Reading Group
Rahel Varnhagen Reading Circle
The Rahel Varnhagen Reading Circle is a monthly gathering in Berlin inspired by the legacy of Rahel Varnhagen (b. Berlin, 1771), one of the city’s most influential intellectuals. As the daughter of a Jewish merchant, Rahel hosted a prominent salon in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, fostering thoughtful dialogue on literature, philosophy, and culture. Her life and work, as highlighted in Hannah Arendt’s biography, reflect the challenges of asserting identity and belonging within a complex social and cultural landscape.
The reading circle aspires to continue Rahel’s tradition by creating a space for critical thinking and meaningful discussion. Held in various Berlin cafes, these meetings explore themes rooted in contemporary Jewish issues, as well as broader questions of identity, belonging, and the transformative power of ideas. Guided by the values of respect, inclusivity, and open dialogue, this community welcomes participants of all backgrounds who seek to engage with pressing and, at times, challenging topics.
The sessions are conducted in English, providing an inclusive platform for Berlin’s diverse population, and are designed as safe spaces for exploring different perspectives with mutual respect and active listening.
Rahel Varnhagen Reading Circle – Hannah Arendt Special Series 2026
In 2026, the Rahel Varnhagen Reading Circle invites participants to a special three-part series dedicated to thinking with Hannah Arendt today.
Conceived as an intimate space for shared inquiry, the series combines film screening, guided conversation, close reading, and a collective walk through Berlin — the city where Arendt lived, wrote, and developed much of her political thought. Inspired by the tradition of the salon, the Reading Circle offers a setting for attentive listening, critical dialogue, and collective reflection on questions of responsibility, activism, and political judgment.
For the first time, the series will unfold across a unique and meaningful location in Berlin, allowing participants to engage with Arendt’s ideas not only through texts and discussion, but also through place.
Each encounter is designed as a stand-alone event, yet together they form a coherent intellectual journey. Participants are welcome to register for individual sessions or follow the full series.
All encounters have limited capacity and require prior registration.
Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny
screening & conversation
📅 January 13, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM · Berlin
Thinking in the Salons of Berlin
📅 February 15 & April 26
🕟 4:30 PM · Berlin
Two encounters combining discussion, close reading, and a walk through Berlin, inspired by Hannah Arendt and Rahel Varnhagen at a very special location.
Register for the Berlin Salons
2024-2025 Cycle
The Rahel Varnhagen Reading Circle successfully began its 2024–2025 cycle with its first meeting on Thursday, December 5, 2024, where we explored different perspectives on Israel and the Middle East before and after October 7th.
The second meeting took place on February 13, 2025, and centered on the theme of forgetting, through a discussion of A Primer for Forgetting by Lewis Hyde, a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to let go of memory in personal, political, and cultural contexts. We complemented this with Funes, the Memorious by Jorge Luis Borges, a short story that brilliantly imagines the impossibility of forgetting and the burden of total memory.
The third meeting took place on the 29th of May. Under the theme “Activism, Judaism, and Identity in Liquid Modernity,” we explored the tensions between political engagement, Jewish thought, and the challenges of contemporary activism.
Our discussion was based on two powerful texts: Why Hannah Arendt Left Philosophy to Face the World (Big Think) and Psychologizing Activism Won’t Heal Us by Emilia Zenzile Roig. As optional reading, participants also engaged with selected excerpts from Richard Bernstein’s Why Read Hannah Arendt Now, which deepened our reflection on Arendt’s legacy in today’s social and political landscape.
While participation is free, registration is required due to limited space. Registered participants will receive the reading materials and location details before the meeting. During the sessions, attendees are welcome to purchase drinks and snacks from the hosting cafe.
Join us in honoring Rahel Varnhagen’s legacy and building a vibrant intellectual community where ideas have the power to shape and transform our realities.
Past meetings
