Antisemitism - Here and Now

Zusatztext 83728341 Informationen zum Autor DEBORAH E. LIPSTADT is Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University. Her books include The Eichmann Trial, Denial: Holocaust History on Trial (a National Jewish Book Award winner), Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory, and Beyond Belief: The American Press and the Coming of the Holocaust, 1933-1945. She lives in Atlanta. Antisemitism: Here and Now was awarded a National Jewish Book Award in 2019. Klappentext ***2019 NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD WINNER-Jew­ish Edu­ca­tion and Iden­ti­ty Award*** The award-winning author of The Eichmann Trial and Denial: Holocaust History on Trial gives us a penetrating and provocative analysis of the hate that will not die, focusing on its current, virulent incarnations on both the political right and left: from white supremacist demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia, to mainstream enablers of antisemitism such as Donald Trump and Jeremy Corbyn, to a gay pride march in Chicago that expelled a group of women for carrying a Star of David banner. Over the last decade there has been a noticeable uptick in antisemitic rhetoric and incidents by left-wing groups targeting Jewish students and Jewish organizations on American college campuses. And the reemergence of the white nationalist movement in America, complete with Nazi slogans and imagery, has been reminiscent of the horrific fascist displays of the 1930s. Throughout Europe, Jews have been attacked by terrorists, and some have been murdered. Where is all this hatred coming from? Is there any significant difference between left-wing and right-wing antisemitism? What role has the anti-Zionist movement played? And what can be done to combat the latest manifestations of an ancient hatred? In a series of letters to an imagined college student and imagined colleague, both of whom are perplexed by this resurgence, acclaimed historian Deborah Lipstadt gives us her own superbly reasoned, brilliantly argued, and certain to be controversial responses to these troubling questions. A NOTE TO THE READER   This has been a challenging project. I was surprised by the difficul­ties I encountered in writing this book, for it was hardly my first foray into addressing painful topics. I have been writing, teaching, and speaking about the Shoah, one of the most all-encompassing examples of state-sponsored genocide, for decades. Given that I have already spent so much of my scholarly and personal time skulking in the sewers of antisemitism and genocide, why should this project have been any different from the many others that preceded it? The answer became clear as I wrote. As horrific as the Holocaust was, it is firmly in the past. When I write about it, I am writing about what was. Though I remain horrified by what happened, it is his­tory. Contemporary antisemitism is not. It is about the present. It is what many people are doing, saying, and facing now. That gave this subject an immediacy that no historical act possesses.   But it is not just about the present. It is also about the future. Where are the troubling phenomena addressed here leading? And that question points to yet another difficulty. Most historians avoid speculating about the future. We eschew predictions because we know how quickly things can change. Often, those historians who have relied on their knowledge of the past to prognosticate have erred. And yet, when one writes about a contemporary problem, it is hard not to predict. Aware of this, I try very hard in this book to avoid doing so. After addressing some basics of the issue—defining antisemitism, categorizing the antisemite, and figuring out how best to spell the word—I try to unpack what it is we are witnessing. Is today’s antisemitism the same or different from what we have seen before? Where is i...

Sommario

A Note to the Reader ix
 
I. Antisemitism: A Conversation
The Perplexed 3
A Delusion 7
A Definition 11
A Spelling 22
 
II. A Taxonomy of the Antisemite
The Extremist: From the Streets to the Internet 29
Beyond the Extremist 42
Antisemitic Enablers 44
The Dinner Party Antisemite 68
The Clueless Antisemite 76
 
III. Contextualizing Antisemitism
A Cognitive Failure? 83
Delegitimizing Antisemitism: Jews Can t Be Victims 90
Antisemitism and Racism: The Same Yet Different 96
A Time to Panic? 101
 
IV. Yes, But : Rationalizing Evil
The Ominous Case of Salman Rushdie 113
Pixilating the Problem 119
Parisian Tragedies 125
 
V. Holocaust Denial: From Hard-core to Soft-core
A Matter of Antisemitism, Not History 139
Inverting Victims and Perpetrators 146
Branding Victims as Collaborators 152
De-Judaizing the Holocaust 156
 
