Alvin Rosenfeld
Professor of English and Jewish Studies and Irving M. Glazer Chair in Jewish Studies, Indiana University
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Alvin Rosenfeld
“Few observers of present-day antisemitism have been as tenacious and tough-minded as Richard Landes in identifying the ideas and people responsible for the upsurge of Jew-hatred in recent years. Placing this hostility within the broader context of illiberal thinking and militant anti-democratic movements, Landes plunges readers into the midst of a high-stakes intellectual and political battle. Written by a knowledgeable, sharply judgmental, and deeply committed combatant in today’s ideological debates about Jews and Israel, this book will rouse strong feelings as well as offer bold and provocative insights into matters of great historical and contemporary consequence.” (from Amazon)
by Richard Landes·You?
A Winner of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa 2023 Bernard Lewis Prize Landes, a medievalist and historian of apocalyptic movements, takes us through the first years of the third millennium (2000-2003), documenting how a radical inability of Westerners to understand the medieval mentality that drove Global Jihad prompted a series of disastrous misinterpretations and misguided reactions that have shaped our so-far unhappy century. These misinterpretations in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2005, contributed fundamentally to the ever-worsening moral and empirical disorientations of our information elites (journalists, academics, pundits). So while journalists reported Palestinian war propaganda as news (lethal journalism), they were also reporting Jihadi war propaganda as news (own-goal war journalism). These radical disorientations have created our current dilemma of pervasive information distrust, deep splits within the voting public in most democracies, the politicization of science, and the inability of Western elites to defend their civilization, and instead, to stand down before an invasion.
Recommended by Alvin Rosenfeld
“Hostility to Jews and Judaism dates back over centuries. In succinct, well-informed, and lucidly composed chapters, Alex Ryvchin focuses on seven of the most persistent and deadly myths that fuel such animosity. Readers interested in a brief but illuminating explanation of many of the causative factors behind antisemitism will benefit from Mr. Ryvchin’s vividly drawn presentation of age-old anti-Jewish stereotypes. For all of their irrationality, they hang on threateningly to this day.” (from Amazon)
A 2023 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist in the Religion Category “With clarity and penetrating insight, Alex Ryvchin unravels the mystery of antisemitism… Mandatory reading for anyone concerned with the ethical fate of the human race.” ― Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel The 7 Deadly Myths traces antisemitism from its earliest origins to the present day and uncovers the dangerous conspiracy theories that have corrupted reasoning and led people and nations to diabolical acts. Exploring some of the most significant events in history and uncovering little-known villains, this book answers the questions of how antisemitism takes hold, how it is transmitted and how it inspires violence to the present day. Written in a clear and compelling style, this book is essential to understanding why this ancient hatred continues to plague society, inspiring pop stars, athletes and demagogues alike. It is a crucial resource for policy makers, students and the reading public seeking to understand racism and how it can be stopped.