"Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three Thousand Years" is a book written by Israel Shahak, a Polish-Israeli professor of organic chemistry and a civil rights activist. The book, first published in 1994, presents a critical examination of Jewish history, culture, and religion.
Shahak argues that the Jewish community has been shaped by a unique combination of historical, cultural, and religious factors that have often been detrimental to non-Jews and even to many Jews themselves. He contends that classical Judaism, which emerged in the centuries following the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, has had a profoundly negative impact on Jewish relations with the non-Jewish world.
The book is divided into several chapters that cover topics such as the origins of Jewish exclusivism, the role of the Talmud in shaping Jewish attitudes towards non-Jews, and the relationship between Jewish orthodoxy and Jewish nationalism. Shahak also discusses the impact of Zionism on the Middle East and the relationship between Israel and the Jewish diaspora.
Throughout the book, Shahak draws on a wide range of sources, including the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and other Jewish texts, as well as the works of Jewish historians and scholars. He argues that the Jewish tradition has often been characterized by a deep-seated chauvinism and a tendency to view non-Jews as inferior.
"Jewish History, Jewish Religion" has been praised for its thought-provoking and unflinching examination of Jewish history and culture. However, the book has also been criticized for its perceived anti-Jewish bias and its alleged failure to provide a balanced and nuanced portrayal of Jewish tradition.
It's worth noting that Shahak's work has been influential in shaping the views of some critics of Israel and Zionism, but his ideas have also been subject to intense debate and criticism from many scholars and Jewish leaders.
Shahak argues that the Jewish community has been shaped by a unique combination of historical, cultural, and religious factors that have often been detrimental to non-Jews and even to many Jews themselves. He contends that classical Judaism, which emerged in the centuries following the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, has had a profoundly negative impact on Jewish relations with the non-Jewish world.
The book is divided into several chapters that cover topics such as the origins of Jewish exclusivism, the role of the Talmud in shaping Jewish attitudes towards non-Jews, and the relationship between Jewish orthodoxy and Jewish nationalism. Shahak also discusses the impact of Zionism on the Middle East and the relationship between Israel and the Jewish diaspora.
Throughout the book, Shahak draws on a wide range of sources, including the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and other Jewish texts, as well as the works of Jewish historians and scholars. He argues that the Jewish tradition has often been characterized by a deep-seated chauvinism and a tendency to view non-Jews as inferior.
"Jewish History, Jewish Religion" has been praised for its thought-provoking and unflinching examination of Jewish history and culture. However, the book has also been criticized for its perceived anti-Jewish bias and its alleged failure to provide a balanced and nuanced portrayal of Jewish tradition.
It's worth noting that Shahak's work has been influential in shaping the views of some critics of Israel and Zionism, but his ideas have also been subject to intense debate and criticism from many scholars and Jewish leaders.
“The truth is, as they tell you about the virtues of equality, tolerance, and diversity, they twist the knife in your back. They don’t tell you how this is all at YOUR expense. You are footing the bill. And not only is it at your expense, but the expense of your kin, of your children, and your children’s children.
You are damning your descendants to this hell by believing in their false testament.”
You are damning your descendants to this hell by believing in their false testament.”