The author of The Jews in Vienna in the Age of Franz Joseph employs his profound knowledge of history in a probing country-by-country look at antisemitism, from its beginnings to its recent reemergence in Europe.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
The companion volume to a three-part TV series shown this spring on PBS. Wistrich (Modern European History/Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem; Hitler's Apocalypse, 1986, etc.) provides a history of anti-Semitism from pre-Christian times through the Holocaust and goes on to survey contemporary anti-Semitism in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. In his relatively brief text, Wistrich can give his subject only a once-over-lightly. The result is practically an almanac of names, dates, and places, though it makes a useful introduction to deeper reading and reveals lines of continuity--for example, between Catholic and Reformation demonizing of Jews as Christ- killers and the Nazis' depersonalizing campaign. But there are gaps and mistaken emphases. The British response to the Holocaust gets half a sentence. The German left of today is called anti-Semitic for voicing criticism of Israeli West Bank behavior milder than that of some Israeli observers themselves. The illustrations--anti- Jewish propaganda from the Middle Ages to the present--while necessary, are so offensive that they make one cringe. In fact, this is a dispiriting book in both subject matter and treatment. In subject matter, because Wistrich--whether necessarily or not- -emphasizes the role of intellectuals in fomenting murderous hatred of Jews: St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Thomas Aquinas even, and on to Voltaire, Renan, Marx (only Nietzsche comes out well); and where anti-Semitism is in abeyance, it's often because other minorities are also targets of race hatred. As for treatment, though, Wistrich concentrates on how, not why. He gives us lots of facts and summary historical analyses, but he doesn't begin to try to explain why hatred of Jews has persisted for millennia, or--the book's biggest failure--why, after all the pogroms, massacres, and expulsions he lists, Jews survive and even flourish as individuals and in communities. A few heroes, a little good news to leaven the bad, would have made this a more edifying work. (B&w illustrations--24 pages--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Up to the early 1990s,
By
This review is from: Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred (Paperback)
Published in 1991, this book predicted the resurgence of the ancient hatred; it was unfortunately correct. In the introduction Wistrich discusses the problematic term Antisemitism then briefly explores its continuity and development down the ages. He does not believe that history provides definitive answers to the Why? of the phenomenon but emphasizes the importance of understanding the How? of it. The most enduring conspiracy theory of all times, it's a shape shifter and nothing seems able to stop it. Part One examines its pagan roots, its lethal and influential infection of Christianity at an early date and the course it took in Western Europe until the early 1990s. This section includes the medieval legacy when the phenomenon took a particularly ugly turn, Martin Luther, the Holocaust and post-war attitudes in Germany and Austria where it evidently never died. Previously neither the Reformation nor the Enlightenment put an end to it. It instead just mutated along lines acceptable to the Zeitgeist. After World War II the pattern of European guilt-denial has led to increasing anti-Zionism in a process of displacement and projection. Hatred of the Jewish people is being transferred to the Jewish State. Part Two looks at the history in Britain, France, Hungary, Rumania, Czech, Poland and Russia. Of interest here is how the thing persists even in the absence of Jewish people like in Poland in the late 1980s, and how the US strain has mercifully always been less virulent than the European. I am afraid that things have deteriorated since the publication of this book. The long history of popular and state antisemitism in Russia has been revived, with the country's open support of rogue states and terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. And in Old Europe, the large immigrant communities are in the vanguard. Part Three deals with the Islamic world and includes chapters on the history which contained ups and downs as in the Christian world, the explosion of antisemitism in the literature and media of the Arab states since 1948, the issue of Palestine with reference to the notorious Haj Amin al-Husseini, and includes a chapter on Arabism, Semitism & Antisemitism. Peace: The Arabian Caricature of Anti-Semitic Imagery by Arieh Stav provides a window on the Arab press, proving that anti-Zionism is not merely a political instrument but an idea with cultural, racial and theological dimensions. Its most visible host on the international stage is the United Nations and its agencies. Wistrich argues that the Western psyche is permeated by this ancient hatred, a deeply disturbing thought. The agnostic postmodern Westerner is just as susceptible as the medieval Christian because antisemitism was inherited by the new hosts: the religion's secular salvationist offspring like socialism, fascism, Marxism and environmentalism. In this regard, please see The Resurgence of Anti-Semitism: Jews, Israel, and Liberal Opinion by Bernard Harrison and Barry Horner's Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must Be Challenged. Nowadays its Christian hosts include the World Council of Churches and liberal mainstream Protestant denominations. Its spirit is a revived Replacement Theology propagated by Jimmy Carter and Anglican theologians associated with the Sabeel Ecumenical Centre of Naim Ateek. As to the Why of it, I have found Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism by Dennis Prager & Joseph Telushkin quite instructive and illuminating. I agree with the French writer Andre Glucksmann that the concept of a contagion of hatred must be taken literally as a mental disorder that invades minds, bodies and society. Such an outbreak inoculates itself against those who oppose it and is immune to reason. Phyllis Chesler's The New Anti-Semitism shines a revealing light on its latest mutations. William Nicholls has done sterling work on the painful subject of Christian Antisemitism, whilst Paul Charles Merkley examines the state of Anti-Zionism and Philosemitism in the churches today in Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel. Drawing on ancient wisdom, Yoram Hazony looks at ways of dealing with it in The Dawn: Political Teachings of the Book of Esther. Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred contains numerous photographs & illustrations. There are copious notes arranged by chapter, a glossary, extensive bibliography and index. Because the virus mutates so fast the book is a bit outdated by now but it still serves as a valuable reference source.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
MANY FACTS BUT FEW EXPLANATIONS,
By
This review is from: Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred (Paperback)
Wistrich is certainly correct in calling Antisemitism the longest hatred. Almost every culture, from ancient times to the present, has been infected with this philosophy. His book covers its history from Biblical times to the late 20th Century. The first two thirds look at Europan and western attitudes, and how they contributed to the holocaust and have changed since World War II. The final third examines the Islamic world and the present conflict over Israel. This last section is in many ways the most interesting, as it covers material many in the West may be less familiar with.
