Antisemitism Here and now

Review by New York Times Review

as recently as the turn of this century, it was just about plausible to hope that antiSemitism might soon go the way of fear of witches - not extinct, but too manifestly absurd for all but the dumbest of bigots to avow. In the United States, there was hardly an institution where Jews weren't welcomed and fully (if not over-) represented. In Europe, taboos against antiSemitism continued to hold firm two generations after the end of World War 11. In the Middle East, it seemed possible that the peace process would lead at least to a softening of hatred toward the Jewish state. And in London, Deborah E. Lipstadt, a professor of Jewish history at Emory, was fighting a defamation suit brought against her by the Holocaust denier David Irving. When the 349-page verdict against Irving was handed down in April 2000, it felt as if a concluding chapter in the history of an infamous lie had been written. Lipstadt's new book, "Antisemitism: Here and Now" - completed long before the massacre at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, but made all the more timely in its wake - underscores how vain that millennial hope was. Written as a series of letters to two composite characters, a "whip smart" Jewish college student and a wellmeaning gentile law professor, Lipstadt's book 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. Even readers who try to keep current with the subject may have missed the story of Ken Loach, the acclaimed British filmmaker and Labour Party activist, slyly refusing in 2016 to condemn Holocaust denial because "history is for us all to discuss." Or a 2013 survey by German researchers of thousands of antiSemitic messages received by the Israeli Embassy in Berlin and the Central Council of Jews in Germany, 60 percent of which "came from educated, middle-class Germans, including lawyers, scholars, doctors, priests, professors and university and secondary school students." Or a 2015 protest by Students for Justice in Palestine at the City University of New York, in which activists blamed planned tuition hikes on the "Zionist administration [that] invests in Israeli companies." And these are the tamer incidents. They are almost trivial next to the murderous attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels, the pogrom-like siege of a synagogue in Paris or the pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Germany chanting "Hamas, Hamas, Juden ins gas!" But Lipstadt isn't just interested in compiling a list of insults, outrages and assaults. Anti-Semitism, to adapt a phrase, is the hate that dare not speak its name, and Lipstadt is at her best when she removes the guises under which it travels. one such guise is the campaign against "globalists," the leading exemplars of which just happen to have names like Soros, Yellen and Blankfein. Donald Trump may boast of his Jewish grandchildren and his cozy relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu. But he has become the hero of the "Daily Stormer" crowd with demagogic attacks on immigrants and by taking direct aim, as he put it in 2016, at "international banks" that "plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty in order to enrich these global financial powers." It's a theme, Lipstadt notes, that plays "on traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes of the 'international Jew.' " Another guise is anti-Zionism, which pretends that one can malign Israel as a uniquely diabolical and illegitimate state, guilty of Nazi-like atrocities, and still be acquitted of anti-Semitism. The leading Western voice for this view is the British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has repeatedly joined hands with virulent anti-Semites who share his pro-Palestinian, anticapitalist views - all the while insisting that he opposes racism. Lipstadt makes short work of that defense. "Is Jeremy Corbyn an anti-Semite?" she asks. "My response would be that that's the wrong question. The right questions to ask are: Has he facilitated and amplified expressions of anti-Semitism? Has he been consistently reluctant to acknowledge expressions of anti-Semitism unless they come from white supremacists and neoNazis? Will his actions facilitate the institutionalization of anti-Semitism among other progressives? Sadly, my answer to all of this is an unequivocal yes. Like Trump, Corbyn has emboldened and enabled anti-Semites, but from the other end of the political spectrum." This analysis - that the resurgence of anti-Semitism owes as much to its political enablers who aren't openly bigoted as it does to its ideological practitioners who are - is the most valuable contribution the book makes to our discussion of modernday Jew hatred. Still, Lipstadt misses something important by insisting that anti-Semitism "has never made sense and never will." Not quite. However irrational, cynical or stupid anti-Semites may be, most Jews nonetheless can be said to stand for certain ideas and attitudes. A particular concept of morality. A reverence for law founded on the idea of truth. A penchant for asking nettlesome questions. Skepticism toward would-be saviors. A liberal passion for freedom. Anti-Semites tend to have the opposite set of views, for reasons that may be repugnant but are perfectly rational. The fundamental truth about anti-Semitism isn't that it's necessarily crazy. It's that it's inevitably brutish. The conclusion to be drawn is that the enemies of the Jews, whether in Tehran or Virginia, will always be the enemies of liberalism - which is why the fight against anti-Semitism must also be a fight for liberalism. Lipstadt gets this, of course, even if she arrives at the point by a different set of stairs. Lair enough. She has written a book that combines erudition, clarity, accessibility and passion at a moment when they could not be needed more. BRET STEPHENS is a columnist for The Times.

Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [June 30, 2019]

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Review by Booklist Review

Lipstadt (Holocaust: An American Understanding, 2016) is one of the foremost writers and lecturers on antisemitism, which is rooted in irrational hatred independent of any actions by Jewish individuals. The 2016 movie, Denial, based on her book, History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier (2005), brought Lipstadt's work to a worldwide audience. In her new book, Lipstadt uses an epistemological construct to summarize her research into the current state of antisemitism. Her simulated correspondence with a colleague and student is illustrative, but can distract from the serious message about the rise in antisemitic activities in the U.S., Europe, and all around the world. She posits that the language used by President Trump and other antisemitic enablers, primarily through anti-immigrant rhetoric, mainstreams the hatred of otherness, including antisemitism. Lipstadt wisely cautions against labeling every act against Jews or Israel as antisemitic. Her work serves to raise awareness of and help readers respond to intolerance and prejudices in whatever form they take.--Dan Kaplan Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Lipstadt (Beyond Belief), a professor of Jewish history at Emory, gives a thoughtful overview of and response to anti-Semitism in the West. In a series of letters addressed to an imaginary Jewish student and non-Jewish colleague, Lipstadt taxonomizes the contemporary sources of anti-Semitism (white supremacists, Holocaust deniers, "anti-Semitism enablers," and even certain parts of the left, in which hoary stereotypes of Jews as a global, cosmopolitan class circulate). Though she gives a short list of violent Islamist incidents that have caused some Jews to disguise their identities in Europe, Lipstadt spends more time reflecting on the threats to academic freedom in American universities, where critiques of Israeli policy have led to boycotts, protests, and bans of Israeli speakers. It concludes with a gentle celebration of Jewish culture and history that should hearten scholars, Jews, and anyone interested in a democratic, multicultural society. Keeping her tone measured, unaccusing, and carefully noninflammatory, Lipstadt presents an intelligent, evenhanded explanation of how Jews come under attack today for appearing white and privileged, and the book's civil conversation might well sway more readers than a ringing denunciation. Informed, historically sound, and deeply rational, Lipstadt's book offers both convincing reasons for the recent rise of anti-Semitism and apt advice to "call out and combat" it. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by Library Journal Review

