Amos Goldberg, a prominent Holocaust historian from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, delves into the fraught discussions surrounding intent in the context of genocide, particularly relating to Gaza. He explores how genocides often arise from claims of self-defense and discusses the risks of oversimplifying historical narratives. The conversation highlights the complexities of labeling contemporary atrocities and the consequences of these classifications. Goldberg's insights challenge listeners to engage deeply with sensitive subjects that echo through history.
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insights INSIGHT
Legal vs Historical Genocide Intent
The legal definition of genocide emphasizes the intent to destroy a group, which creates a higher bar than historical or sociological interpretations.
This narrow focus on intent risks overlooking complex political and social phenomena that also constitute genocide.
insights INSIGHT
Hitler's 1939 Speech Complexity
Hitler's 1939 Reichstag speech shows public intent rhetoric but no immediate shift to mass killing.
Historians debate whether this signals early intent or strategic political rhetoric, reflecting complexity in genocide planning.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Shifting Israeli Views on Intent
Israeli students showed increased willingness to accept a functionalist view of Holocaust intent in 2024.
This shift parallels Israeli denial of genocidal intent regarding Gaza, reflecting political and existential unease.
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The book offers critical analyses of how the Holocaust is remembered and represented in various cultural contexts. It examines the ethical, political, and social implications of different memorialization practices. It delves into the debates surrounding Holocaust memory, considering issues of historical accuracy, representation, and appropriation. The book analyzes diverse forms of Holocaust memory, including literature, film, museums, and public rituals. It explores how these representations shape collective understandings of the Holocaust and influence contemporary attitudes towards genocide and human rights.
A PROBLEM FROM HELL
America and the Age of Genocide
Samantha Power
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Samantha Power analyzes the United States' understanding of, response to, and inaction on genocides from the Armenian genocide to the 'ethnic cleansings' of the Kosovo War. She draws on exclusive interviews with policymakers, declassified documents, and her own reporting from modern killing fields. The book highlights the reluctance of American policymakers to condemn mass atrocities as genocide and their justifications for inaction, often based on national interests or the belief that intervention would be futile or counterproductive.
Trauma and First Person Diary Writing During the Holocaust
Trauma and First Person Diary Writing During the Holocaust
Amos Goldberg
The book analyzes diaries written during the Holocaust to understand the experiences and emotional responses of individuals living through this period. It investigates how diary writing served as a means of coping with trauma, preserving memory, and asserting identity. The book explores the themes of survival, loss, and resistance as reflected in these personal accounts. It examines the narrative strategies employed by diarists to document their experiences and make sense of the atrocities they witnessed. Through close readings of these diaries, the book offers insights into the psychological and social dimensions of the Holocaust.
The Problems of Genocide
The Problems of Genocide
Permanent and the language of transgression
Gert Moses
Marking Evil
Holocaust Memory in the Global Age
Haim Hazan
Amos Goldberg
The book investigates how Holocaust memory has been transmitted and transformed across different cultural contexts in the global age. It examines the ways in which the Holocaust has become a universal symbol of atrocity and a touchstone for discussions about justice and human rights. It analyzes the challenges and opportunities of representing the Holocaust in a globalized world. The book explores the diverse forms of Holocaust memorialization, including museums, memorials, and educational programs. It considers the ethical and political implications of these representations, examining their impact on contemporary understandings of violence and historical responsibility.
For episode 193, Elia Ayoub is joined by Amos Goldberg, Professor of Holocaust History at the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Goldberg is among the most vocal Israeli historians of the Holocaust to have called Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide. In 2024, he wrote a paper for the Journal of Genocide Research exploring how the question of ‘intent’ is used in discussions around genocides, including the Gaza one. They also get into how genocide is often preceded by claims of self-defense.
The Fire These Times 
