Language:
French
Year of publication:
2002
Titel der Quelle:
Cahiers Rationalistes
Angaben zur Quelle:
559 (2002) 6-19
Keywords:
Voltaire,
;
Antisemitism History 1500-1800
Abstract:
Contends that Voltaire, despite his contradictory and often hateful attitude toward the Jews, was not an antisemite. Quoting from his "Sermon du rabbin Akib" (1761) and "L'histoire de Jenny" (1775), shows that Voltaire was the first to denounce the killing of Jews as a crime against humanity. He also viewed discrimination against Jews as alien to the ideas of the Enlightenment. Relates Voltaire's virulently anti-Jewish texts to his polemic against Christianity and his concept of God and history. Warns against an anachronistic reading of Voltaire's texts and labeling this champion of progress and rationality an antisemite, thus promoting the impression that antisemitism is a rational and justified attitude.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink