Antisemitism and the Politics of History (The Tauber Institute Series for the Study of European Jewry)

A sophisticated contribution to debates in both the academic and the public realms regarding the nature of antisemitism today. This groundbreaking anthology addresses the history and challenges of using "antisemitism" and related terms as tools for historical analysis and public discourse. Drawing together over twenty essays by prominent scholars from Europe, Israel, and the United States, the volume encourages readers to rethink assumptions regarding the nature and meaning of Jewish history and the history of relations between Jews and non-Jews. The book begins with a revised and updated version of David Engel's seminal essay "Away from a Definition of Antisemitism." Subsequent contributions by renowned specialists in ancient, medieval, and modern history, religious studies, and other fields explore the various and changing definitions and uses of the term "antisemitism" in a range of contexts, including ancient Rome and Greece, the Byzantine Empire, medieval Europe, early modern and modern Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. The volume also includes a section that focuses on the Second World War, including the Holocaust and its memory. Engel offers a contemporary response to conclude the book. First published in Hebrew in 2020 as a special issue of the journal Zion: A Quarterly for Research in Jewish History in cooperation with the Zalman Shazar Center in Jerusalem, this compelling collection has already had an impact on the study of antisemitism in Israel. It is certain to become a critical resource for scholars, policymakers, and journalists researching antisemitism, Holocaust studies, and related fields. Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 12 I · INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS 16 1 Antisemitism:On the Meanings and Uses ofa Contested Term • Scott Ury and Guy Miron 18 2 Thinking about “Antisemitism” • Da vid Engel 50 II · METHODOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS 60 3 History and Noise • Amos Morris-Reich 62 4 Erotohistoriography: Sensory and Emotional Dimensions of Antisemitism • Susannah Heschel 82 5 Toward Entanglement • Stefanie Schüler-Springorum 104 III · PREMODERN CONTEXTUALIZATIONS 120 6 Separation, Judeophobia, and the Birth of the “Goy”: The Chicken and the Egg • Adi M. Ophir and Ishay Rosen-Zvi 122 7 Antisemitism and Islamophobia: A Medieval Comparison • Youval Rotman 144 8 The Term “Antisemitism” as a Category for the Study of Medieval Jewish History • Tzafrir Barzilay 164 IV · MODERN CONTESTATIONS 182 9 “Feverish Preference”: Philosemitism, Anti-antisemitism, and Their Critics • Ofri Ilany 184 10 Cautious Use of the Term “Antisemitism”—forLack of an Alternative: Interwar Poland as a Test Case • Gershon Bacon 204 11 America and the Keyword Battle Over “Antisemitism”• Eli Lederhendler 224 12 “Fog in Channel—Continent Cut Off?”: Remarks on Antisemitism,Pride, and Prejudice in Britain • Arie M. Dubnov 244 13 A Retreat from Universalism: Opposing and Defining Antisemitismand Islamophobia in Britain, ca. 1990–2018 • Da vid Feldman 268 V · POST-HOLOCAUST RUMINATIONS 296 14 In Defense of the Concept of “Antisemitism” in Holocaust Studies • Havi Dreifuss 298 15 “Antisemitism” as a Question in Holocaust Studies • Amos Goldberg and Raz Segal 316 16 Is There Christian Antisemitism?: The History ofan Intra-Catholic Debate, 1965–2000 • Karma Ben-Johanan 336 VI · CONCLUDING EXPLANATIONS 354 17 Can the Circle Be Broken? • Da vid Engel 356 Select Bibliography 378 Contributors 384 Index 390 This groundbreaking anthology addresses the history and challenges of using “antisemitism” and related terms as tools for historical analysis and public discourse. Drawing together seventeen chapters by prominent scholars from Europe, Israel, and the United States, the volume encourages readers to rethink assumptions regarding the nature and meaning of Jewish history and the history of relations between Jews and non-Jews. The book begins with a revised and updated version of David Engel’s seminal essay “Away from a Definition of Antisemitism.” Subsequent contributions by renowned specialists in ancient, medieval, and modern history, religious studies, and other fields explore the various and changing definitions and uses of the term “antisemitism” in a range of contexts, including ancient Rome and Greece, the Byzantine Empire, medieval Europe, early modern and modern Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. The volume also includes a section that focuses on the Second World War, including the Holocaust and its memory. Engel offers a contemporary response to conclude the book. First published in Hebrew in 2020 as a special issue of the journal Zion: A Quarterly for Research in Jewish History in cooperation with the Zalman Shazar Center in Jerusalem, this compelling collection has already had an impact on the study of antisemitism in Israel. It is certain to become a critical resource for scholars, policymakers, and journalists researching antisemitism, Holocaust studies, and related fields. This groundbreaking collection addresses the history and challenges of using "antisemitism" and related terms as tools for historical analysis and public discourse. It encourages readers to rethink long-standing assumptions regarding the meaning of Jewish history and the history of relations between jews and their neighbors. The book begins with a revised version of David Engel's seminal essay "Away from a Definition of Antisemitism." Subsequent contributions explore the various definitions and uses of the term "antisemitism" in a range of contexts, including ancient Rome and Greece; the Byzantine Empire; medieval, early modern, and modern Europe; and North America, and descusses the Holocoust and its memory. It is a critical resource for scholars, policymakers, and journalists researching antisemitism, the Holocoust, and modern Jewish society. provided by publisher