First Encounter of Its Kind: Asian and Jewish Intellectuals to Hold Colloquium in Singapore

In the first encounter of its kind, Asian and Jewish intellectuals will meet at the same forum to discuss the interaction of traditional cultures and modern states. The first Asian-Jewish colloquium will be held in Singapore from September 10-12.

It will be attended by distinguished scholars and leading intellectuals representing the academic, cultural and scientific communities of India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Israel, Europe and the United States.

Among the participants will be Prof. Yuval Neeman, Minister for Science and Development and founder and chairman of the Tehiya Party; Zwi Werblowsky, professor of comparative religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; David Sidorsky, professor of philosophy at Columbia University, New York; Prof. Jean Halperin from Geneva; Nissim Ezekiel, professor of English, from Bombay; Takeshi Muramatsu, professor of European history and literature, from Japan; Nalla Tan, professor of social medicine, from Singapore; and Chan Heng Chee, professor of political science from Singapore.

The conference organizers believe the colloquium will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the mutual problems and challenges confronting traditional cultures, particularly in states which have achieved independence recently.

Among the topics in the discussion, attention will be given to the particular contribution of Israel as an example of a new state which has had to deal with the interaction of traditional culture and contemporary nation-building.

Organized under the auspices of the Asia Pacific Jewish Association and co-sponsored by the World Jewish Congress, the colloquium is being convened by Prof. Yoram Dinstein, rector of Tel Aviv University, and Isi Leibler, president of the Asia Pacific Jewish Association. The colloquium will be held in the conference room of the Century Park Hotel in Singapore.