Second INS Congress Held in Israel

By J. David Markham

1. INS VP David Markham welcomes delegates to the Congress

The Second International INS Congress was held in Israel on July 4—10, 1999. The title of the Congress was "Napoleon and the French in Egypt and the Holy Land 1798—1801." The Congress was also the first Congress of the Israeli Society for Napoleonic Research (ISNR), and was jointly sponsored by the two groups. Mordechai Gichon, President of the ISNR, had primary responsibility for organizing the Congress, and is to be commended for having done an excellent job!

Scholars from Canada, France, Georgia, Israel, Italy, Turkey and the USA presented papers on a wide range of topics related to the French campaign. Topics ranged from military analysis to political implications, and even to music and art of the era. Allon Klebanoff organized a most interesting book display in the university library. The papers will be published in English and Hebrew in the proceedings of the Congress.

Perhaps of equal interest was the unique opportunity to visit important sites, including Jaffa, Acre, Mt. Tabor and, of course, Jerusalem. While in Acre, the group was delighted to discover that President Gichon had been instrumental in having a series of permanent maps and guides positioned throughout the Napoleonic sections of the old city. We were even more pleased to learn that he is now attempting to do the same thing in Old Jaffa.

Social highlights included a reception at the French Ambassador’s home, a dinner at the home of Erez and Talia Levanon, a gala farewell cruise and dinner on Acre Harbor.

In the closing session, INS Executive Vice President David Markham announced that he and Luigi Mascilli Migliorini of the Istituto Universitario Orientale in Naples, Italy, had agreed to hold an INS International Congress in Naples in 2002. The theme will be Murat and Napoleon in Naples, and further details will be released as they become available.

2. Noted author Nathan Schur receives the INS Eagle from VP David Markham

3. David Markham gives the INS Eagle to Alexander Mikaberidze, President of the Napoleonic Society of Georgia (Europe)

4. Alex Grab, Jacques Vernet and Fernand Beaucour join other delegates as Allon Klebanoff explains the book display he produced for the Congress.

5. Allon Klebanoff, Mordechai Gichon and David Markham join the French Ambassador for a reception at his home.

6. Mordechai Gichon with one of the guide signs he had erected throughout Old Acre.

7. Part of the original Napoleonic wall at Acre.

8. Mordechai Gichon leads a tour near Mt.Tabor.

9. Jerry Gallaher, Kevin McCranie, Alexander Mikaberidze, David Markham, and Phyllis and Mary Cooney enjoy a boat ride in Acre Bay, while keeping a sharp lookout for Sydney Smith!

10. David Markham, Mordechai and Chava Gichon celebrate a successful congress!

11. Many of the congress participants line up for a photo in the sun.

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