Anti-semitism isn't a new phenomenon, in fact it has been around for centuries with Jews suffering for believing in their own laws and morals. Lazare's book explains the history and cause of semitism. He was the first journalist to defend Dreyfus in the Dreyfus Affair and was the first French Jewish international who committed to Zionism (nationalism of Jews supporting a Jewish nation state Israel whilst upholding Jewish identity) as a political solution. Throughout history social, religious and patriotic reasons have been the cause of anti- semitism.
At the beginning of Lazare's book he suggests that Jews are an 'unsociable being' as they decided to follow their own customs even when Jews were displaced all over the world. It was believed that Jews were Gods people on earth therefore laws were specifically aimed at them. They chose to ignore these human laws and follow divine laws and govern themselves. They isolated themselves from the rest of the world as at this time they were disliked my almost every nation apart from Jerusalem where they were allowed to worship whatever they wanted. Lazare suggests that due to this the Jews are responsible for their own downfall and it was their fault that they were exposed to hatred.
The Jewish people had a big issue with Christians as they believed that these were Gods chosen people so the Christians distanced themselves from Judaism. It is also interesting to add here the idea that this may have been where Nazis specifically Hitler got their idea of the 'chosen type' from. The 'letter to Diognetus' was the first anti- Jewish writing to convert them to the world of Christ. During the French Revolution, Jewish people were cooped up in ghettos and sometimes punished in violent ways. In Germany they were able to live in peace in both protestant and catholic countries. In 1791 France granted rights for Jews to become actual citizens which was established due to Napoleon.
Nationalism and anti- semitism is discussed in Lazare's book as he discussed the idea that Nations exist as long as there is self- consciousness and a community of thoughts and interests. The Jewish are still around due to their religion, social condition and the condition imposed on them. The fact that they were willing to face isolation and follow their beliefs left them able to preserve their nationalism. They believed they had Gods law which was the Torah. Legislation against them helped maintain their traditions and languages as they became outcasts to society. Jews congregate together keeping their nation alive and were afraid to live in their own territory in similar conditions having discussions of old ideas and traditions. Even when Christians persecuted and massacred the Jews they maintained a spirit within Jewish people that was present throughout their entire existence. Nationalist anti-semitism was born into modern society because Jews never gave up on their own nationality.
in 1894 the biggest hatred campaign for Jewish people came around where the Dreyfus Affair created a divide in society between right and left. It was clear that anti semitism had been around for centuries as it is even around today where Jews to some extent are still excluded from society. It is even noticeable in society today that over nations such as the Muslim community also face similar treatment as the Jews. This is due to their own religion and belief that has cause all of the Muslims to be treated the same just because members of their community have devastated the world.
Schopenhauer represented philosophical anti- semitism with Hegel who went down the same route. The idea of 'spirit' meant that the Jews had one but a lower stage and with Nietzsche representing the Christian anti-semitism this was later reduced to more ethnological anti-semitism.
At the beginning of Lazare's book he suggests that Jews are an 'unsociable being' as they decided to follow their own customs even when Jews were displaced all over the world. It was believed that Jews were Gods people on earth therefore laws were specifically aimed at them. They chose to ignore these human laws and follow divine laws and govern themselves. They isolated themselves from the rest of the world as at this time they were disliked my almost every nation apart from Jerusalem where they were allowed to worship whatever they wanted. Lazare suggests that due to this the Jews are responsible for their own downfall and it was their fault that they were exposed to hatred.
The Jewish people had a big issue with Christians as they believed that these were Gods chosen people so the Christians distanced themselves from Judaism. It is also interesting to add here the idea that this may have been where Nazis specifically Hitler got their idea of the 'chosen type' from. The 'letter to Diognetus' was the first anti- Jewish writing to convert them to the world of Christ. During the French Revolution, Jewish people were cooped up in ghettos and sometimes punished in violent ways. In Germany they were able to live in peace in both protestant and catholic countries. In 1791 France granted rights for Jews to become actual citizens which was established due to Napoleon.
Nationalism and anti- semitism is discussed in Lazare's book as he discussed the idea that Nations exist as long as there is self- consciousness and a community of thoughts and interests. The Jewish are still around due to their religion, social condition and the condition imposed on them. The fact that they were willing to face isolation and follow their beliefs left them able to preserve their nationalism. They believed they had Gods law which was the Torah. Legislation against them helped maintain their traditions and languages as they became outcasts to society. Jews congregate together keeping their nation alive and were afraid to live in their own territory in similar conditions having discussions of old ideas and traditions. Even when Christians persecuted and massacred the Jews they maintained a spirit within Jewish people that was present throughout their entire existence. Nationalist anti-semitism was born into modern society because Jews never gave up on their own nationality.
in 1894 the biggest hatred campaign for Jewish people came around where the Dreyfus Affair created a divide in society between right and left. It was clear that anti semitism had been around for centuries as it is even around today where Jews to some extent are still excluded from society. It is even noticeable in society today that over nations such as the Muslim community also face similar treatment as the Jews. This is due to their own religion and belief that has cause all of the Muslims to be treated the same just because members of their community have devastated the world.
Schopenhauer represented philosophical anti- semitism with Hegel who went down the same route. The idea of 'spirit' meant that the Jews had one but a lower stage and with Nietzsche representing the Christian anti-semitism this was later reduced to more ethnological anti-semitism.
0 comments:
Post a Comment