Antisemitic Myths

Marvin Perry is Professor Emeritus of History at Baruch College, City University of New York. He is author of An Intellectual History of Modern Europe.Frederick M. Schweitzer is Professor Emeritus of History and Director of the Holocaust Research Center at Manhattan College. He is author of A History of The Jews Since The First Century A. D. They are coauthors of Antisemitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present.

• PrefaceIntroductionPart 1. Medieval and Early Modern1. Christian Demonization of the Jews2. The Libel of Ritual Murder3. The Accusation of Host Desecration4. Jews Blamed for the Black Death5. Expulsion of the Jews from Spain6. The Spanish Inquisition and the Conversos7. The Persecution of Portuguese Jews8. Luther and the Jews9. The Misuse of Learning: The Professor as AntisemitePart 2. Modern10. Voltaire: The Philosophe as Antisemite11. Continuing Catholic Anti-Judaism and Antisemitism12. The Jew as Evil Capitalist: Marx and Sombart13. French Antisemitism and the Dreyfus Affair14. German Volkish Antisemitism15. Zionism as a Defense against Jew-Hatred16. Persecution and Pogroms in Tsarist Russia17. The Myth of an International Jewish Conspiracy18. The Intensification of German Antisemitism after World War I19. The Worldview of Adolf Hitler20. Nazi Racial Culture: The Corruption of the Intellect21. The Jew in Nazi Wartime Propaganda22. The Holocaust (Shoah)Part 3. Contemporary23. The Catholic Church Confronts Its Antisemitic Past24. Protestant Churches Confront Their Antisemitic Past25. Antisemitism in the Soviet Union and the New Russia26. The Lingering Appeal of Nazism in Germany27. Neo-Nazi Antisemitism in the United States: A Radical Fringe28. Holocaust Denial: A Neo-Nazi Mythology29. African American Antisemitism: The Nation of Islam30. Muslim Antisemitism: Recycling Old MythsBibliographyDetailed Table of ContentsIndex

"Choosing a representative sample of antisemitic documents in a field littered with so much information seems daunting. Much of the material chosen by Perry and Schweitzer illustrates the myth of a Jewish conspiracy to corrupt Christianity, Islam, or Gentile society in general. The authors correctly regard the idea of conspiracy as perhaps the most powerful force in the history of antisemitism and, indeed, it still dominates contemporary antisemitic discourse. While readers will find the usual excerpts from documents such as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (1934), the authors also include lesser-known figures, such as the Nazi Hans Knodn, whose 1920 plan for mass deportation reminds readers that Hitler was not an original thinker. While each section and document includes succinct and insightful commentary, it is not entirely clear why some documents were chosen. For example, the editors periodically include Jewish responses to antisemitism, such as early Zionist tracts, along with some Christian rejections of anti-Jewish animus, and while an argument can be made for their inclusion, the authors do not explicitly make such a case. This companion to the editors' previous text, Antisemitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present (CH, Sep'03, 41-0465), has great potential for class use. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries."—F. Krome, University of Cincinnati-Clermont College, Choice, Feb. 2009". . . a good addition to any Jewish library."—Arthur G. Quinn, St. Vincent de Paul Seminary,Boynton Beach, FL, AJL NWSLTR (ASSN JEWISH LIB), Vol.28.3 Feb./March 2009"The current revival of anti-Semitism in Europe and the demonization of Jews in parts of the Muslim world give special importance to the exposure of the myths and lies that for centuries led people to regard Jews as the dangerous 'other' and that led to violence and persecution. [A] provocative anthology . . . .71 Summer/Fall 2009"—Menorah Review"Any university student will benefit from studying Marvin Perry and Frederick M. Schweitzer's work ... [it] adds to the understanding of its subject matter and is a helpful companion to the editors' previous [book].Volume 14 Issue 7 2009"—European Legacy"[The] editors must be given great credit for educating a new generation as to why antisemitism is, in Robert Wistrich's words, 'the longest hatred'.Vol. 40 No. 3 2010"—Ariel Hessayon, Goldsmiths, University of London"[A] fact-filled source book to educate students and a general readership on the ideology and vicious practice of one of the world's oldest hatreds and how to recognize the subtle (and not so subtle) myths and symbols involved and evolved in the old-new tenacity of evil.Vol. 44.3 Summer 2009"—Adam Gregerman, Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies, Baltimore, MD". . . Antisemitic Myths represents a forceful reminder of the enduring power and danger of bigotry.Vol. 27.3 Spring 2009"—Sarah Salwen, Dept. Political Science, University of Pennsylvania"This is material that every antiracist should know. This is material that everybody who wants to talk about Israel and Palestine should understand. This is material with which anybody who wants to be able to judge whether or not a contemporary text is antisemitic needs to be familiar.32.4 May 2009"—David Hirsh, Goldsmiths, University of London". . . [a] comprehensive and invaluable collection of primary sources . . . .Spring 2009"—Michael N. Dobkowski, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Dept. of Religious Studies". . . has great potential for class use. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.February 2009"—Choice"Given the tenacity of antisemitic ideology and behavior, . . . this collection of primary sources will be an invaluable tool for the study of bigotry and hatred for many years to come."—Michael G. Rapp, Xavier University