Revisiting the Jewish Question

Revisiting the Jewish QuestionExplore the complex and thought provoking title 'Revisiting the Jewish Question,' a stark examination of Jewish identity, anti Semitism, and the historical narratives that shape our understanding of these themes. This scholarly work delves into critical questions: What does it mean to be Jewish in todays society? How do we define anti Semitism? With a fascinating historical perspective, the author makes important distinctions between medieval anti

Explore the complex and thought-provoking title 'Revisiting the Jewish Question,' a stark examination of Jewish identity, anti-Semitism, and the historical narratives that shape our understanding of these themes. This scholarly work delves into critical questions: What does it mean to be Jewish in today’s society? How do we define anti-Semitism? With a fascinating historical perspective, the author makes important distinctions between medieval anti-Judaism, which persecuted Jews, and Enlightenment critiques that simultaneously liberated and challenged them. 

Journey through pivotal periods in Europe, particularly in Vienna and Paris, where the embers of Zionism were ignited. The book scrutinizes the reactions to Zionism within both Arab states and the Jewish Diaspora, shedding light on the ongoing tension between the notions of a ‘universal Jew’ and a ‘territorial Jew.’ With insights from notable figures like Freud and Jung, the book addresses influential historical events, including the establishment of the State of Israel and the Eichmann trial.

This vital re-examination is not only crucial for students and scholars of modern history, anti-Semitism, and contemporary thought but also appeals to anyone interested in the intricate identity of the Jewish people. As we confront Holocaust denial and rising rhetoric against Jews today, this text becomes an essential resource for understanding the evolution of Jewish identity and anti-Semitic discourse. 

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780745652207
Year: 2013
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)
Pages: 280

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780745652207
Year: 2013
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)
Pages: 280


Description:
What does it mean to be Jewish? What is an anti-Semite? Why does
the enigmatic identity of the men who founded the first
monotheistic religion arouse such passions?

We need to return to the Jewish question. We need, first, to
distinguish between the anti-Judaism of medieval times, which
persecuted the Jews, and the anti-Judaism of the Enlightenment,
which emancipated them while being critical of their religion. It
is a mistake to confuse the two and see everyone from Voltaire to
Hitler as anti-Semitic in the same way. Then we need to focus on
the development of anti-Semitism in Europe, especially Vienna and
Paris, where the Zionist idea was born. Finally, we need to
investigate the reception of Zionism both in the Arab countries and
within the Diaspora.

Re-examining the Jewish question in the light of these distinctions
and investigations, Roudinesco shows that there is a permanent
tension between the figures of the ?universal Jew? and
the ?territorial Jew?. Freud and Jung split partly over
this issue, which gained added intensity after the creation of the
State of Israel in 1948 and the Eichmann trial in 1961. Finally,
Roudinesco turns to the Holocaust deniers, who started to suggest
that the Jews had invented the genocide that befell their people,
and to the increasing number of intellectual and literary figures
who have been accused of anti-Semitism.

This thorough re-examination of the Jewish question will be of
interest to students and scholars of modern history and
contemporary thought and to a wide readership interested in
anti-Semitism and the history of the Jews.