Manfred Gerstenfeld Libros

For the first time ever, a book unravels the complex process of the tremendous delegitimization efforts directed toward Israel. "The War of a Million Cuts" explains how these attempts at the delegitimization of Israel, as well as anti-Semitism can be fought. The book describes the hateful messages of those who defame Israel and the Jews, details why anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism have the same core motifs, and discusses the main groups of inciters, including Muslim states, Muslims in the Western world, politicians, media, NGOs, church leaders, those on the extreme left and the extreme right, Jewish self-haters, academics, social democrats and many others. It explains how the hate messages are effectively transmitted to the public at large, and discusses what impact the delegitimization has already made on Israel and the Jews.

The book examines the impact of significant historical events, such as the second Palestinian uprising, 9/11, and the Iraq war, on American Jewish identity and perspectives. Through an introductory essay and interviews with 17 influential American Jews, it delves into evolving attitudes towards Israel, Evangelical Christians, and Muslims, alongside rising concerns about anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. These contemporary political challenges are intertwined with the ongoing structural issues facing American Jewry, highlighting a complex landscape of identity and community.

European-Israeli Between Confusion and Change? reassesses the current interactions between Europe and Israel. It is a sequel to Israel and An Expanding Abyss? which was published in spring 2005. By the end of 2004 the European Union was on the way to greater integration. Its proposed constitution was expected to be ratified. It was anticipated that this would lead to a more powerful Europe. After the rejection in 2005 of its constitution by France and the Netherlands and the rise in Muslim intimidation and terrorism, the EU has lost part of its self-assuredness and finds itself in a period of confusion and Europessimism. In Israel, the disengagement from Gaza, the breakup of the political scene, and the armed confrontation in Lebanon have introduced new uncertainties about the future. Also affecting European-Israeli relations are the deepening quagmire in Iraq, the emergence of an explicitly genocidal anti-Semitic regime in Iran, and a Hamas government in the Palestinian territories that has backtracked on previous Palestinian commitments. The developments of the past two years have made an Israeli-European dialogue more possible and potentially useful to both sides. That is why Israel should invest efforts in it. Another important action Israel should take is to organize its friends in Europe. In the second part of the book, fifteen interviewees from Europe and Israel discuss European-Israeli relationships in several areas.

This anthology of essays, book reviews and interviews provides a broad insight into Manfred Gerstenfeld's unique renaissance personality. It encompasses the extensive canvas of contemporary Jewry and the challenges it faces. It also includes some essays on subjects related to Gerstenfeld's other than exclusively Jewish interests such as architecture, science and the environment which reflect the breadth of his knowledge and scholarship. from the preface by Isi Leibler

A war criminal had better survival chances in twentieth century Europe than a Jew. This sad assessment underlines the gravity of the Holocaust bloodbath, as well as the Europerans' leniency toward the murderers in the post-Holocaust period. EUROPE'S CRUMBLING MYTHS explores how developments in post-Holocaust Europe already prefigured the adversities Israel and the Jews face there today. It shows how new anti-Semitism is more a continuation and development, than an innovation. Few people realize how rampant anti-Semitism and discrimination of the Jews were in post-Holocaust Europe, and how the legacy of that period laid the basis for today's resurgence of European anti-Semitism. When exposing the persistent anti-Semitic character of many current European attacks on Israel, examples taken from Europe's recent history must play a major role. This book provides an analysis of Europe's moral attitude toward the Jews in the post-war period.

In Europa hat es in den letzten Jahren mehr offenen, vor allem auch gewalttätigen Antisemitismus gegeben als in den meisten Jahrzehnten nach 1945. Rassistisch motivierte Morde an Juden und physische Angriffe auf Juden, Anschläge auf Schulbusse, auf Synagogen, Schändungen von Friedhöfen mussten registriert werden. Kaum ein jüdischer Kindergarten, kaum eine jüdische Schule, keine Synagoge kommt ohne Sicherheitsmaßnahmen und Bewachung aus. Der vorliegende Band über international feststellbare öffentliche Diskurse zeigt auf, dass Anti-Israelismus sich gerade dadurch als Anti-Semitismus zu erkennen gibt, dass er wie jedes antisemitische (oder auch rassistische) Denken Kritik und nicht zuletzt jede Form von Selbstreflexion suspendiert. Die Interviews geben nicht nur eine Anschauung von der umfassenden Verbreitung des Anti-Semitismus bzw. des Anti-Israelismus. Sie zeigen auch auf, wie aufmerksame europäische Politiker und Kulturschaffende sich dazu stellen.