The inaugural Eva Reichmann Memorial Lecture was held last Thursday evening at The Wiener Holocaust Library, as part of the Leo Baeck Institute’s international 70th anniversary celebrations. Dr Eva Reichmann was a pioneering historian whose work has profoundly influenced Holocaust scholarship and our understanding of antisemitism and persecution under the Nazi regime.
Dr Joseph Cronin, Director of the LBI London, said of the evening: "Last Thursday’s lecture at the Wiener Holocaust Library was a significant occasion, bringing together scholars and members of the public to reflect on Eva Reichmann’s enduring legacy. This collaboration between two leading institutions, made possible by the generous support of the Hans and Berthold Finkelstein Stiftung, underlines the ongoing importance of rigorous historical research and remembrance."
The event began with opening remarks from Dr Cronin and Dr Christine Schmidt, Deputy Director of the Wiener Holocaust Library, both emphasising Reichmann’s lasting connection to their institutions and the vital role of this new lecture series.
A distinguished panel then explored Reichmann’s work through a roundtable discussion, featuring Christine Schmidt from the Wiener Holocaust Library, Bea Lewkowicz of the AJR Refugee Voices Testimony Archive, and Natalia Aleksiun from the University of Florida. They discussed Reichmann’s efforts to document eyewitness testimony, her impact on shaping Holocaust studies, and the relevance of her scholarship in contemporary debates about memory and antisemitism.
The lecture was live-streamed, with many joining via Zoom, and was recorded for wider access. The recording will be released shortly, with details to be announced.
The Leo Baeck Institute London is grateful to the Hans and Berthold Finkelstein Stiftung for their generous sponsorship, which made this important event possible.
