Antisemitism: Its History and CausesU of Nebraska Press, 1995 M01 1 - 208 pages Bernard Lazare's controversial magnum opus, originally published in France in 1894, asks why the Jews have aroused such hatred for three thousand years. The journalist, though severed from his Jewish upbringing, was fiercely committed to social justice and could not ignore a shocking antisemitism in the fin-de-siecle circles he knew. In search mg for its historic causes, he was also searching for his own roots and place in the world. As biographer Nelly Wilsonhas noted, young Lazare was "constantly engaged in a dialogue with himself" when he wrote Antisemitism, Its History and Causes. Lazare begins his "impartial study" by considering whatever in the Jewish character might be to blame for antisemitism. Then he looks outward to those nations among which the Israelites dispersed, examining the different faces of antisemitism from Greco-Roman antiquity to the end of the nineteenth century. Lazare brings his research and study to bear on whatever form antisemitism has taken: ethnic, nationalist, economic, social, literary, philosophical. Recognizing that antisemitism is fundamentally based on fear of the stranger and the need for a scapegoat, Lazare concludes with a surprising scenario for the future. This remarkable book conveys Lazare's own spiritual growth. France's Dreyfus Affair in the 1890s would galvanize him to a passionate battle against antisemitism. Introducing this Bison Books edition is Robert S. Wistrich, Neuberger Professor of Modern Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the author of Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred. |
Contents
39 | 58 |
MODERN LEGAL ANTIJUDAISM | 90 |
THE REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT OF JUDAISM | 143 |
THE JEW AS A FACTOR IN THE TRANSFORMATION | 149 |
THE ECONOMIC CAUSES OF ANTISEMITISM | 190 |
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accused Action Française Alexandria ancient anti anti-Jewish anti-Judaism Antioch Apostles Aryan assimilation Averroes became believe Bernard Lazare Bible blood bourgeoisie capital capitalist Catholic causes of antisemitism century Christian antisemites Church civil communities converted deicides divine doctrine dogma domination Dreyfus Dreyfus affair Drumont economic emancipation enemies Europe exegesis existence faith favour France Freemasonry French Germany Ghetto Greek hatred Hebrew Histoire hostile idea intellectual Israel Israelites Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Christians Jewish religion Jewish spirit Jews Judaeorum Judaism Judaizing Juifs Juive Kabbala king land laws Lazare Lazare's legislation liberation literature lived Marranos massacres Middle Ages modern antisemitism moral Moses movement nations pagans Palestine Paris patriotism persecution philosophers political prejudices prophets proselytism rabbis race Raymund Martin religious Revolution revolutionary Roman Rome Russia Semitic sentiments social society soul Spain stranger struggle synagogues Talmud Talmudists theologians tion unity usurers usury wealth worship Yahweh