Jewish-Muslim Alliances in the 1920ies and today

Building Bridges – The World of Essad Bey
3 June 2026, Stone Chronicle Museum, Baku
Life and Work of Essad Bey - Panel followed by Q&A

The conference will discuss the life, work and historical context of author and cultural bridgebuilder Essad Bey, born as Lev Nussimbaum, who later renamed himself Kurban Said to continue publishing under the Nazis, bringing together renowned experts from Azerbaijan and Germany. The conference will be followed by a reception hosted by Ambassador Dr. Ralf Horlemann and a concert by the German band “The Disorientalists” presenting their album “Who was Essad Bey?”

Dr. Sonja Hegasy (ZMO) will chair a panel on Baku-Berlin: Life and Work of Essad Bey will be in conversation with Dr. Felix Klein (Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für jüdisches Leben in Deutschland und den Kampf gegen Antisemitismus).