Long before the Nazis rose to power, Barkan reminds us, Berlin had a thriving community of assimilated Jews, leaders in business and the arts who were essential to building and shaping the city’s rich culture. In this sparkling tour of a city he loves, Barkan, who teaches in Princeton’s Department of Comparative Literature, presents Berlin through the lens of its Jewish history, taking readers through sites including the elegant Bayerisches Viertel, designed by a Jew and known as “Jewish Switzerland,” and profiling prominent Jewish Berliners such as Rahel Varnhagan, known for the elevated discussion at her salons, and the philanthropist and art collector James Simon. This event is free to attend with no reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

At Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Click here for more info.