Dr. Olga Kirschbaum, a historian (PhD NYU) discusses the intellectual networks of Hannah Arendt, one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, during her professional coming of age in the Weimar Republic and in later years. She explores the individual and atmospheric influences on her thinking on politics, human nature, social democracy and Zionism. This season of the Tel Aviv Review is made possible by The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, which promotes humanistic, democratic, and liberal values in the social discourse in Israel.