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Antisemitism: The Oldest Hatred
'The Jewish people in its very being constitutes a living protest against a world of hatred, violence and war'
Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks The history of Jewish persecution is as old as the written word, though the epithet `antisemitism` was only conceived in the late nineteenth century as it reached the beginning of its most horrifying chapter. Throughout Christian history the hatred and prejudice towards the Jewish people have often been blamed on the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ, but ethnic Jewish oppression began long before. It is beyond dispute that antisemitism in our societies is on the increase. Following the Israeli bombing of Gaza, antisemitic feeling has grown significantly - though a prominent group of French Orthodox Jews in Paris recently demonstrated with placards saying 'Israeli action in Gaza is not the action of the Jewish people`. Yet still Jewish graves are desecrated and Synagogues daubed with swastikas. John Mann has assembled a Reader on the theme of antisemitism ranging from the writings of Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and Jean-Paul Sartre to George Washington, Jesse Jackson and Emile Zola.
The book is published under the auspices of the 'All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism' and will come to be seen as a contribution of major importance on a subject of incipient lethal danger.
Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks The history of Jewish persecution is as old as the written word, though the epithet `antisemitism` was only conceived in the late nineteenth century as it reached the beginning of its most horrifying chapter. Throughout Christian history the hatred and prejudice towards the Jewish people have often been blamed on the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ, but ethnic Jewish oppression began long before. It is beyond dispute that antisemitism in our societies is on the increase. Following the Israeli bombing of Gaza, antisemitic feeling has grown significantly - though a prominent group of French Orthodox Jews in Paris recently demonstrated with placards saying 'Israeli action in Gaza is not the action of the Jewish people`. Yet still Jewish graves are desecrated and Synagogues daubed with swastikas. John Mann has assembled a Reader on the theme of antisemitism ranging from the writings of Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and Jean-Paul Sartre to George Washington, Jesse Jackson and Emile Zola.
The book is published under the auspices of the 'All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism' and will come to be seen as a contribution of major importance on a subject of incipient lethal danger.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryJudaism
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2015
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March 21, 2016
This book consists of a series of speeches and essays to or about the Jews, Antisemitism or racism in general. Some of them are pretty dull but most are worth the time. There is also a short bio of the speaker or author to place things in historical context.
I learned a great deal. The difference and similarity between Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism, the latter of which I am in many ways guilty. Anti-Zionism is the belief that the Jews have no right to a separate Jewish state in Palestine. I understand now the necessity of it. It still in my mind does not excuse their treatment of the Palestinians both before and after 1947 and I plan to learn more about that when I can find books I can trust. Nor does it excuse the rise of the extreme right in Israel and the repressive laws against their own citizens.
I also learned that the rabid anti-Jewish hatred throughout the Islamic world is fairly recent, not centuries old as some owuld have us believe, and as one of the (Muslim) authors wrote, fueled by petro-dollars.
Finally, I learned that the rise in Anti-Muslim hatred through out the world has similar roots to Antisemitism (though the extremists among the Islamic world are deliberately not helping their own cause). That is the fear of "the other", fueled by demagogues in politics and media to gain or hold power (see also Donald Trump).
I learned a great deal. The difference and similarity between Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism, the latter of which I am in many ways guilty. Anti-Zionism is the belief that the Jews have no right to a separate Jewish state in Palestine. I understand now the necessity of it. It still in my mind does not excuse their treatment of the Palestinians both before and after 1947 and I plan to learn more about that when I can find books I can trust. Nor does it excuse the rise of the extreme right in Israel and the repressive laws against their own citizens.
I also learned that the rabid anti-Jewish hatred throughout the Islamic world is fairly recent, not centuries old as some owuld have us believe, and as one of the (Muslim) authors wrote, fueled by petro-dollars.
Finally, I learned that the rise in Anti-Muslim hatred through out the world has similar roots to Antisemitism (though the extremists among the Islamic world are deliberately not helping their own cause). That is the fear of "the other", fueled by demagogues in politics and media to gain or hold power (see also Donald Trump).
Displaying 1 of 1 review