The greatest weakness here is that while the author gives us many facts, he offers very little in the way of explanation. We learn almost nothing about why antisemitism has been so prevelant or so intense, or why, like a natural disaster, it flares up in cycles every so often. No one expects Wistrich to have the final answer here, but he should have made at least some attempt to discover the reasons for the 'longest hatred'.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Death Wish of the World,
By
This review is from: Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred. (Hardcover)
Robert Wistrich predicted the return of the ancient hatred in this book published in 1991. In the introduction he analyses the problematic term Antisemitism. More appropriate terms might be Judeopathy or Judeophobia. Wistrich does not believe that there are definitive answers to the Why? of the phenomenon but emphasizes the importance of understanding the How? of it. The most enduring conspiracy theory of all times, it's a highly mutable mental virus that infects cultures, movements, ideologies and religions. Part One explores its roots in the pagan world, its lethal infection of Christianity at an early date and the course it has taken in Western Europe until the early 1990s. William Nicholls has thoroughly dissected Christian Antisemitism in his book by that title. The virus proliferated in the Middle Ages and during the reformation infected Martin Luther whose writings contributed to creating a climate that made the Holocaust possible. Not even the Enlightenment put an end to it. Post-war attitudes in Germany and Austria show that it never died in Europe. After World War II the pattern of European guilt-denial has enabled the growth of anti-Zionism in a process of displacement and projection. Hatred of the Jewish people is being transferred to the Jewish State. Anti-Zionism may even be considered the typical form of the virus in the 21st century. In Part Two, Wistrich looks at the history in Britain, France, Hungary, Rumania, Czech, Poland and Russia. It is remarkable how the thing persists even in the absence of Jewish people like in Poland in the late 1980s, and in a place like Japan. The US strain has always been less virulent than the European but has now infected the universities to an alarming degree. Since the publication of this book the situation has deteriorated. Popular and state antisemitism in Russia has been revived as the country openly supports rogue states and terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. In Old Europe, the large immigrant communities are the major carriers. Part Three deals with the Islamic world in chapters on the history which contained ups and downs as in the Christian world, the explosion of antisemitism in the literature and media of the Arab states since the birth of Israel, the issue of Palestine and the notorious Haj Amin al-Husseini. In the Middle East, anti-Zionism is not merely a political instrument but a force with cultural, racial and theological dimensions. Its nature is revealed in the book Peace: The Arabian Caricature of Anti-Semitic Imagery by Arieh Stav. The most prominent host of antisemitism on the international stage is the United Nations and its agencies. It may be argued that the Western psyche is permeated by the disease. The agnostic postmodern Westerner is just as susceptible as the medieval Christian because the virus was inherited by the religion's secular salvationist offspring like socialism, fascism, liberalism, Marxism and its mutations like multiculturalism. This is confirmed in The Resurgence of Anti-Semitism: Jews, Israel, and Liberal Opinion by Bernard Harrison and Barry Horner's Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must Be Challenged. Its Christian hosts include the World Council of Churches and liberal mainstream Protestant denominations, driven by a resurgent Replacement Theology propagated by theologians associated with the Sabeel Ecumenical Centre of Naim Ateek, and aided and abetted by Jimmy Carter. Like most mental illnesses, antisemitism is immune to reason and fact, making it a difficult disease to combat. Transmission from one mind to another often occurs by means of tones of voice, hints and gestures. In psychological terms it is a form of psychopathy whilst in spiritual terms it's a type of demonic possession. Analyses of the irrational outbursts against Israel reveal an erotic quality and a psychic compulsion in the accusers to displace their own fear and guilt on to the other. Despite the lessons of history that has repeatedly demonstrated the unspeakable suffering it brings on the guilty and the innocent alike, people still become infected. As to the Why of it, Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism by Dennis Prager & Joseph Telushkin is instructive and illuminating, and in Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel Paul Charles Merkley exposes the state of Anti-Zionism and Philosemitism in the churches today. The alarming spread of the latest epidemic is examined by Phyllis Chesler in The New Anti-Semitism: The Current Crisis and What We Must Do About It and Abraham Foxman in Never Again?. Drawing on ancient wisdom, Yoram Hazony looks at ways of counteracting it in The Dawn: Political Teachings of the Book of Esther. Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred contains numerous photographs & illustrations. There are copious notes arranged by chapter, a glossary, extensive bibliography and index. Because the virus mutates so fast the book may in some aspects be a little outdated by now but it still serves as an informative history and valuable reference.
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