JMB Book Club featuring the novel The Books of Jakob (Die Jakobsbücher) by Olga Tokarczuk
As part of the exhibition The Opposite of Now: Artistic Paths to a Different Present (in German)
Daniel Laufer, film still from Echoes of Tomorrow, 2026
Join us reading!
His followers saw him as the Messiah; to his opponents, he was a charlatan, even a heretic: Jakob Frank, born in Korolówka, Poland, in 1726 and died in Offenbach am Main in 1791, was one of the most enigmatic figures in 18th-century Europe. As the leader of the mystical Frankist movement, Jakob Frank was determined to open up his people – the Jews of Eastern Europe – to the modern age; throughout his life, he championed their rights, freedom, equality and emancipation.
Tue 13 Oct 2026, 6:30 pm
Where
W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)
In the Books of Jakob (Die Jakobsbücher), Nobel Prize-winner Olga Tokarczuk paints a portrait of a controversial historical figure and a panorama of a world in crisis on the threshold of modernity. At the same time, however, this metaphysical yet vibrant novel is a book for our times, as it poses the question of how we can imagine the world as a just place.
In the exhibition The Opposite of Now, the artist Daniel Laufer explores the life of Eva Frank, the daughter and successor of Jakob Frank. She lived as the manifestation of the Shekhinah, the female Messiah, with her followers at Isenburg Castle in Offenbach am Main.
Moderators: Monika Sommerer, Head of the JMB Library, and Lothar Quinkenstein, translator.
To mark the JMB’s 25th anniversary, admission to the book club is free.
Exhibition The Opposite of Now: Artistic Paths to a Different Present: Features & Programs
Exhibition Webpage
- The Opposite of Now: Artistic Paths to a Different Present: 4 Sep 2026 to 10 Jan 2027
- Ephra trail for children and the adults accompanying them: Explore the exhibition through different stories!
Accompanying Events & Tours
- Artist talks, film screenings, the JMB Book Club, panel discussions, and public tours: Find all dates in our calender
- Guided Tours for Groups: Tour by appointment
- Guided Tour for School Groups: Tour by appointment
Publications
Exhibition Catalog: English/German, Sep 2026
Digital Content
My Opposite of Now: Chat with M.O.O.N. about your opposite of now! The AI app from the exhibition available online
See also
- Fine Arts at the Jewish Museum Berlin
- 25 Years Jewish Museum Berlin: Discover our anniversary program, 2026
When & Where?
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WhenTue 13 Oct 2026, 6:30 pm
-
Where
W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)
See location on map
-
Entry fee
Free of charge - Booking opens soon in our ticket shop
Register for this event Language German
