Across four generations and 125 years, Professor Jay Geller illuminates the transformation of traditional Jews into modern German citizens and the challenges they faced, beginning with Jews’ legal emancipation in 1812 and ending with their disenfranchisement under the Nazis. Focusing on renowned philosopher and Kabbalah scholar Gershom Scholem and his family, whose story provides a fascinating view of the German-Jewish middle class experience within a much larger context. A book signing follows the talk.