Language:
English
Year of publication:
1999
Titel der Quelle:
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
13,1 (1999) 62-89
Keywords:
Gerst, Yehudah Leb
;
Birnbaum, Nathan,
;
Holocaust (Jewish theology)
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Orthodox Jews
Abstract:
Gerst (1906-63), a Polish Orthodox Jew, and a thinker close to Agudath Israel, experienced internment in the ghetto of Lodz in 1940-44, then Auschwitz and other camps, and was liberated in Bergen-Belsen. In 1947 he emigrated to Palestine. Already in prewar Poland, Gerst foresaw a catastrophe impending over the Jews. His views were formed under the influence of the religious philosophy underlying the interwar Olim (Ascenders) movement, founded by Nathan Birnbaum. Contrary to other Orthodox thinkers of his time, Gerst saw in the Holocaust neither a prerequisite for redemption, nor God's punishment, nor a tool of religious education. In his view, Nazism was an antithesis to Judaism, and its main goal was the destruction of the "Sinai morality." The responsibility for Nazism and the Holocaust lies in European philosophy (Kant, Schopenhauer) which began to destroy religion. Gerst regarded Nazi racism as secondary to the aim of destroying divine morality. Notes that Gerst's theology was coupled with insight into history.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink