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Title: Anti-Semitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present by Marvin Perry, Frederick Schweitzer ISBN: 0-312-16561-7 Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Pub. Date: 01 December, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Deep Roots of Antisemitism
Comment: Marvin Perry and Frederick Schweitzer have written an important treatment of the origins and development of antisemitism from antiquity to the present. The authors begin with the account of the death and trial of Jesus in the gospels which portray the
Jews as "Christ Killers," creating a myth that has been nourished in the Christian church throughout the centuries. The second chapter covers the outrageous and absurd accusation that the Jews practice murder of Christian children as a religious ritual. Such allegations, common in the Middle Ages, began to appear again in the 17th century in eastern Europe. This blood libel is still flourishing, especially in Arab countries,
The third major subject is the demonization of the Jews: Christians equated the Jews with Satan or the Antichrist during the Middle Ages, and the Jews were blamed for the Black Death. Luther laid the foundations for German antisemitism, although the authors point out that "anti-Judaism during the middle Ages and the Reformation was essentially theological, not racial." A racial anti-Judaism arose in Spain, where it was argued that the Jews were wicked not only because of religion but also because they had bad blood. In the 19th century, extreme nationalism and Volkish thought (which saw the Jew as a racial inferior) set the scene for modern, racial antisemitism. Another
strand of calumny centers around the notorious forgery, the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, which lays out a conspiracy on the part of leading Jews to take over the world. The authors show that the Protocols was widely accepted in Germany and was an important ingredient, along with Volkish nationalism, in the Germans' acceptance of the Nazi doctrine of racial antisemitism. More recently, the Protocols have found
widespread approbation in the Muslim world.
Chapter four concerns the economic view of the Jew as Shylock. Again, the authors trace this phenomenon from the Middle Ages into modern times. A very interesting section deals with Karl Marx's antisemitism in his essay "On the Jewish Question," and
Werner Sombart's writings in support of Marx's views. A particularly sad conclusion to the chapter details Henry Ford's use of the Protocols of Zion which led Hitler to declare that Ford was his inspiration.
The final chapter deals with the denial of the Holocaust by neo-Nazis. After addressing the views of individual deniers of the Holocaust, the authors refute the myth itself. The final topic is the growing antisemitism in the black community. The authors argue that, although Jews were heavily represented in the civil rights movement, there has been a deepening alienation between African Americans and Jews. Louis Farrakhan, as head of the Nation of Islam, has taken advantage of this alienation and exacerbated it.
This study, based on the latest scholarship, is carefully conceived and well-written. Its spirit is ecumenical and irenic. Its subtitle, "Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the
Present," neatly sums up its contents. Its timeliness is underscored by the recent statements of the prime minister of Malaysia at a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Echoing the conspiracy theory of the Protocols of Zion, he asserted that the Jews rule the world by proxy and that they invented socialism and communism.
Rating: 5
Summary: An Important Book on Anti-Semitism, Past & Present
Comment: Perry and Schweitzer have written an interesting and informative analysis of why the Jewish people have faced so much hatred and adversity throughout their history, including up to the present. The authors look at a number of myths about Jews, such as Jews as Christ killers and ritual murderers, the diabolization of Jews, denial of the Holocaust and anti-semitism and the Nation of Islam. Each myth is examined and debunked through a reasoned analysis of historical fact. This is an important book for today's world as many of these myths continue to live on, as evidenced by Holocaust deniers and events such as the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's not yet released film, The Passion, depicting the trial and death of Jesus. Although slow going at times, as a layperson, I found this scholarly work quite readable and highly worthwhile.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent work !
Comment: In their new book, Perry and Schweitzer make perfectly clear that Antisemitism is not merely a social problem but an international, religious, and political one, and is not limited to those categories. They do not bash anyone but fulfill the historian's responsibility of precise analysis and interpretation based on evidence. It is utterly wrong to believe that no one can really understand Antisemitism: Thanks to books like this one, it is well and widely understood. The authors hold out real hope for those who seek to combat Antisemitism, and give an example of what can be done by their part in the successful struggle to rebut and utterly discredit the notorious Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel. One of the great merits of this book is its demonstration that Antisemitism was created by non-Jews and is in essence a problem for non-Jews. They make it clear that peace and reconciliation between Jews and non-Jews will not come through pious hopes and the vague goodwill of loving those who hate you. Appropriately, an editorial in the Richmond Times-Dispatch urged Congressman Moran and Patrick Buchanan to get over their absurd prejudices and delusions about Jews by studying this book.
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Title: The New Anti-Semitism : The Current Crisis and What We Must Do About It by Phyllis Chesler ISBN: 078796851X Publisher: Jossey-Bass Pub. Date: 11 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism by Dennis Prager, Joseph Telushkin ISBN: 0743246209 Publisher: Touchstone Books Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Case for Israel by Alan Dershowitz ISBN: 047146502X Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Return of Anti-Semitism by Gabriel Schoenfeld ISBN: 1893554899 Publisher: Encounter Books Pub. Date: December, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: The Jewish Study Bible: Tanakh Translation, Torah, Nevi'Im, Kethuvim by Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, Michael Fishbane ISBN: 0195297512 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: January, 2004 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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