Language:
English
Year of publication:
1990
Titel der Quelle:
Soviet Jewish Affairs
Angaben zur Quelle:
20,2-3 (1990) 5-25
Keywords:
Szczypiorski, Andrzej
;
Catholic Church
;
Jews in literature
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), in literature
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Influence
;
Antisemitism History 1945-
;
Intellectuals History 20th century
Abstract:
Examines the ambivalence of the intelligentsia towards antisemitism in Poland during the 1980s. Notes the recurrence of antisemitic manifestations, the use of antisemitism in the 1990 election campaign, and the intelligentsia's failure to respond. Liberals are unwilling to criticize the Church, are still affected by prewar myths concerning the Jews and communism, and are unwilling to face up to the effects of Polish antisemitism before, during, and after the Holocaust. Discusses A. Szczypiorski's novel "Początek" as an attempt to create a new myth of Polish-Jewish cooperation during the Holocaust. Analyzes attempts to draw a moral equivalence between Polish antisemitism and Jewish antipolonism. Describes the rise of the Church's influence in the 1980s, noting Cardinal Glemp's antisemitic speech in 1989 and the limited impact of ecumenical dialogue. Concludes that the Polish intelligentsia must begin to criticize the Church and examine their own record before Poland will be free of antisemitism.
Note:
An abridged version appeared as "Polish intellectuals and anti-Semitism" in "Dissent" 38,1 (1991) 72-77. A French translation appeared as "L’intelligentsia polonaise et l’antisémitisme" in "Les Temps Modernes" 538 (1991) 121-149. Another French version appeared in "Revue de l'Université de Bruxelles" (1990). A German version appeared as "Intelligentsia und Antisemitismus in Polen" in "Europäische Rundschau" 19,1 (1991) 37-50. A Polish version appeared as "Polska inteligencja i antysemityzm" in the "Biuletyn Żydowskiego Instytutu Historycznego w Polsce" 167-168 (1993) 97-117. Pp. 115-117 contain a postface to the original article dealing with occurrences from 1991 and after. A discussion on this article took place at ŻIH on 14 December 1995, and was published in the "Biuletyn" 182 (1997) 3-15.
DOI:
10.1080/13501679008577667
URL:
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