216 pages - Hardcover - 14 x 20.5 cm - Fair condition

Solomon Lurie belongs to the direction of the ...

216 pages - Hardcover - 14 x 20.5 cm - Fair condition

Solomon Lurie belongs to the direction of the Substantialists, who believe that anti-Semitism is a consequence of certain properties inherent in the Jewish people. As the author writes, "it is obviously necessary to search for the cause of Anti-Semitism in the Jews themselves," since, according to Lurie, he appeared always and everywhere where Jews settled outside Palestine. Thus, Anti-Semitism was rigidly associated with the appearance of the Jewish diaspora.

The first part of the book is devoted to criticism of existing opinions about the reason for such sentiments. The strongest side of this part, according to Irina Levina, is the criticism of the economic explanation of Anti-Semitism, previously developed by Werner Sombart . This explanation has been completely abandoned by specialists today, although it continues to circulate in anti-Semitic journalism.

The explanation for the ancient Anti-Semitism of Lurie sees that the peculiar position of Palestine as a battlefield between neighboring states.

Jews, unlike other peoples, retained their national identity and their national customs. Jews believed themselves to be a national-state whole without their own state with a religious center in Palestine. At the same time assimilation was subjected to severe public disapproval.

This position also caused hatred for them among the peoples, among whom Jews lived. Even in a high social position, the Jews continued to emphasize their "specialness" and the reluctance to accept local cultural values ​​and customs.

As Irina Levinskaya points out, Lurie believes Anti-Semitism is a historical constant, and the spiritual image of Jews is unchanged.