Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies

Please join the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET for the Best Book in Israel Studies Award Event!

​"Dual Diaspora" by Alex Moshkin

Location:
Concordia University
Hall Building (Room H-1226)
1455 De Maisonneuve West,
Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8

​About the Book:
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union nearly one million Russian-speaking Jews have settled in Israel, reshaping its cultural, social, and political fabric. This influx has sparked a complex dialogue about the intersection of post-Soviet and Jewish identities in the Israeli context.

Dual Diaspora offers a groundbreaking exploration of the cultural contributions of Russian-speaking immigrants to Israel over the past thirty years. Through the lenses of literature, cinema, and visual art, Alex Moshkin investigates how immigrants reconcile their Soviet past with their Israeli present, and what role the Russian language – central to the identity of Soviet Jews in the second half of the twentieth century – plays today. Highlighting works in both Russian and Hebrew, Moshkin describes how authors, artists, and filmmakers navigate their dual identities and engage with Jewish history, religious life, and cosmopolitan ideals while confronting the traumas of displacement and immigration.

Expanding the study of contemporary Israeli life beyond its Hebrew-centric narratives, Dual Diaspora sheds light on a vibrant and overlooked cultural scene. It not only deepens our understanding of Russian-speaking Jews in Israel but also enriches a broader conversation about hybrid identities in an increasingly globalized world.

About the Author:
Alex Moshkin teaches English and World Literature at the International School Michel Lucius in Luxembourg. He received his PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and then held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Toronto and the University of Michigan before serving as Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at Koç University in Istanbul. His book, Dual Diaspora: Post-Soviet Culture in Search of Israeli Identity, examines how Russian-speaking Jewish émigrés to Israel forged a distinct cultural identity in dialogue with Israeli society. His scholarship has also appeared in East European Jewish Affairs, Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, Canadian-American Slavic Studies, The Oxford Handbook of the Russian, Global Russian Cultures, and Iudaica Russica.

REGISTER NOW: https://luma.com/wavgs3aa

Please join the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET for a film screening of "1945".

​There will be a live conversation with Gábor T. Szántó, author of "1945 and Other Stories", which the movie was based on.

Location:
Gelber Conference Centre
1 Carre Cummings Square
5151 Côte-Sainte-Catherine,
Montréal, QC, H3W 3E8

​Synopsis:
On a summer day in 1945, an Orthodox man and his grown son return to a village in Hungary while the villagers prepare for the wedding of the town clerk's son. The townspeople – suspicious, remorseful, fearful, and cunning – expect the worst and behave accordingly. The town clerk fears the men may be heirs of the village's deported Jews and expects them to demand their illegally acquired property back.

About the Author:
Hungarian novelist, essayist, and editor-in-chief of Szombat, a Jewish political and cultural monthly. He has published several novels, collections of short stories, and a book of poetry. His works have been translated in several languages. Kafka macskái (Kafka’s Cats) has been translated into Turkish, Italian and Czech; Europa Symphony into Finnish, Turkish, with the English edition forthcoming. His short story collection 1945 és más történetek (1945 and Other Stories) has been translated into English, Italian, Finnish, Chinese and Slovakian.

REGISTER NOW: https://luma.com/82qe95dj

50 Years Since Operation Thunderbolt
— The Entebbe Raid —

On July 4th, 1976, Israel carried out one of the most daring rescue missions in modern history.

After an Air France flight was hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda, Jewish and Israeli hostages were separated and held captive. Refusing to abandon its citizens and fellow Jews, Israel launched Operation Thunderbolt, a bold overnight mission that rescued 102 hostages against extraordinary odds.

The operation came at the cost of commander Yoni Netanyahu's life, whose courage remains an enduring symbol of sacrifice and leadership.

Entebbe became more than a military victory. It embodied the Zionist conviction that the Jewish people would never again be powerless, and that the State of Israel bears a profound responsibility to protect Jewish life wherever it is threatened.

Fifty years later, the legacy of Operation Thunderbolt continues to inspire courage, resilience, and the enduring promise that Israel will stand in defence of its people.

Photo: A police officer clears the way for rescued Air France hostages arriving in Tel Aviv after returning from Entebbe (Source: Jerusalem Post - Credit: Moshe Milner / GPO)

🍁 Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦

The Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies at Concordia University wishes everyone a joyful and meaningful Canada Day.

We are proud to be the only institution in Canada offering a Minor in Israel Studies, providing students with the opportunity to explore Israel's history, politics, society and culture through rigorous academic study.

Here's to celebrating the shared values that bring us all together.

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦

The Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies wishes everyone a Happy Shavuot!

🌾📖✨ !חג שבועות שמח

Happy Jerusalem Day!

Commemorated each year on the 28th of the Hebrew month of Iyar, this day marks the return of Jewish access to the Western Wall and the reunification of Israel’s eternal capital.

Jerusalem stands as a symbol of history, resilience, faith, and hope, where ancient tradition and modern life come together in one extraordinary city.

!יום ירושלים שמח

Yom Ha’atzmaut Sameach! 🇮🇱

78 years ago, a nation was reborn. Rooted in ancient history, shaped by sacrifice, and sustained by hope. Today we celebrate not only independence, but the resilience of a people who turned longing into reality.

From sorrow to renewal, from memory to strength, Israel’s story continues to unfold.

May this day be filled with pride, gratitude, and hope for the future.

🇮🇱 !עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