Shabbot Salon
Amos Elon: The Pity of It All
Israeli journalist Amos Elon speaks about his book, The Pity of It All: A Portrait of Jews In Germany, 1743–1933 (2002). This event is part of the Shabbat Salon series. Elon speaks about the place and prominence Jewish figures and communities had in Germany prior to 1933. He argues that in the 19th century, “Europeans often envied, feared, ridiculed, or hated Germans, but only Jews seemed actually to have truly loved them.” Elon counters the idea that German Jews did not assimilate into German society or consider themselves to be truly German. He contends that, in the 19th century particularly, German Jews “almost had reason to regard themselves as an ancient Germanic tribe.” He also discusses the contradictions of German antisemitism and the rise of fascism. The lecture is followed with questions from the audience.
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