Dora Horn's 'People Love Dead Jews' > Likes and Comments

I've recently read 'People Love Dead Jews' and would appreciate any wisdom as follows:

Dara Horn in her effort to reveal ‘blind spots’ in Western understanding about antisemitism, states that the idea that memorials to the Holocaust (Holocaust education) prevents antisemitism is for her,' entirely objectionable'. She argues that the West's understanding of the Holocaust was not a 'lack of love'. It happened because "entire societies abdicated responsibility for their own problems and instead blamed them on the people who represented – have always represented, since they first introduced the idea 'commandedness' to the world – the thing they were most afraid of: responsibility. Then as now, Jews were cast in the role of civilisation's nagging mothers, loathed in life and loved only when they are safely dead. (page 19o- 191)

My questions are: 1. 'commandedness' - Does it mean the teaching of the Torah, 'commands' that Jews need to unquestionably obey?
2. Following on, does it mean this 'commandedness' is given to the West (Christians) via the Old Testament. Christians, like the Jews could not keep the commandments and therefore blamed the Jews.

Jews were like mothers who were charged by God to control their children by administering the rules, which their kids failed to do, and resented, and only valued their mothers once they were dead and no longer had control over them.

I would value your thoughts. Thanks.

David wrote: "I've recently read 'People Love Dead Jews' and would appreciate any wisdom as follows:

Dara Horn in her effort to reveal ‘blind spots’ in Western understanding about antisemitism, states that the ..."

David... wonderful to hear from you. How are you? Its been awhile since we connected.
I just saw this and can try to answer you later today when I get home. In the meantime, hopefully others will see this and can put in their two cents.

David- Im sorry I didnt get back to you earlier.
I am so far from a Torah scholar. :)
There are 613 commandments and I can say with 99,9% accuracy " to obey"... isn't written in the torah.
I dont believe I know of anyone who doesn't question-in this scenario. I wish I could answer your second question using my jewish common sense. But I think you want a more educational formal response that I cant give with understanding. :(

Hi, David. I've read People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present and can't believe it was back in 2021. How time flies! I still have the book -- found it on my shelf -- but without looking up the part you're referring to, it sounds, based on what you wrote, that, yes, she is talking about commandedness as responsibility. And so people, not liking being made to feel responsible, blamed Jews, according to her. But this is just her way of expressing why Jews have been scapegoated. Another author I read expressed a similar thought by saying Jews were the "alarm clock," and nobody likes their alarm clock. So, I think she's speaking generally about why Jews are scapegoated, not necessarily about what the particular commands are in Judaism (not to mention that religion evolves over time). Also, although, as I said, others have had similar ideas of why the scapegoating, it's up for debate. The reason Jews are often scapegoated isn't written in stone. This is thinkers trying to explain why. So, the notion of "commandedness" is somewhat tangential to what Dara Horn is trying to explain -- and itself could lead to much debate!

David, if you see this, be aware that there is already People Love Dead Jews thread, and eventually, I'll try to copy and paste our current discussion back over there. Clicking will take you there. Be sure and check the "notify me when people comment" box, because the way Goodreads works now, that's the only way you'll know that somebody answered!

Stacey B wrote: "David- Im sorry I didnt get back to you earlier.
I am so far from a Torah scholar. :)
There are 613 commandments and I can say with 99,9% accuracy " to obey"... isn't written in the torah.
I dont..."

Thanks Stacey. Appreciated.

Jan wrote: "Hi, David. I've read People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present and can't believe it was back in 2021. How time flies! I still have the book -- found it on my shelf -- bu..."

Thanks Jan, Just back from overseas and catching up with life! Greatful for your comments that clarify the matter. The 'alarm clock' image is useful.

David wrote: "...Thanks Jan, Just back from overseas and catching up with life! Grateful for your comments that clarify the matter. The 'alarm clock' image is useful. "

Welcome back, David, and you're very welcome! I'm going to have to get reacclimated myself after hosting a family reunion. Whew! :)

This discussion is now in the folder "2021 Moderators' Choices," since that's where we started a discussion when we read People Love Dead Jews.

This discussion is being closed.
To continue discussion of the book, go to 2021/12 Discussion for Dara Horn's People Love Dead Jews