Language:
English
Year of publication:
1988
Titel der Quelle:
Conservative Judaism
Angaben zur Quelle:
40,4 (1988) 47-58
Keywords:
Arendt, Hannah,
Abstract:
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1986 conference of the Association for Jewish Studies. Discusses Arendt's interpretation of modern Jewish history as formulated in three articles published in "Jewish Social Studies" between 1942-46, and in the first chapter of "The Origins of Totalitarianism" (1951). Arendt believed that the 2,000-year experience of powerlessness and antisemitism had "atrophied" the political capacity of the Jews. She postulated that post-emancipation European Jewish leaders were politically inept and were self-serving "parvenus." Their lack of political foresight, their refusal to renounce traditional alliances with heads of state, and their failure to seek alliances with progressive or revolutionary groups precipitated modern antisemitism. Arendt praised Bernard Lazare as a politically courageous figure in modern Jewish history. He sought to mobilize the Jewish people against its foes rather than escape to a homeland; Arendt viewed Herzlian Zionism as a reactionary movement. Citing critical research by Ismar Schorsch and Sharon Muller, points out that Arendt ignored personalities, events, and instances of Jewish collective action that challenged her premise of political ineptitude.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
