The book fair opened in Leipzig in the evening. Omri Boehm received the book prize for European understanding. In the daily topicsIn the interview, the philosopher also spoke about the war in the Middle East.
This year’s Leipzig Book Fair officially opened in the evening with a ceremony in the Gewandhaus. The German-Israeli philosopher Omri Boehm received the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding for his book “Radical Universalism. Beyond Identity”. The award is endowed with 20,000 euros. The jury’s statement said that Boehm defended the core of humanistic universalism, the obligation to recognize the equality of all people, against any relativization.
“A true miracle”
In his acceptance speech, Boehm discussed the war in the Middle East and German-Jewish friendship. “Where it exists, it is a true miracle, but this miracle must now be protected from devaluation. There can be no German-Jewish friendship if, in these dark times, there is no room for the difficult truths that are expressed in the name of Jewish Palestinian friendship must be said,” he said. “The truth does not have to be sacrificed because of friendship, on the contrary, hard truths must be brought to the fore because we should remain friends.”
“Federation as an ideal of peace”
In an interview with the daily topics Boehm once again promoted his idea of a federal federation on the territory of today’s State of Israel and the Palestinian territories. Boehm made it clear that this idea could not become a reality in the near future. “It is an ideal of peace that we can preserve.”
The two-state solution is often about suppressing the rights of one side. In a common federal order there must be “a certain separation”, but also a common constitution with equal rights, said Boehm: “As long as people do not get equal rights, there will be no peace.”
Scholz’s speech was interrupted several times
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz was among the invited guests. Scholz said at the ceremony that reading leads to allowing perspectives other than just one’s own. Literature is also a highly sensitive sensor for the world of tomorrow and it also changes the world. Scholz called for the defense of basic democratic values: “Let’s not follow those who want to divide us, who want to deny entire groups in our country their membership in society.”
Literature can provide orientation in profound upheaval situations, says Scholz. It is no more tied to a specific genre than the fair: science or society, adventure or crime, non-fiction or novel. “If you allow it, then behind the cover of the book there will be a surprise that we often miss on the Internet because algorithms there show us primarily what we think is good anyway, or should like.”
“All of us – and I include myself in this – are united by the love of reading”: Chancellor Scholz at the start of the book fair in Leipzig.
The speech was interrupted several times by demonstrators shouting loudly. Large parts of the protest were drowned out by sustained applause from the audience. “Here in Leipzig, we are all brought together by the power of words – not shouting,” said Scholz, accompanied by applause. After a few minutes he was able to continue his opening speech.
Book fair as a “place of democracy”
Before the ceremony began, there was a commitment to democracy at the initiative of the trade fair management: the guests held up signs with the inscription “Vote for Democracy. Now”. The call was aimed at the European and state elections this year.
In view of global crises, the new director, Astrid Böhmisch, wants to strengthen the trade fair as a place of democracy. The industry meeting is “an atmospheric reflection of socially turbulent times,” she said. In a time of diverse challenges, there is a clear mandate for communication.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth also called it good and important to discuss pressing issues of the time in Leipzig. “Especially in these complex times, it is essential to stay in conversation and to counter the enemies of democracy who want to divide our society: an appreciative, open exchange, the freedom of the word and the diversity of writing, publishing and publishing,” emphasized the Green Party politician.
15 candidates nominated for book prize
The book fair opens to visitors on Thursday. In the afternoon, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected for a tour. In the evening he wants to speak on 35 years of the Peaceful Revolution and 75 years of the Basic Law.
Another highlight of the day is the awarding of the Leipzig Book Fair prize. The award, worth a total of 60,000 euros, has been presented since 2005 for outstanding new publications in the three categories of translation, non-fiction/essay and fiction. A total of 15 candidates were nominated.
By Sunday, 2,085 exhibitors from 40 countries will be presenting themselves, slightly more than in 2023.