Europes Crumbling Myths: The Post-Holocaust Origins of Todays Anti-Semitism
by Manfred Gerstenfeld
Category: Antisemitism

A collection of interviews conducted by Gerstenfeld with Jewish historians and public figures. In a lengthy essay preceding the interviews (pp. 10-90), "From the Aftermath of the Holocaust to Today's Antisemitism" [an abridged version appeared in "Jewish Political Studies Review" 14 (2002)], notes a number of issues relevant to assessing European postwar antisemitism: barriers placed in the way of survivors' reintegration into postwar society, problems related to financial and moral restitution, the reluctance of European states to punish war criminals and its relation to national myths that exculpate countries from responsibility for the Holocaust, the preservation or lack thereof of Holocaust memory and Holocaust education. Stresses the double standard adopted by European countries in regard to Israel, and antisemitism expressed in anti-Zionism. Presents brief reports on antisemitism in various countries and suggests that more research is needed to reveal connections between present and postwar antisemitism. Some of the interviews (which consist of quotes interspersed with Gerstenfeld's comments), were published previously. Contents: