The proceedings of the conference of the same name assemble papers concentrating largely on Franco-Jewish autobiography in the last few decades. Relevant literature in English and German is also discussed. In addition, three Italian authors of autobiographies comment on their own works. The theoretical reflection undertaken in the volume either accompanies the analysis of individual works or takes a broader view. It centres (a) on the relationship between autobiography and 'auto-fiction', and (b) on the fundamental issue of what we precisely mean when we speak of 'Jewish autobiographies'.

This volume contains the proceedings of the eponymous conference held in Munster in May 1998. Central concerns are a) Jewish political thinking in France and Italy, and b) the conflict between a laicist and a religious orientation in the state of Israel. There is detailed discussion both of the change in Jewish identity among diaspora Jews and of present-day and historical interpretations of the meaning of Zionism. Of crucial significance here is the question whether Gershom Scholem's hope that the decision in favour of statehood and historical awareness would lead to a revitalization of Judaism will retain its validity for the future."