media Contact:
Judith Staudinger
Wiener Festwochen
j.staudinger@festwochen.at
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
