Language:
English
Year of publication:
2005
Titel der Quelle:
Leo Baeck Institute Year Book
Angaben zur Quelle:
50 (2005) 233-245
Keywords:
Lessing, Theodor,
;
Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, Philosophy
;
Freud, Sigmund, Psychology
;
Antisemitism History 1918-1933
;
Jews Identity
;
Self-hate (Psychology)
Abstract:
Defines Jewish self-hatred as an internalized mode of antisemitism, which is dependent upon Jewish marginality, in this case that of German-speaking Jews in Germany and Austria-Hungary. Focuses on Theodor Lessing, and influences of Nietzsche and Freud on him. In Weimar Germany the phenomenon increased as Jewish integration in society was curtailed. Notes the attraction to Nietzsche (with his stress on authenticity) of marginal Jews ("Grenzjuden") who needed to fill the vacuum left by the "death of God" and the break from tradition. Freud exemplified the situation of a Jew caught between two worlds; his psychoanalysis appealed to many fellow marginal Jews. Lessing believed that self-hatred was essentially a Jewish phenomenon, related to frustration felt by Jews who were rejected. Such Jews punished the aspects of themselves that seemingly prevented acceptance. Self-hating Jews demonized themselves with the same terms expressed in antisemitic diatribes. Lessing was a fervent Nietzschean and made great efforts to overcome his self-hatred, including by opposing Nazi antisemitism and by advocating Zionism as a means to create a new non-self-hating Jew.
DOI:
10.1093/leobaeck/50.1.233
URL:
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