Will Eisner. Komiks w cieniu stereotypów

Author(s): Lukasz Slonski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

This paper is an attempt to analyze the threads associated with anti-Semitism in Will Eisner comics books and his struggle against stereotypical treatment of the Jews. The work is divided into two parts. In the first part graphics novels based on the biography of the artist (To the Heart of the Storm and The Name of the Game) are described. The second part is devoted to comics in which he refers to Charles Dickens Oliver Twist (Fagin the Jew) and Protocols of the Elders of Zion (The Plot). -

Patrząc wspólnie w kierunku jedynego Boga

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 1/2018

Third International Conference on Christian Hebraism in Eastern and Central Europe

Author(s): Anna Kryza / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2018

The Russian Jewish Question, Asked and Answered. Virtual Polemics Between Moisei Berlin and Yakov Brafman in the 1860s

Author(s): Vassili Schedrin / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

In the first half of the nineteenth century, Russian authorities had very limited knowledge of their Jewish subjects. The government relied more on its enlightened perceptions of the Jews and Judaism than on empirical observation. This situation changed radically in the 1860s, when at the onset of the Great Reforms era the government sought full and veritable information about all imperial subjects, including Jews, to facilitate the efficient policymaking by framing and answering Russian Jewish question. As a result, Russian language studies—written by Jews, Russian Christians, and Jewish converts to Christianity—on Judaism, Jewish history, society and culture started to appear. The article focuses on two such studies: Moisei Berlin's Essay on the Ethnography of the Jewish Population in Russia (1861) and Yakov Brafman's Book of Kahal (1869). Virtual polemics between Berlin and Brafman highlights fundamental differences between Russian studies of Judaism and Jewish life and classical Western European Christian Hebraism, namely, Russian scholars’ general lack of interest to the Talmud and to its alleged anti-Christian thrust, and almost exclusive focus on Jewish communal, social, and political institutes—kahal, chavurot (voluntary societies), beit din (rabbinical court) and others—and on their alleged anti-government nature.

The Translation of the New Testament into Hebrew in the Eyes of Franz Delitzsch: Philology, Mission, Theology

Author(s): Eran Shuali / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

In this article, I examine the way in which Franz Delitzsch envisioned his masterpiece translation of the New Testament into Hebrew, first published in 1877. I focus on the aims Delitzsch attributed to his translation and on the way in which the translation project was embedded in the wider views held by Delitzsch as a Hebraist and a theologian. Furthermore, I show how Delitzsch’s conception of his endeavor structured the translation work itself.

The Role of the Jew in Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont’s Adumbratio kabbalae christianae

Author(s): Sheila Spector / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

While the use of the Jews as scapegoats is well documented, less noted is how they have provided a pretext for exploring and writing about heterodoxical ideas that otherwise might cause problems for the author. A case in point is the Adumbratio kabbalae christianae, by seventeenth-century esoteric thinker Franciscus Mercusius van Helmont. Although ostensibly designed to convert the Jews, a close examination reveals that the text was intended to inform like-minded Christians about an esoteric mode of thought that, at the time, was repudiated by Church authorities.

Abraham Heschel i Thomas Merton – prorocze osobowości, prorocza przyjaźń

Author(s): Edward Kaplan / Language(s): Polish Issue: 31/2018

In his essay on the Jewish rabbi Abraham Heschel and his evolving correspondence with Roman Catholic monk Thomas Merton, Edward Kaplan focuses on the trope of prophetic personality, which is characterized by an emotional intensity and a heightened sensitivity to injustice. Involved in religious peace movements and motivated by compassion and the indignation caused by the brutality of war, arrogant nationalism, and consumerist addictions, Merton and Heschel represent the quintessential prophetic stance in the sphere of social action. Their friendship went through a moment of crisis when the Second Vatican Council was debating the so-called Declaration on Jews. It was then that both Merton and Heschel demonstrated, through their outspoken criticisms, the full meaning of prophetic protest against the abuse of doctrinal pronouncements. As shown by their examples, a prophet is one who respects and repairs the world which is our common home and does it in the name of God.

