Coffee House Shots Why is antisemitism so pervasive? Irving v Lipstadt 25 years on
May 26, 2025
Deborah Lipstadt, a renowned scholar on Holocaust denial, shares insights alongside her lawyer, Anthony Julius, who defended her in the landmark Irving v Lipstadt case. They reflect on the trial's significance for historical truth and its implications today. The conversation dives into the troubling persistence of antisemitism, highlighting its presence across various societal segments. They also emphasize the urgent need for Holocaust remembrance as survivor voices fade, stressing the critical importance of understanding and combating hate in contemporary culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trial's Historical Significance
- The trial assembled top historians who dismantled Holocaust denial using original documents.
- Before this, Holocaust denial claims were dismissed without thorough fact-checking of citations.
Holocaust Denial as Anti-Semitism
- Holocaust denial is a form of classic anti-Semitism disguising Jewish victims conspiring to fabricate genocide.
- It persists by tapping into anti-Semitic tropes, which kept the denial alive over decades.
Legal Weight in Historical Debates
- Court rulings have a unique authority compared to academia, giving historical debates legal weight.
- Judicial endorsement influences public perception more strongly due to state authority behind decisions.
