Israel Shahak: Difference between revisions

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	In 1994, he wrote '']'', in which he argued that traditional ] was a ]ic ], and that this chauvinism had been carried over into many aspects of contemporary Israeli society, particularly in what he perceived as institutionalized racism and human rights abuses against Palestinians. He went on to write ''Open Secrets: Israel's Nuclear and Foreign Policies'' published in 1997, and co-authored with Norton Mezvinsky ''Jewish Fundamentalism In Israel'', published in 1999. They introduce the latter by stating "We realize that by criticizing Jewish fundamentalism we are criticizing a part of the past that we love. We wish that members of every human grouping would criticize their own past, even before criticizing others."		In 1994, he wrote '']'', in which he argued that traditional ] was a ]ic ], and that this chauvinism had been carried over into many aspects of contemporary Israeli society, particularly in what he perceived as institutionalized racism and human rights abuses against Palestinians. He went on to write ''Open Secrets: Israel's Nuclear and Foreign Policies'' published in 1997, and co-authored with Norton Mezvinsky ''Jewish Fundamentalism In Israel'', published in 1999. They introduce the latter by stating "We realize that by criticizing Jewish fundamentalism we are criticizing a part of the past that we love. We wish that members of every human grouping would criticize their own past, even before criticizing others."

	Despite the fact that Shahak was a victim of ] and ], and although professing a strong opposition to racism and anti-Semitism, <ref>For example, he writes in ''Jewish History'': "Modern racism (of which antisemitism is part) although caused by specific social conditions, becomes, when it gains strength, a force that in my opinion can only be described as demonic."</ref> his books can be found (in violation of his ]) on ] websites widely considered anti-Semitic, <ref>The , ], , ], the ], ], and various academics (e.g. ) have described these websites and groups as ] and ] hate sites/groups that engage in ].</ref> such as ], "Bible Believers", ], and "Historical Review Press".		Despite the fact that Shahak was a victim of ] and ], and although professing a strong opposition to racism and anti-Semitism, <ref>For example, he writes in ''Jewish History'': "Modern racism (of which antisemitism is part) although caused by specific social conditions, becomes, when it gains strength, a force that in my opinion can only be described as demonic."</ref> his books can be found (in violation of his ]) on ] websites widely considered anti-Semitic, <ref>The , ], , ], the ], ], and various academics (e.g. ) have described these websites and groups as ] and ] hate sites/groups that engage in ].</ref> such as ], "Bible Believers", ], ], and "Historical Review Press".

	In the introduction to the 2002 edition of the book Norton Mezvinsky, Shahak's co-author on ''Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel'', writes that anti-Semites and anti-Semitic groups "utilize unduly Shahak's criticisms in trying to justify their hatred of Jews. They have continued to do this either by citing and/or using out-of-context some of Shahak's points. They allege that what Shahak wrote confirms their generalizations about the 'evil nature' of Jews."		In the introduction to the 2002 edition of the book Norton Mezvinsky, Shahak's co-author on ''Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel'', writes that anti-Semites and anti-Semitic groups "utilize unduly Shahak's criticisms in trying to justify their hatred of Jews. They have continued to do this either by citing and/or using out-of-context some of Shahak's points. They allege that what Shahak wrote confirms their generalizations about the 'evil nature' of Jews."

	==~~Critics~~==		==Praise==
			After his death, Shahak received tributes from a number of sources. On ] ] described him as a "tireless translator and erudite footnoter" and "a singular man, an original", <ref>]. , ''Left Coast'', ], July 13, 2001. Retrieved July 21, 2006.</ref> while ] praised him as "a voice of reason and decency in a country where 'the people of the lie' live and hold sway - and, sadly, also govern." <ref>]. , ''Zundelsite Zgram'', July 7, 2001. Retrieved July 21, 2006.</ref> Writing in the ] Allen C. Brownfield described him as "genuinely prophetic Jewish voice, one which ardently advocated democracy and human rights," <ref>Brownfield, Allen C. , '']'', October 2001, p. 71. Retrieved July 21, 2006.</ref> and ] described Shahak as "one of the Jews I have most respected" and dedicated his book ''Jewish Supremacism'' to him. <ref>, David Duke website, 1/11/2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.</ref>

