Title: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?
By: Rabbi Raphael Shore
Beverly House Press
In his latest book, Rabbi Raphael Shore tackles the unenviable task of explaining the world’s oldest and most malleable hatred: antisemitism. Jew-hatred is notoriously difficult to dissect, given the myriad of reasons individuals, groups, or nations have targeted the Jewish people over millennia. Yet, Rabbi Shore breaks this overwhelming subject into easily digestible portions, making it accessible for readers seeking understanding.
The book is paced remarkably well, taking readers through a history of influential Jews, their detractors, and the reasoning behind their animosity. Rabbi Shore assembles the puzzle pieces of history into a singular, comprehensible picture that is as insightful as it is unsettling.
What makes this book truly remarkable is its brazenness. Rabbi Shore does not shy away from controversial topics, diving headfirst into the uncomfortable task of analyzing the mindset and internal logic of Adolf Hitler. This approach challenges the conventional portrayal of Hitler as a thoughtless monster, which, as Shore suggests, might unintentionally diminish the severity of his actions. Monsters, after all, can be defeated by brute force; Hitler’s true weapon was not physical but intellectual – his mind and words. By understanding Hitler’s rationale, Shore illuminates the intellectual mechanisms that led to the Holocaust, as much as any tank or soldier did.
To understand antisemitism, Shore argues, one must first understand the profound impact of the Jewish people on the world. He explores Jewish contributions to science, technology, philosophy, economics, psychology, and politics, highlighting how such disproportionate influence – given their small population – has often been both a source of admiration and resentment.
One of the book’s most eye-opening concepts is “the Israel test.” Without spoiling too much, Shore presents a straightforward way to gauge someone’s perspective on Jewish success. If a person admires Israel’s or a Jew’s achievements as a testament to perseverance and capability, they “pass.” But if they view success as the result of conspiracy or underhandedness, they “fail.” This framework resonates profoundly, especially in light of the divisive responses to Israel’s actions post-October 7th, as analyzed by Shore.
Reading Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?, is reminiscent of Rabbi Yotav Eliach’s Judaism, Zionism, and the Land of Israel. While Rabbi Eliach focuses on the physical history of the Jewish connection to Israel, tracing it back to Abraham, Shore’s work delves into the intellectual history of the Jewish people and their enemies. These two books complement one another and belong side by side on any bookshelf dedicated to Jewish history.
This book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by Jewish history, seeking to understand their heritage, or trying to comprehend the long-standing animosity toward the Jewish people. For those genuinely curious about the motivations of antisemites, this book offers candid insights that are as illuminating as they are unsettling.
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew? is not merely a history lesson – it’s an explanation of what it means to be Jewish. Rabbi Shore doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of Jewish history; instead, he confronts them head-on, offering a framework for understanding and combating these challenges in the future. As he poignantly concludes, “We Jews are compared to olives because sometimes the best of us come out when we’re being crushed.” This undeniable truth serves as the backbone of Shore’s work, offering hope for the future while embracing the lessons of the past.
For anyone seeking to grapple with these issues and find inspiration in a troubling history, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew? is a vital and transformative read.
