he Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the war in Gaza shake the world. Chaja Polak, one of the outstanding voices in Dutch literature, looks at the emotionally charged Middle East conflict and its complex ramifications with a deep understanding for the victims. With remarkable empathy, she devotes herself to the human stories and fates hidden behind the headlines and shows that grief and despair know no sides. The essay by Chaja Polak, herself a Shoah survivor, is a call for dialog, reflection and action. Polak argues passionately for a future in which empathy and understanding form the basis for lasting peace. And that true solutions must be found beyond violence.

Chaja Polak is a Dutch writer and artist. Her highly acclaimed novels repeatedly deal with the Shoah and her family history.

Reading: Iris Berben, internationally renowned actress

Moderator: Jan Konst, Chair of Dutch Philology: Literary Studies at the Free University of Berlin

Language: German & English