			==Criticism==
	Shahak's books and articles have been controversial; his critics have accused him of fabricating incidents, "blaming the victim", distorting the normative meaning of Jewish texts, and misrepresenting Jewish belief and law. <ref>Mathis, Andrew. , June 8, 2000. URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> <ref>]. , ''Tradition'', Volume 8, Number 2, Summer 1966.</ref> <ref>]. , AishDas Society website, 2001. URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> <ref name=CAMERA>, ], August 1999. URL accessed July 7, 2006.</ref> The ] has listed Shahak as one of four authors of polemics in its paper ''The ] in ] Polemics'', <ref> , ], February 2003. URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> and Edward Alexander has stated that Shahak "was a disturbed mind who made a career out of recycling Nazi propaganda about Jews and Judaism." <ref>Glazov, Jamie. , '']'', February 22, 2006.</ref> ] and the ''Conservative Voice'' have described him as an "anti-semite"; <ref>]. , ], June 7, 2005. URL accessed July 9, 2006.</ref> <ref>Neuwirth, Rachel. , ''The Conservative Voice'', January 6, 2005. URL accessed July 9, 2005.</ref> while the ] describes him as "one of the world's leading anti-Semites". <ref name=CAMERA/> In a recent book, author ] has even accused him of advocating "a second Holocaust". <ref>Bogdanor, Paul. "Chomsky's Ayatollahs", in Edward Alexander and Paul Bogdanor (editors), , p. 123. </ref>		Shahak's books and articles have been controversial; his critics have accused him of fabricating incidents, "blaming the victim", distorting the normative meaning of Jewish texts, and misrepresenting Jewish belief and law. <ref>Mathis, Andrew. , June 8, 2000. URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> <ref>]. , ''Tradition'', Volume 8, Number 2, Summer 1966.</ref> <ref>]. , AishDas Society website, 2001. URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> <ref name=CAMERA>, ], August 1999. URL accessed July 7, 2006.</ref> The ] has listed Shahak as one of four authors of polemics in its paper ''The ] in ] Polemics'', <ref> , ], February 2003. URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> and Edward Alexander has stated that Shahak "was a disturbed mind who made a career out of recycling Nazi propaganda about Jews and Judaism." <ref>Glazov, Jamie. , '']'', February 22, 2006.</ref> ] and the ''Conservative Voice'' have described him as an "anti-semite"; <ref>]. , ], June 7, 2005. URL accessed July 9, 2006.</ref> <ref>Neuwirth, Rachel. , ''The Conservative Voice'', January 6, 2005. URL accessed July 9, 2005.</ref> while the ] describes him as "one of the world's leading anti-Semites". <ref name=CAMERA/> In a recent book, author ] has even accused him of advocating "a second Holocaust". <ref>Bogdanor, Paul. "Chomsky's Ayatollahs", in Edward Alexander and Paul Bogdanor (editors), , p. 123. </ref>

Revision as of 16:47, 21 July 2006

Israel Shahak (April 28, 1933 – July 2, 2001) (Template:Lang-he) was a Professor of Chemistry at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the former president of the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights, and an outspoken critic of the Israeli government and of Israeli society in general.

Biography

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Shahak was the youngest child of a cultured Polish Jewish family. After Nazi Germany occupied Poland, his family was forced into Warsaw Ghetto. His brother escaped and joined the Royal Air Force (only to be shot down), and his father disappeared. His mother paid a poor Catholic family to hide him, but when her money ran out he was returned, and in 1943 they were both sent to Belsen concentration camp. Israel Shahak was liberated in 1945, and shortly thereafter emigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine, where he volunteered for a kibbutz, but was turned down as "too weedy".