VI. The Campus and Beyond
Toxifying Israel 167
BDS: Antisemitism or Politics? 177
Campus Groupthink: Not-So-Safe Zones 184
Progressivism and Zionism: Antisemitism by Subterfuge? 192
Responding to the Progressive Critique 205
Myopia: Seeing Antisemitism Only on the Other Side 211
 
VII. Oy versus Joy: Rejecting Victimhood
Missing the Forest for the Trees: A Dental School and a Fraternity 225
Speaking Truth to Friends: Beyond Victimhood 234
Celebrating the Good in the Face of the Bad 239
 
Acknowledgments 243
Notes 245
Index 275

Relazione

Lipstadt s book [is] crucial for understanding the dismaying resurgence of antisemitism on both the right and the left.   Randy Rosenthal, The Washington Post

Lipstadt aims not to break new scholarly ground but to awaken her audience to the nature, persistence and scale of the threat, along with the insidious ways in which it seeks to disguise itself.  She succeeds . . . She has written a book that combines erudition, clarity, accessibility and passion at a moment when they could not be needed more. Bret Stephens, The New York Times Book Review
 
A valuable book . . . Lipstadt shows good judgment, always erring on the side of moderation, her attacks more deadly because they are not indiscriminate . . . It makes for a very readable account and, like the author, it s gutsy. Daniel Finkelstein, The Times (London)

This is not an academic history of antisemitism. It s something more valuable an act of zooming in the moral lens on what is happening in the world today . . . Read Lipstadt s new book. And then give it to your children and grandchildren. It is that good and it is that relevant.   Jeffrey Salkin, Religion News Service
 
Lipstadt s insight and perspective contextualize current events . . . crafting an informative read for those interested in social justice and political and Jewish history.   Library Journal (starred review)

Deborah Lipstadt is that rare person, able to play a leading part in events and to fathom their meaning. Having triumphed in a court case brought by an antisemite, she now explains antisemitism to us and thus performs a double service. This a valuable book, containing many lessons.   Anthony Julius, author of Trials of the Diaspora: A History of Anti-Semitism in England

A leading scholar of Judaism explores just about every manifestation of contemporary antisemitism, with plenty of history included for context . . . A tour de force approachably presented.   Kirkus Reviews

Keeping her tone measured and carefully noninflammatory, Lipstadt presents an intelligent, evenhanded explanation of why Jews come under attack today. Informed, historically sound, and deeply rational, her book offers both convincing reasons for the recent rise of antisemitism and apt advice to call out and combat it. Publishers Weekly

Lipstadt s method of Socratic dialogue allows her to write a number of enlightening essays on a wide range of historical aspects and current manifestations of antisemitism. This book is a must-read at a time of a mounting wave of aggressive nationalism and xenophobia in the world today.   Jan T. Gross, author of Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland

To say anything worthwhile about antisemitism you need calm, lucidity, intelligence, and a faultless moral compass, all powered by a proper feeling for racial justice. Deborah Lipstadt has the entire skillset. That s why her new book is so welcome, so necessary, and so clear.   David Hare

Antisemitism comes in different shades, all of them ugly not least when it comes from those who regard themselves as champions of liberation. To fight this abomination in all its shades, Deborah Lipstadt has given us a sage, sober, and lucid manual for the perplexed and willfully blind. An outstandingly useful book.   Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Deborah Lipstadt, Deborah E Lipstadt, Deborah E. Lipstadt
• Editore: Schocken Books
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pubblicazione: 29.01.2019
• EAN: 9780805243376
• ISBN: 978-0-8052-4337-6
• Pagine: 304
• Dimensioni: 147 mm x 216 mm x 33 mm
• Categorie: Libri per bambini e per ragazzi > Saggi / saggi illustrati > Religione, filosofia, psicologia; Saggistica > Politica, società, economia > Politica; Scienze sociali, diritto, economia > Scienze politiche > Scienze politiche e cittadinanza attiva