Author Dara Horn on the rise in antisemitism, and why Holocaust museums and Holocaust education won’t stop it
Nov 17, 2022
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Guests: Elisha Wiesel and Dara Horn. Horn believes Holocaust museums and education won't end antisemitism. She suggests celebrating Jewish religion, culture, and contributions to combat hate. They discuss the rise of antisemitism and the importance of Jewish pride.
Building multimillion-dollar Holocaust museums and advocating for government-mandated Holocaust education won't stop antisemitism; instead, celebrating the vibrant religion, culture, and contributions of Jews to Western civilization is a more dignified approach.
Holocaust education often fails to provide a comprehensive understanding of anti-Semitism; teaching Jewish civilization alongside Holocaust education can address the lack of knowledge and shallow understanding of the Jewish community among non-Jewish populations.
Deep dives
Controversy over anti-Semitic lyrics of French rapper Fries Corleone cancels his concert
The upcoming concert of French rapper Fries Corleone in Montreal has been canceled due to concerns from Canadian Jewish groups regarding his anti-Semitic lyrics. The controversial rapper's songs glorify Adolf Hitler and propagate conspiracy theories about rich Jews, with lyrics even expressing disregard for the Shoah. While Fries Corleone has faced investigations in France for racism and lost his music label, his songs have reached the top of the French charts. This incident coincides with the gathering of Jewish leaders from Canada and around the world for a conference called 'NoMoreAntiSemitism,' where discussions centered around addressing anti-Semitism with a new approach, focusing on Jewish pride rather than the construction of new Holocaust museums and advocating for mandatory Holocaust education in schools.
Author Dara Horn emphasizes the need for clarity in understanding and combating anti-Semitism
Dara Horn, author of the book 'People Love Dead Jews,' shared her insights on the issue of anti-Semitism. She acknowledged that anti-Semitism often functions as a conspiracy theory, allowing individuals to feel like they are speaking truth to power. She emphasized the need for clarity in understanding this form of bigotry, which is distinct from other types of discrimination. While she acknowledges the difficulty in eliminating anti-Semitism entirely, she believes that changing the conversation around it can lead to progress. Horn argued for a shift towards educating the public on the content of Jewish civilization, rather than solely teaching about the Holocaust, in order to combat ignorance and promote understanding.
Holocaust education and its limitations in preventing anti-Semitism
The effectiveness of Holocaust education as a tool to combat anti-Semitism was called into question. Horn highlighted that, despite the widespread implementation of Holocaust education programs, rates of anti-Semitism have continued to rise in many countries. She highlighted a study conducted in the UK, which revealed that even students who completed mandatory Holocaust education courses lacked a deep understanding of why the Nazis specifically targeted Jews. Horn argued that the approach to Holocaust education often fails to contextualize anti-Semitism within the broader Jewish experience and culture. She suggested that a more comprehensive approach that includes the teaching of Jewish civilization should be considered to address the lack of knowledge and shallow understanding of the Jewish community among non-Jewish populations.
The normalization of anti-Semitic rhetoric and the need for nuanced conversations
The normalization of anti-Semitic rhetoric and the cultural temperature surrounding it were discussed. Horn acknowledged the rise in anti-Jewish sentiments in North American culture, exemplified by incidents such as the remarks made by Kanye West and Kyrie Irving. She emphasized that anti-Semitism is deeply rooted and follows a cyclical pattern, unlike other forms of bigotry. Horn expressed concern about the current cultural climate and the lack of information regarding the Jewish experience, which often leads to misconceptions and ignorance. She underscored the importance of moving away from discussions solely centered around Israel and the Holocaust, and instead fostering curiosity about Jewish culture and diversity.
This weekend, Jewish leaders from Canada and around the world will meet in Hamilton for a conference called #NoMoreAntisemitism. It's bringing together teachers and Holocaust experts including prominent speakers Elisha Wiesel and Dara Horn, author of the award-winning book People Love Dead Jews.
Horn says she’s attending even though she's convinced the conference will not eliminate antisemitism. She's hoping Jewish communities hear her blunt message, in which she explains that building multimillion-dollar Holocaust museums and advocating for governments to mandate Holocaust education in schools still won't make people stop hating Jews.
Instead, Horn is calling for a new more dignified approach: stop trying to define who Jews are by showing what the outside world did to them and instead, celebrate their vibrant religion and culture, along with everything Jews have contributed to Western civilization. Hear her pitch and her take on the recent rise of antisemitism, on today's episode of The CJN Daily.
The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.
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