After graduating from high school Shahak served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an elite regiment. After completing service with the IDF, he attended Hebrew University where he received his doctorate in chemistry. In 1961, he left Israel for the United States to study as a postdoctoral student at Stanford University. He returned two years later to become a teacher and researcher in chemistry at Hebrew University, where he remained until his retirement in 1990. He published many scientific papers, mostly on organic fluorine compounds.

After the 1967 Six-Day War Shahak became critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, and a supporter of a Palestinian state. He wrote a number of works that are popular among anti-Zionists and which argue that Israeli law and society contains entrenched attitudes of Jewish supremacism.

Shahak died in Israel at the age of 68 due to complications from diabetes. In his obituary in The Guardian Elfi Pallis described him as "an old-fashioned liberal".

Politics and works

Shahak reports having been radicalized first by the Suez War and his feeling of betrayal by David Ben-Gurion's push to occupy the Sinai Peninsula, then continuing through his time in the United States. Following the Six-Day War of 1967, Shahak joined the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights; he was elected president of the League in 1970.

He began publishing translations of the Hebrew press into English, alongside his own commentaries, arguing that Western activists needed better knowledge about conditions in Israel, and that the English-language editions of Hebrew newspapers were being intentionally distorted for Western audiences. This practice, along with writing letters to the editor, remained staples of his work for decades.

He became a well-known activist in international circles, co-authoring papers and giving joint speaking engagements with American activist Noam Chomsky, and winning plaudits from Christopher Hitchens and Edward Said.

In 1994, he wrote Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three Thousand Years, in which he argued that traditional Orthodox Judaism was a chauvinistic religion, and that this chauvinism had been carried over into many aspects of contemporary Israeli society, particularly in what he perceived as institutionalized racism and human rights abuses against Palestinians. He went on to write Open Secrets: Israel's Nuclear and Foreign Policies published in 1997, and co-authored with Norton Mezvinsky Jewish Fundamentalism In Israel, published in 1999. They introduce the latter by stating "We realize that by criticizing Jewish fundamentalism we are criticizing a part of the past that we love. We wish that members of every human grouping would criticize their own past, even before criticizing others."

Despite the fact that Shahak was a victim of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, and although professing a strong opposition to racism and anti-Semitism, his books can be found (in violation of his copyright) on Holocaust denial websites widely considered anti-Semitic, such as Radio Islam, "Bible Believers", Jew Watch, CODOH, and "Historical Review Press".

In the introduction to the 2002 edition of the book Norton Mezvinsky, Shahak's co-author on Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel, writes that anti-Semites and anti-Semitic groups "utilize unduly Shahak's criticisms in trying to justify their hatred of Jews. They have continued to do this either by citing and/or using out-of-context some of Shahak's points. They allege that what Shahak wrote confirms their generalizations about the 'evil nature' of Jews."

Praise

After his death, Shahak received tributes from a number of sources. On Antiwar.com Alexander Cockburn described him as a "tireless translator and erudite footnoter" and "a singular man, an original", while Ernst Zündel praised him as "a voice of reason and decency in a country where 'the people of the lie' live and hold sway - and, sadly, also govern." Writing in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs Allen C. Brownfield described him as "genuinely prophetic Jewish voice, one which ardently advocated democracy and human rights," and David Duke described Shahak as "one of the Jews I have most respected" and dedicated his book Jewish Supremacism to him.

Criticism

Shahak's books and articles have been controversial; his critics have accused him of fabricating incidents, "blaming the victim", distorting the normative meaning of Jewish texts, and misrepresenting Jewish belief and law. The Anti-Defamation League has listed Shahak as one of four authors of polemics in its paper The Talmud in Anti-Semitic Polemics, and Edward Alexander has stated that Shahak "was a disturbed mind who made a career out of recycling Nazi propaganda about Jews and Judaism." Steven Plaut and the Conservative Voice have described him as an "anti-semite"; while the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America describes him as "one of the world's leading anti-Semites". In a recent book, author Paul Bogdanor has even accused him of advocating "a second Holocaust".