Haifa Center for German & European Studies - HCGES

01/10/2026

Haifa International Film Festival 2026 is in full swing!

One of Israel's biggest cultural events has once again transformed Haifa into a meeting place for world cinema. This year's program brings together award-winning directors, international premieres, documentaries, and Israeli productions—offering something for every film lover. The festival runs through 3 October, with screenings taking place across the city's cinemas.

Here are three films worth adding to your watchlist:

🍷 Burgundy (Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw)
A visually stunning documentary that takes viewers into the heart of France's legendary w**e region. More than a story about w**e, it explores tradition, craftsmanship, and a new generation trying to preserve—and redefine—a centuries-old way of life.

🥖 Farewell to Dough (Shimon Shai)
An Israeli Film Competition entry that tells an intimate story through the everyday world of bread and baking. The film explores family, identity, and change, showing how ordinary routines can carry extraordinary emotional weight.

🏛️ The Wizard of the Kremlin (Olivier Assayas)
One of the festival's most anticipated political dramas, based on Giuliano da Empoli's bestselling novel. Starring Jude Law alongside Paul Dano and Alicia Vikander, the film offers a fictional look at power, politics, and the inner workings of the Kremlin in post-Soviet Russia.

Whether you're interested in political thrillers, thought-provoking documentaries, or contemporary Israeli cinema, this year's Haifa International Film Festival promises an unforgettable cinematic experience.

30/09/2026

The 2026 state elections have reinforced a three-pole model of German politics:

The right-wing pole — AfD, which has become the dominant political force in several eastern federal states.

The political center — CDU/CSU and SPD, which continue to govern at the federal level but are facing declining public support.

The left-progressive pole — Die Linke and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, with particularly strong support in Berlin and other major urban centers.

This evolving political landscape makes coalition-building increasingly complex and highlights growing political polarization as well as widening regional differences in voting patterns across Germany.

22/09/2026

Looking for research inspiration?

Did you know that HCGES students' academic work can be found through the University of Haifa Library and the University's Research Portal?

Explore a wide range of Master's theses and research projects on history, political science, German studies, European studies, and many other topics.

Browse the catalogue to:

📚 discover what our students have researched,
💡 find topics that have already been explored,
🔍 identify new questions waiting to be investigated,
✨ or simply get inspired for your own academic journey.

Find a link in a first comment.

Happy exploring!

20/09/2026

📜 A hidden piece of history: "The End of Forty Years in the Desert" (1936)📜
When Lolla Feinberg made Aliyah to the Land of Israel in 1937, she brought with her a truly remarkable archival treasure.
This beautiful item is "The End of Forty Years in the Desert" / "Das Ende der Wanderung" (סוף ארבעים שנה במדבר), a special tale written in 1936 in both Hebrew and German, dedicated to Tisha B'Av and Yom Kippur.
While we often associate Yom Kippur with solemn introspection, this unique text offers a beautiful perspective—portraying Yom Kippur as an uplifting day, celebrating the moment God forgives the sins of the Jewish people.
✨ On this meaningful note, the Yekkes Archive wishes everyone a Gmar Chatima Tova and an easy fast.
📖 📖 To discover more details about the Lolla Feinberg estate, you are welcome to explore our archive catalog: https://www.nli.org.il/he/archives/NNL_ARCHIVE_AL997012800303205171/NLI

18/09/2026

The Israeli Association for the Study of European Integration (IASEI) invites submissions for its Annual Conference, taking place at Bar-Ilan University on 24 December 2026.

This year's conference, "European Integration in an Age of Geopolitical and Technological Transformation: Europe, the World and EU–Israel Relations," will bring together scholars to discuss key challenges facing Europe today—from security, enlargement, and EU–Israel relations to AI regulation, migration, democracy, and the future of European integration.

Researchers from a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to submit individual papers or panel proposals. Contributions from early-career researchers and doctoral candidates are especially welcome.

📝Proposals should be submitted by October 15, 2026

📅 Conference date: 24 December 2026

📍 Location: Bar-Ilan University

We encourage you to submit your proposal and join the discussion on the future of Europe and its role in a rapidly changing world.

16/09/2026

Opening Concert of the 2026/2027 Season at the Hecht Museum

Join us for an unforgettable evening of Hot Balkan Music! Experience the vibrant rhythms, captivating melodies, and rich musical traditions of the Balkans in a dynamic live performance led by Gergely Barcza.

📅 Saturday, 10 October 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Hecht Museum Auditorium, University of Haifa

Whether you're passionate about folk traditions or simply looking for an inspiring musical experience, this concert promises a memorable start to the new season.

14/09/2026

🇩🇪 Why did almost 44% of voters in Saxony-Anhalt choose the AfD?

The recent state elections marked a historic result for the AfD, which became the strongest political force in the state.

But what is behind this result?

If you want to understand what motivates voters in eastern Germany, why support for the AfD is particularly strong in the region, and what issues shape their political choices, watch the recording of our recent webinar with Marcel Lewandowsky.

The discussion goes beyond the election results to explore AfD voters, political attitudes in eastern Germany, and the changing German political landscape.

Find the link in a comment.

12/09/2026

Paris, as always: noisy, grandiose, and packed with people — and somehow, that’s part of its charm.

10/09/2026

Want to know more about the complex and often somewhat strange relationship between Germans and Turks? Read the center's Stefan Ihrig's piece "Europe’s Strangest Special Relationship" in History Today for free the next seven days:

The historical partnership between Germany and Turkey is arguably the most paradoxical, if unavoidable, in modern Europe.

10/09/2026

🇩🇪 Saxony-Anhalt Elections: What Do the Results Show?

On September 6, Saxony-Anhalt held elections for its state parliament. The main development was the historic result for the AfD: the party received 43.8% of the vote and won 39 of the 83 seats in the parliament. The CDU came second with 17.2%, recording one of the party’s weakest results in the state’s history. Voter turnout was 77.8%, significantly higher than in the previous election. (Wahlergebnisse Sachsen-Anhalt)

The AfD emerged as the strongest political force, but it does not have enough seats to form a government on its own. Attention is now turning to which coalition options could be possible.

The result is also an important signal for German federal politics. It reflects growing support for the AfD, as well as significant dissatisfaction with the established parties and the federal government.

📌 What happens next?
The key question is whether the CDU will be able to form a working majority without cooperating with the AfD — and how this result will affect Germany’s political landscape ahead of the next elections.