ZWISCHEN ERINNERUNG UND FIKTION: LITERATURSKANDAL 1995 UM BINJAMIN WILKOMIRSKIS BUCH BRUCHSTÜCKE. AUS EINER KINDHEIT (1939–1948)

Author(s): Siniša Vučenović / Language(s): German Issue: 70/2019

Der Begriff Vergangenheitsbewältigung2 ist eines der wichtigsten Forschungsthemen in Deutsch- land, das sich zur Aufgabe stellt, den Umgang mit der deutschen Vergangenheit des 20. Jahr- hunderts zu erforschen. Dabei wird der Begriff namentlich in Verbindung mit der Aufarbeitung der nationalsozialistischen Vergangenheit gebracht und ist somit insbesondere seit den 60er Jahren3 als einer der zentralen Begriffe in die öffentlichen Debatten gerückt. Ein wichtiger Forschungsaspekt stellt die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Holocaust4 an den europäischen Ju- den und die damit verbundenen nationalsozialistischen Verbrechen dar, dem, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die noch wenigen Zeitzeugen, besondere Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wird. Unter diesem Gesichtspunkt will der Artikel die Schwierigkeiten bei der literarischen Aufarbeitung der NS-Vergangenheit durch die Zeitzeugen5 exemplarisch behandeln. Das Augenmerk liegt dabei auf dem Verhältnis zwischen dem Erinnern und Fiktion. Als Basistext dient dabei das 1995 beim Suhrkamp Verlag veröffentlichte Buch Bruchstücke. Aus einer Kindheit 1939–1948.

Book review

Oring, Elliott (ed.) (2018). The First Book of Jewish Jokes: The Collection of L. M. Büschenthal. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Author(s): Anastasiya Fiadotava / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2019

Essential Characteristics of Ideal Society From The Perspective of Religions

Author(s): Muhittin Akgül / Language(s): English Issue: 10/2020

The history of humanity shows that there is no period on earth which is far from religion, and truly superstitious societies absolutely believe in a religion / religions. This is because believing is a necessity and a need of the fitra. Besides, when we look at religions that have been accepted throughout history, we see the existence of some other primitive religions. When we look at the nature of religions that are accepted as authentic, it can be deduced that they are basically one. It is seen that the prophecy institution that started from Adam has same basic rules, even if the conditions change. These rules are universal and basically have the characteristic that leads people to happiness. The differences in the rules brought by the prophets are in the subjects of details. The rules related to belief and morality, whose validity have never been lost, have not changed since the time of Prophet Adam, down to Prophet Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and consequently up to the last Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). These rules have an indispensable place in forming a proper and happy society. Because any society where these rules are invalid ultimately becomes problematic and the members of such a society are in trouble.

Raisins and Almonds: A Yiddish Song as a Metaphor of Yiddish Folk Culture in the 21st Century

Author(s): Gila Flam / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

In this paper, I will try to explain the construction of songs as cultural artefacts possessing an aura that transcends their musical-poetic structure to make them survive as traditional folk-songs in the perplexing contemporary world. I chose the well-known Yiddish lullaby, Rozhinkes mit mandlen (Raisins and Almonds) which was created by Abraham Goldfaden for the first Yiddish Operetta Shulamith. This popular song is based on a Yiddish folk song which was forgotten, and instead the popular theatre song became the folksong. I analysed several published and recorded versions of the song in order to see the song’s place as a metaphor for Yiddish folk culture. I followed the song’s progress for over 100 years and showed how it combines past present and future, reality, myth, beliefs and identities. I conclude with discovery of the song’s melody as an international instrumental piece called Raisins and Almonds.

THE IMPERATIVE OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION

Author(s): Daniel Mariaschin / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

When I began my career almost 50 years ago, I emphasized in my speeches that one day there would be no Holocaust survivors to say, “I was there,” or to show their concentration camp tattoos, or to recount their first-hand testimony of being the victims of the worst brutality known to humankind. Sadly, we are almost at that point.

EVALUATING HOLOCAUST EDUCATION: HITTING THE TARGET?

Author(s): Richelle Budd Caplan / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

According to recent studies of the Claims Conference, millennials in various countries believe that the Holocaust is an important subject that should be taught in schools. This topic is often included in national or state curricula, but educators do not necessarily receive accredited professional development opportunities about how to approach teaching this subject matter in their respective classrooms. Moreover, many Holocaust-related institutions around the world offer workshops and seminars geared for teachers, however, their programming is not always externally evaluated. This article will explore the results of a number of external studies of Yad Vashem's teacher-training efforts on an international scale, reflecting on aims and outcomes. Based on this data, there appears to be an added value to professional development training. However, additional research should be undertaken as these findings could support decisions made by policy makers.

PERCEPTIONS OF THE RESCUE OF THE JEWS AND THE HOLOCAUST IN BULGARIA TODAY

Author(s): Lea Cohen / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

Over the last 20 years the perception of the Holocaust in Bulgarian society, including by various historians, is perhaps one of the most complex subjects in the national public space, and even beyond. The lack of consensus regarding the assessment and perception, as well as in the presentation and interpretation of historical facts, i.e. of the stories about what happened and what did NOT happen, prevents a structured history of the events from 1940 to 1944 in the Kingdom of Bulgaria. In various versions, that are often diametrically opposed, the persecution of Jews is presented using a hybrid mixture of facts from Bulgarian history of the same period (political, military, economic relations with Germany and Italy, the partisan resistance movement and relations with Soviet Russia, the specifics of political parties and political life in Bulgaria, actions of the Royal Palace and the Parliament), which either have nothing to do with the so-called ‘Jewish question’ or are only indirectly related to it. False theories of the ‘salvation of the Jews’ continue to be fabricated from this hybrid mixture of facts into an amalgam, which has many followers who believe these historical legends and myths over the past two decades. In this article I will look at some of these recent theories and discuss the reasons for their spread and, possible motives for the persistent desire within certain circles to impose on society these “alternate” interpretations of the salvation of the Jews.

THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE: THE BULGARIAN CASE

Author(s): Albena Taneva / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE: THE BULGARIAN CASEThe article examines the concept of memory policies in different perspectives. A central category of analysis is Holocaust remembrance policies and the role of the institutional approach for achieving sustainable results and developing values in the social environment. The reasons for the deficits in the memory of the Holocaust, the periodization in the stories about the Holocaust in Bulgaria and the importance of the factors of the political environment for the dynamics in the interpretations of the past are analyzed. The importance of reflection on the historical past, and in particular that of the Holocaust is considered in regard to the social and generational transfer of memory and attitudes.

HOLOCAUST MEMORY IN MODERN RUSSIA

Author(s): Ilya Altman / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

The main tendencies and features of the Holocaust memory policy in modern Russia are analysed in this article. Positive and negative factors in preserving the memory of the Holocaust are extracted that lie in the context of the memory of the Nazi occupation on USSR territory.

THE FATE OF THE BULGARIAN JEWS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Author(s): Rumyana Marinova-Christidi / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

The basic aim of the present article is to provide a historical overview of the Bulgarian state policy towards Jews in the country during the Second World War. The paper analyzes the variety of factors that played role in this specific case - such as the positive historical legacy of Bulgarian-Jewish relations that contributed to the salvation of Bulgarian Jews but also the negative factors that led to the deportation of the Jews from the occupied and controlled by Bulgaria territories.

LOOTED JUDAICA AND EUROPEAN CULTURAL HISTORICAL HERITAGE

Author(s): Mina Tasseva Bencheva / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

During the Holocaust, the physical persecution of the Jews in Europe was conducted along with a series of policies aimed at the appropriation of Jewish religious art as well as objects related to the Jewish cultural heritage. These objects are known as Judaica and their systematic appropriation by the Nazi regime, in Germany and throughout Europe, is referred to as “the looting of Judaica”. The paper examines the relation between these objects and the European cultural historical heritage while discussing potential paths of interdisciplinary study of the looted Judaica.

ANTISEMITISM AS AN INADMISSIBLE SOCIAL PHENOMENON

Author(s): Nikolai Mihailov / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

Antisemitism is a dangerous and destructive ideology based on incitement to hatred of the Jewish people and is associated with their persecution, discrimination, and in the variation of Nazi antisemitism - with their physical destruction and extermination. Despite the destructive and absurd ideas of this stereotype of national and racial hatred, it is very persistent and people still sometimes experience its consequences. Apart from rumors, conspiracy theories and outdated and denied notions of "world Jewry", these ideas, which are detrimental to humanism and freedom, are sometimes disseminated in the form of "science" or "journalism", "opinion", very often using the power of contemporary media. The word antisemitism always means hatred against Jews in the context of modernity. An important element of contemporary antisemitism is the identification of Jews with finance, urbanization, and especially capitalism. Different "scientific" explanations about “interiorness” of the Jews have had a strong influence on German society since the first decades of the 20th century, an influence that underlies the ideology that led to the brutal policy of the "final decision". The danger of spreading such misanthropic ideas in the form of some kind of "education" and under the guise of "scientifically-based" antisemitism has not passed today. That is why the emphasis on education of students, doctoral students, etc. is extremely important: they should learn not only about the tragic events of the Holocaust, but also to build a critical view of all those preconditions - historical, social, cultural, intellectual – that led to the emergence of racial theories, "explaining" social processes and leading to catastrophic and horrific cruelty events.

ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF THE COMMISSARIAT FOR JEWISH AFFAIRS

The Institution, which had to Implement the Holocaust in Bulgaria

Author(s): Ivanka Gezenko / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

An old Jewish piece of wisdom runs: Not a single sheet of a book or document should remain unread and lost for the generations. This article presents the role of the institution of the Commissariat for Jewish Affairs in Bulgaria in its role of executing the policy of persecution of Jews. It tries to take a look and reconsider the past. To this day, however, there are unknown (or less familiar) documents patiently waiting their time to throw light on the facts revealing what happened. Once again, we have to face the ‘platitude of evil’, which was set as a whole and separately long before. The analysis is done in the context of more general picture of anti-Semitic laws in the Balkans and more generally in the European countries.