Antisemitism: The Oldest Hatred

'The Jewish people in its very being constitutes a living protest against a world of hatred, violence and war' - Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks The history of Jewish persecution is as old as the written word, though the epithet `antisemitism` was only conceived in the late nineteenth century as it reached the beginning of its most horrifying chapter. Throughout Christian history the hatred and prejudice towards the Jewish people have often been blamed on the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ, but ethnic Jewish oppression began long before. It is beyond dispute that antisemitism in our societies is on the increase. Following the Israeli bombing of Gaza, antisemitic feeling has grown significantly - though a prominent group of French Orthodox Jews in Paris recently demonstrated with placards saying 'Israeli action in Gaza is not the action of the Jewish people`. Yet still Jewish graves are desecrated and Synagogues daubed with swastikas. John Mann has assembled a Reader on the theme of antisemitism ranging from the writings of Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and Jean-Paul Sartre to George Washington, Jesse Jackson and Emile Zola. The book is published under the auspices of the 'All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism' and will come to be seen as a contribution of major importance on a subject of incipient lethal danger.

Table of Contents:
Explanatory Note Acknowledgements Introduction 1 SURVIVAL Charlie Chaplin, Speech from The Great Dictator Albert Einstein, Why Do They Hate the Jews? Abraham H. Foxman, It Cannot Be Business as Usual R.L. Sheil, On the Jewish Disabilities Bill Emile Zola, J'Accuse The Shield Maxim Gorky, Russia and the Jews M. Bernatzky, The Jews and Russian Economic Life Edouard Herriot, Contre l'Antisémitisme Jean-Paul Sartre, Anti-Semite and Jew Jean Pierre-Bloch, Discours au Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine Willy Brandt, Germany, Israel and the Jews Anatoly Shcharansky, Freedom for Soviet Jewry Elie Wiesel, The Perils of Indifference Jan Karski, Response to the Tribute of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and the Archdiocese of Washington Michael Douglas, Op-ed, Michael Douglas finds Judaism and faces anti-Semitism 2 INTERSECTIONALITY George Washington, Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island Jesse Jackson, Address to the Democratic National Convention John F. Kennedy, The Kind of American in Which I Believe Joachim Prinz, I speak to you as an American Jew Albie Sachs, Voices on Anti-Semitism Nelson Mandela, On Being Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Ben Gurion Univeristy of the Negev Bill Clinton, Address to the Liz Sutherland Carpenter Distinguished Lectureship in the Humanities and Sciences Barack Obama, A More Perfect Union John Mann, Accepting Jan Karski Award 3 ZIONISM Chaim Weizmann, 'The Jews Carry Palestine in their hearts' Winston Churchill, A Struggle for the Soul of the Jewish People Maurice Rosette, Sympathy is not Enough Chaim Herzog, Response to Zionism is Racism Resolution Anwar Sadat, Address to the Knesset Nicole Fontaine, Israeli Knesset Speech Tarek Fatah, Towards a New Jerusalem Wolfgang Benz, Anti-Semites and Enemies of Island: Agitators with Parallel Strategies Jan Karski, Acceptance of the State of Israel's Honorary Citizenship Notes Further Reading List Permissions Index

About the Author :
John Mann has been Labour MP for Bassetlaw since 2001. He sits on the influential Treasury Committee in the House of Commons. He was formerly Chair of Labour Students. Since 2005, he has been Chair of the Parliamentary Committee Against Anti-Semitism and commissioned the all party parliamentary inquiry into anti-semitism.

Review :
An important contribution on a subject of increasing urgency and relevance.