tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post4008457563462824014..comments2024-03-14T02:22:26.957+00:00Comments on Point of No Return: Jewish Refugees from Arab and Muslim Countries: More about Arab Jews (updated)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-66997934216165547352012-01-29T09:49:18.774+00:002012-01-29T09:49:18.774+00:00Yesterday was Haulocost remembrance day. I am afra...Yesterday was Haulocost remembrance day. I am afraid it is not over for some of us. Those who live in countries where they are unprotected can truly wonder at their future.<br />They tell me, it can never happen again: but I am not so certain and it is a question of great worry for me!!!<br />suzy vidalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-19712007751546852742012-01-25T22:49:22.471+00:002012-01-25T22:49:22.471+00:00Sylvia, I am aware that the Sefardic Jews in Bord...Sylvia, I am aware that the Sefardic Jews in Bordeaux were legally treated differently from the Old French Jews of the Avignon area, from the Paris Jews and from the Jews of Alsace. <br /><br />Nevertheless, Voltaire did not make distinctions among Jewish groups in his relevant Judeophobic writings. I suggest that those who want to appreciate Voltaire's Judeophobia look up what he wrote about Jews in <i>Dictionnaire Philosophiqaue</i> and <i>Philosophie Generale</i>.Eliyahu m'Tsiyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973268399414290195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-15548826282785225252012-01-25T18:43:56.486+00:002012-01-25T18:43:56.486+00:00Eliyahu, just to clarify things.
The 'Eastern...Eliyahu, just to clarify things.<br /><br />The 'Eastern Jews" Voltaire was talking about were the East European Jews, those from Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, etc., in German/Yiddish, "Ostjuden", not those they call today "Orientals", which includes Sephardim.<br /><br /><br />And because that was the prevailing opinion in intellectual circles at the time and they had a (relatively) higher regard for Sephardim - probably because they hated Portugal - in France the Sephardim were emancipated before the Ashkenazis.<br /><br />The term "Orientals" as referring to Jews of the Middle east, Asia and North Africa bundled together is of recent vintage (1976) and was coined in Israel.<br /><br />But, if you mean to say that Jews in general including European Jews (the only kind they knew) were viewed as "Orientals" then yes of course since the philosophers recognized that their country of origin is in the Middle East, and consequently in Asia.Sylvianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-37462137013140064052012-01-24T22:31:48.068+00:002012-01-24T22:31:48.068+00:00Hatred and contempt for the Orient, and --within t...Hatred and contempt for the Orient, and --within the Oriental sphere-- especially for Jews and Judaism, was typical of German philosophy, of Kant & Hegel, and later their disciple Marx. Voltaire and D'Holbach in France shared that contempt and hatred for Jews and Judaism --specifically as Orientals. While d'Holbach called the Jews in general --including Jews in Europe-- degraded "Asiatics," Voltaire called the ancient Jews "an Arab tribe." Kant called the German Jews "the palestinians who live among us." [Rather ironical that last remark, in view of today's reality.]<br /><br />Therefore, hatred and contempt for Jews as quintessentially inferior Orientals was part of the heritage of the "Left" from its intellectual forerunners. After all, according to Kant, Hegel, etc., the Orient was incapable of Progress, the great ideal of the "Left." The Jews were even less capable of Progress than other Orientals in that view. <br /><br />Hence, from the philosophical standpoint of Kant, Hegel, etc., Oriental Jews were even more loathesome than other Jews. These views held today are irrational but we all know that irrational beliefs resist refutation by reason --by definition.Eliyahu m'Tsiyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973268399414290195noreply@blogger.com