Philo-Semitic Violence

Reviews / Votes

A wonderful and original book by two of the most gifted Poland's cultural critics. -- Jan T. Gross, Princeton University In a time when a truthful Holocaust history and memory is under assault in Poland, Philo-Semitic Violence: Poland's Jewish Past in New Polish Narratives is a fundamental contribution to scholarship as well as to public discussions of these topics. Most importantly, it reminds us of the essential ethical element in historical writing and memory. -- Alon Confino, Institute for Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Philosemitic Violence presents an entirely original and brilliant examination of contemporary Polish antisemitism through the multiple lenses of literature, film, architecture, public space and public discourse-through the "mentality" or consciousness of Poland's endless recital of its historic victimhood, its virtue, goodness and truth. It reveals and analyzes the self-justifying consciousness that propels the good intentions of the Polish majority toward its Jewish minority, on the one hand, while violating the dignity and humanity of this minority, on the other, whereby praising Jews, helping Jews, working for the benefit of Jews is a central element in the violence done to the humanity of Jews, to their concrete, historical memory and authentic historical experience. Much like racist attitudes in the American South that enabled Whites to treat Blacks fairly, look after their families and their needs as long as they remained "good" Blacks, as long as they did not stray out of the safe and demeaning stereotypes that denied them essential personhood, contemporary philosemitic violence in Poland, among Poles, offers Jews a friendly face and a friendly hand as long as Jews know their place and make no demands that threaten the master narrative of Polish society. Philosemitic Violence is a major and original contribution to current debates over Polish antisemitism and the future of Jewish life in Poland. -- Jonathan Brent, Executive Director, The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research The strength and importance of Philo-Semitic Violence lie in its thought-provoking criticism and piercing analysis of educational and commemorative initiatives related to the Jewish past in Poland. * H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online *