Dr. Maurice Samuels will discuss his acclaimed biography "Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair," which draws on a vast family archive to offer a nuanced portrait of Dreyfus's life, his resistance to a devastating false accusation, and his distinctive model of Jewish identity. Samuels argues that the Dreyfus Affair remains a powerful cautionary tale — and a guide — for confronting antisemitism and right-wing nationalism in contemporary liberal democracies. 

Joining Samuels in conversation will be Judge Richard Gergel, who will bring a legal historian's perspective to the discussion. Together, they will explore the Dreyfus Affair alongside the Leo Frank case — the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan in Atlanta, Georgia, the wrongful conviction of Leo Frank, and his subsequent lynching — examining how law, bias, and public pressure shaped the outcomes of both trials and what these cases continue to reveal about justice, prejudice, and democracy. 

Hybrid event. In-person brunch meets at Arnold Hall, 96 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29424

Sponsors: Pearlstine/Lipov Center for Southern Jewish Culture; Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina