ANTI-SEMITISM

This concise primer on the rise of antisemitism from 63 BCE to the present day principally addresses the impact on the Jewish community in the U.S.

The book begins with a timeline of selected historical events and an introduction that describes the themes to be covered. Blohm addresses an ambitious array of topics, including the history of violence, intimidation, and incendiary acts against Jews, as well as the importance of being educated about and speaking out against antisemitism and protecting the vulnerable. Despite the author’s research, space limitations result in some issues being treated too briefly and without sufficient depth. For instance, he links the foundation of prejudice to the incorrect belief that “Jews of all generations bore responsibility for the death of Jesus,” yet the book lacks citations to any of the numerous sources that debunk this myth. Photos, including a graphic image from a Nazi death camp, are interspersed throughout the text, sometimes disrupting the flow: A 1938 picture of Kristallnacht appears between paragraphs about antisemitism in biblical times. Given current events, a survey on the roots, resurgence, and increase of antisemitism is timely and necessary. Despite its flaws and organizational issues, this short, accessible book provides an outline of the historic and contemporary situations and could serve as a starting point for research.

An overview of a critical topic that cries out for supplementation with more robust works.