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Celebrating 70 Years of the LBI London

LBI 70th Anniversary Celebrations

In 2025, the Leo Baeck Institute marks its 70th anniversary, which we commemorate with a series of international events, exhibitions, and public programmes under the theme ‘Bridging Generations’, reflecting the Institute’s enduring role in connecting past and present through scholarship and cultural engagement.

You can explore the latest news and a full programme of anniversary activities below, as the Institute looks back on seven decades of achievements and forward to new projects that deepen understanding of German-Jewish history and its relevance today.

LBI at 70

German President becomes LBI Patron for 70th Anniversary
The Leo Baeck Institute celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025 with President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier as its new patron. Founded in 1955 by German-speaking Jewish émigrés, the LBI has become a global leader in preserving and studying German-Jewish history, with branches in Jerusalem, London, and New York.
President Steinmeier praised the Institute’s work in international research and the promotion of German-Jewish culture and history. “Leo Baeck ‒ and this is his legacy ‒ pursued reconciliation between the religions and cultures, between Christians and Jews in Germany”, said President Steinmeier. He emphasised that the Institute’s work deserves… more
Feeding Berlin: Lina Morgenstern and the Fight for Women’s Rights
Lina Morgenstern (1830–1909) was a pioneering German social reformer, feminist, writer, and pacifist, whose influence shaped public welfare and women’s rights in 19th-century Germany. 
Gerhard J. Rekel is an award-winning Austrian author and filmmaker, born in Graz in 1965. His books include a biography of the Berlin social reformer Lina Morgenstern. In the interview, Rekel discusses Morgenstern’s remarkable life and enduring influence.
Born into a Jewish family in Breslau in 1830, Lina Bauer began her activism early, founding a league to aid poor school children at just eighteen. After moving to Berlin and marrying Theodor Morgenstern, she became a leading advocate… more
Join Us to Celebrate 70 Years of the Leo Baeck Institute
We are delighted to invite you to a special evening marking the 70th anniversary of the Leo Baeck Institute.
The evening will feature musical performances by members of the Barenboim-Said Academy, an introduction by Professor Michael Brenner, President of LBI International, and a keynote speech by Dr Doron Rabinovici: ‘On the Reality of Yesterday and the Possibility of Tomorrow – On Jewishness in the German Context’.
“Jewish life in the successor states of National Socialist rule could only emerge because there was neither a return to the German or Austrian Judaism of the past, nor a completely new beginning. Only in open societies, which… more
LBI at 70 – Hermann Heller: A Pioneer of Social Democracy
As part of the Leo Baeck Institute’s 70th anniversary celebrations, we spotlight the life and thought of Hermann Heller (1891–1933), a leading German constitutional scholar and social philosopher, celebrated for his defence of democracy and opposition to National Socialism. Heller’s idea of ‘democratic socialism’ combined social justice with a rejection of authoritarianism, and he argued that democracy must ensure social equality to remain legitimate.
Born into a Jewish family in Teschen, Heller became a key figure in political education after the First World War, inspiring young people and workers to engage with democracy. He saw the state as a framework for balancing social interests and… more
LBI London Director Joseph Cronin on Hugo Preuß: Architect of the Weimar Constitution
Hugo Preuß was a pivotal figure in German history, shaping the Weimar Constitution and laying the foundations for modern German democracy. A liberal thinker and legal scholar, he envisioned a federal Germany built on civic participation and the rule of law – an alternative to the authoritarian traditions of the past. Influenced by 19th-century liberalism, Preuß championed decentralisation and individual rights, ideas that later influenced the Basic Law of the Federal Republic.
Dr. Joseph Cronin, Director of the Leo Baeck Institute London, explores Preuß’s complex legacy – as a proud German, committed democrat, and liberal intellectual deeply aware of the challenges facing Jews in Germany.… more
Celebrating 70 Years of the Leo Baeck Institute London
We’re marking our anniversary with a new short film! Discover our mission, our history, and why our work remains vital today.
Featuring insights from leading historians, including The German Historical Institute London’s Prof. Christina von Hodenberg, the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism’s Prof. David Feldman, and The Wiener Holocaust Library’s Dr. Toby Simpson OBE, the film explores how the LBI London continues to engage academics and the wider public in understanding German-Jewish heritage.
Moritz Lazarus: A Leading Figure in Liberal Judaism
Moritz Lazarus, a prominent intellectual of the 19th century, played an important role in shaping liberal Jewish thought. His ideas on societal integration and individual freedom were groundbreaking for his time. Lazarus advocated for a society where individuals could flourish through their participation and contribution, rather than being defined by race or religion. His concept of ‘Volksgeist’ emphasized the dynamic nature of collective identity, viewing it as a product of human interaction and culture.
The LBI spoke with Dr. Mathias Berek, a cultural historian at the Centre for Antisemitism Research, TU Berlin, about Lazarus’s contributions to philosophy, psychology, and Jewish studies.… more
LBI 70th Anniversary Celebrations - Eva Reichmann Memorial Lecture
Join us for the inaugural Eva Reichmann Lecture: 
Eva Reichmann: Witness, Historian, Legacy
This special event celebrates the legacy of Dr. Eva Reichmann, a pioneering historian whose groundbreaking work continues to shape our understanding of Nazi persecution and Holocaust historiography.
 
Programme
Welcome & Introduction 
Dr. Joseph Cronin (Director, Leo Baeck Institute London) and Dr. Toby Simpson (Director, The Wiener Holocaust Library) will open the evening by reflecting on Eva Reichmann’s enduring connection to both institutions and the significance of the new lecture series. 
Roundtable Discussion 
An… more
LBI 70th Anniversary Celebrations: Biennial Lecture 2025
Writing on the Wall: The Unfolding Persecution of Jews 1933 to 1939
This lecture looks at the response of Jews to incidents of persecution and humiliation from Hitler coming to power in 1933 through to the outbreak of the Second World War. It will argue that while the Holocaust could not be predicted the level of persecution escalated during the period.
 
Professor Frank McDonough is an internationally renowned expert on the Third Reich. He was born in Liverpool, studied history at Balliol College, Oxford and gained a PhD from Lancaster University.
He has written many critically acclaimed books on the Third Reich, including: The Gestapo: The Myth… more

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