With this latest work, Lipstadt (modern Jewish history, Emory Univ.; The Eichmann Trial and Denial) creates an exchange of correspondence between herself and two fictional people: Abigail and Joe. Centering on themes such as rationalizing evil and Holocaust denial, Lipstadt's time line ranges from the possible origins of anti-Semitism dating back to biblical times to contemporary events in Charlottesville, VA. Besides sharing her thoughts on the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, she reflects on propaganda following the 9/11 attacks, anti-Semitism on campus, German Jews wearing baseball caps to hide their kippot on their way to synagogue, and the differences between anti-Semitism and racism. VERDICT Lipstadt's insight and perspective contextualizes current events that mark the recent resurgence of anti-Semitic speech and violence in the United States and Europe, crafting an informative read for those interested in social justice and political and Jewish history.-Jacqueline Parascandola, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A leading scholar of Judaism explores just about every manifestation of contemporary anti-Semitism, with plenty of history included for context.Lipstadt (Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies/Emory Univ.; Holocaust: An American Understanding, 2016, etc.), a winner of the National Jewish Book Award, relates the grim reality of anti-Semitism through an unusual format: an invented correspondence between herself and two fictional characters, one a brainy Jewish university student named Abigail, the other a non-Jewish university law professor deeply worried about pervasive hatred of Jews on campus and elsewhere. The epistolary structure is unvarying, so some readers may find it artificial and tiresomebut as the information in each piece of correspondence builds on the previous letters, a coherent and frightening narrative begins to take shape. Lipstadt personalizes the book by citing anti-Semitic issues she has faced. Even after devoting most of her career to the study of the Shoah, she writes, she had a very difficult time piecing this book together. Writing about the depressing present and dark-looking future caused her unexpected anguish. As part of the correspondence driving the narrative, the author defines anti-Semitism, offers a five-pronged taxonomy of hatred, provides contextual explanations such as the similarities and differences between Jews and blacks as targets of hatred, delves into non-Jews who rationalize their evil ways, examines the phenomenon of Holocaust denial, and looks at anti-Semitism on college campuses. Another noticeable element throughout the book is the conundrum of Israel as a special land created to safeguard Jews. The author and her two composite correspondents wrestle with the Israeli-Palestinian hostilities, including what could and should be done to achieve de-escalation in the region. Lipstadt closes the book on a somewhat upbeat note by explaining how and why Jews should reject being cast as victims and nothing more. "You will encounter antisemitism along the way," she writes, "but I entreat you to avoid letting this longest hatred' become the linchpin of your identity."A didactic tour de force presented approachably. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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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 it coming from: the right or the left? Is it, as some would contend, all about Israel? Are we seeing anti­semitism where it is not? Are others refusing to see antisemitism where it clearly is? While there seems to have been a decided increase in both physical acts and rhetorical expressions of antisemitism in recent years, our conversation should not be rooted in or motivated by numbers or by antisemitic acts. This would suggest that, if the numbers decrease, our worries should abate. I remember that during the 2000 American presidential campaign many Jews pre­dicted that Al Gore's selection of Joseph Lieberman as his running mate would precipitate a rise in antisemitism. It didn't happen. Some pundits then opined that perhaps antisemitism was dead. They looked at the American social landscape and saw Jewish presidents presiding over universities that once had strict quo­tas. They saw Jews sitting on the boards of major corporations and being elected to public office from regions without a signifi­cant Jewish population. Even the skyrocketing rate of intermar­riage, a source of angst within the Jewish community, could be spun into something positive. If so many non-Jews are so willing to have Jews in their families, how prevalent could antisemitism be? But today, antisemitism is "back." (I am not sure it ever really went away.) An accurate accounting of the uptick in antisemitic incidents is important because it does provide necessary empiri­cal evidence. Nonetheless, numbers should not be what drive us. What should alarm us is that human beings continue to believe in a conspiracy that demonizes Jews and sees them as responsible for evil. Antisemites continue to give life to this particular brand of age-old hatred. They justify it and the acts committed in its name. The historical consequences of this nefarious passion have been so disastrous that to ignore its contemporary manifestations would be irresponsible. Another reason numbers should not drive us is that antisemi­tism is a worldview, a conspiracy theory. It therefore cannot simply be measured by the number of recorded antisemitic acts or by the number of people being categorized as antisemites. A recent study in Great Britain called the approach I have taken the "elastic" view of antisemitism. If Jew-hatred is an attitude, it exists, like all atti­tudes, "in society at different levels of intensity, and with different shades to it. . . . Some people may be strongly antisemitic, others less so; and while still others may not fit into either of these cat­egories, they may still hold certain [antisemitic] attitudes--even if these are small in number and weak in intensity." Since antisemitism affects Jews, some readers may be inclined to think that only Jews should be concerned. That would be a mis­take. Jews, as the intended target of the antisemite, may indeed be more sensitive to it. Such is the case with any expression of partic­ular hatred and prejudice. But the existence of prejudice in any of its forms is a threat to all those who value an inclusive, democratic, and multicultural society. It is axiomatic that if Jews are being tar­geted with hateful rhetoric and prejudice, other minorities should not feel immune; this is not likely to end with Jews. And, con­versely, if other minority groups are being targeted with hatred and prejudice, Jews should not feel immune; this is not likely to end with these groups, either. Antisemitism flourishes in a soci­ety that is intolerant of others, be they immigrants or racial and religious minorities. When expressions of contempt for one group become normative, it is virtually inevitable that similar hatred will be directed at other groups. Like a fire set by an arsonist, passion­ate hatred and conspiratorial worldviews reach well beyond their intended target. They are not rationally contained. But even if the antisemites were to confine their venom to Jews, the existence of Jew-hatred within a society is an indication that something about the entire society is amiss. No healthy society harbors extensive antisemitism--or any other form of hatred. I have organized this book as a series of letters to two fictional people with whom I have become "acquainted" at the university at which I teach. One is "Abigail," a whip-smart Jewish student who has taken many of my courses and who is trying to understand the phenomenon of antisemitism. The other is "Joe," a colleague who teaches at the university's law school. A non-Jew, he has a deep appreciation for both the successes and travails of the Jewish people, and he counts some of his Jewish colleagues as his most important conversation partners on campus. Abigail and Joe are composites of many people who have turned to me during the past few years to express their confusion, worries, and distress about antisemitism in general and about what they are personally wit­nessing. They may be fictional figures, but the questions they ask and the concerns they express belong to very real people. I have structured the letters to reflect the situation as of summer 2018. While the contemporary nature of the events discussed made this a challenging book to write, the pace of recent events made it an almost impossible book to finish. It seemed that every day a new development--the murder of a Holocaust survivor in Paris, elections in Hungary in which the winning side relied on overtly antisemitic tropes, a Polish law rewriting the history of the Holo­caust, white power demonstrations in the United States, campus anti-Israel campaigns that easily morphed into expressions of antisemitism, Labour Party antisemitism in the United Kingdom, the growing resiliency of white supremacist groups, and so much more--demanded analysis and inclusion in this work. Sadly, given the unending saga that is antisemitism, I feel comfortable pre­dicting that by the time this book appears there will have been new examples of antisemitism that should have been part of the narrative. Some readers may find themselves agreeing with me at one point and being outraged by what I say at another. Irrespective of my readers' positions on various issues, I ask that they read with nuance, the same nuance with which I have tried to write. Some may think that I have either exaggerated or understated the severity of the situation. Some may accuse me of finding antisemitism at the "wrong" end of the political spectrum. Should some consider me too willing to see the glass as half empty and others consider me too willing to see it as half full, I (ever the contrarian) will then assume my analysis is just right. I know from personal experience how easy it is to make pro­nouncements and to declare others wrong, particularly when the subject is so disturbing. I have tried hard to avoid doing that here. I have attempted, as much as possible, to set my passions aside and see matters with a scholar's analytical perspective. But we are who we are. I cannot, therefore, claim to have been totally dispassionate about what I have encountered. I have tried to avoid writing a call to arms or a cri de coeur, but I recognize that on some level this book is precisely that. It is written with the conviction that action starts with understanding, which will be applied differently by dif­ferent people in different circumstances. My attempt to explore a perplexing and disturbing set of circumstances is written with the hope that it will provoke action. What precisely that action is remains in the hands of the reader. Excerpted from Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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