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Lecture

Professor David Peimer
Poetry for Yom Kippur: From Leonard Bernstein to Leonard Cohen

Saturday 4.10.2025

How to watch

This lecture starts on 4 October at 5:00pm (UK).

Summary

In the midst of our alarming times, we take a moment to pause—to reflect and consider our lives and our times; our unique history, traditions, and modernity; the assimilationist dream vs the darkening diaspora pressures; and the trauma in the Holy Land. From Leonard Bernstein to Leonard Cohen, we cast an eye on the gathering storm of our current experience through the words of our Jewish poets.

Professor David Peimer

An image of David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published numerous books, including Armed Response: Plays from South Africa and the digital book Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.