Jena, August 20, 2026. On the 100th anniversary of the death of Eduard Rosenthal, the city of Jena commemorates the extraordinary work of the legal scholar, politician, and dedicated citizen. A commemorative symposium on September 18, 2026, at the Historisches Rathaus will focus on his historical legacy.
- Event: Commemorative symposium and exhibition in honor of Eduard Rosenthal
- Date: Friday, September 18, 2026, from 4:30 PM
- Location: Historisches Rathaus, Markt 1, 07743 Jena
- Registration: Free of charge, email by September 11, 2026, to villa.rosenthal@jena.de
Eduard Rosenthal, born in 1853, significantly shaped the scientific and social life of Jena. In addition to his professorship at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, he was a key author of the first democratic constitution of Thüringen in 1920/21 and supported the city and university in numerous honorary positions – including the drafting of the statutes of the Carl-Zeiß-Stiftung alongside Ernst Abbe.
Program of the commemorative symposium on September 18, 2026
The symposium at the Historisches Rathaus offers a diverse program of opening remarks, expert lectures, and a panel discussion, musically accompanied by a string quartet from the Jenaer Philharmonie:
- 4:30 PM – Opening remarks & keynote lecture: Welcome by Dr. Thadäus König (President of the State Parliament), Dr. Thomas Nitzsche (Lord Mayor), and Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx (University President). Keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eberhard Eichenhofer on the topic “Why and for what purpose does property impose obligations?”.
- 6:00 PM – Short lectures & panel discussion: Contributions by Dr. Dietmar Ebert (Neuer Lesehallen e.V.) and Constanze Mann (Stadtarchiv Jena), as well as a high-profile panel discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Christel Köhle-Hezinger.
- From approx. 7:30 PM: Small reception and opening of the traveling exhibition “Eduard Rosenthal – Twelve glimpses into his life”.
Background: Eduard Rosenthal’s significance for Jena
Eduard Rosenthal stood like few others for the connection between academic excellence and social responsibility. As chairman of the Lesehallenverein and the Kunstverein, as well as a legal advisor, he left a lasting mark on the cultural development of Jena at the turn of the century. The Villa Rosenthal, named after him, still bears witness to this historical legacy today. His long-standing work in the spirit of a democratic urban society is being brought back into public consciousness through the current joint project of the city, archives, and university after decades of underrepresentation in historiography.
Exhibition and further locations
During the symposium, the accompanying exhibition will be presented to the public for the first time. After its premiere at the Rathaus, the exhibition will move to the Ernst-Abbe-Bibliothek, where it will be on display starting September 22, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Subsequently, a presentation at further locations in Thüringen is planned.
Source:
Jena remembers an extraordinary person
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.