Wuj Jankiel
Uncle Jankiel

Summary/Abstract: The idea of Jewish self-hatred has been present in the humanities since the 1930s. The research on this subject has usually focused on Western Europe, especially German-speaking countries. The paper analyses Jewish self-hatred using examples from contemporary official discourse in Poland. Sander Gilman’s approach to Jewish self-hatred (1986) is used to interpret the examples. It seems that it is the alleged communism of the Jewish Poles which causes them being perceived as alien and different. If one condemns their communism, one can feel entitled to be a member of the Polish community; for the condemners, the communism appears “objective” and corresponding to their world-view. In fact, it seems to be more of a ritual act of subordination, yet another cover term to define Jewish guilt and their alienness. Previously, other issues performed this function: “Talmudicness”, ritual murder, host desecration, taking over the printed media, Bolshevism, capitalism, etc.

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