Secular Zionism: Hannah Arendt, the Holocaust and Jewish Community
Location
Massey Board Room
Presentation Type
Presentation
Start Date
28-10-2010 2:00 PM
Description
German Jewish political philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote “if one is attacked as a Jew, one must defend oneself as a Jew.” As a secular scholar, Arendt never saw herself as a Jew until she was forced to by the Nazis; defending herself as a Jew did not come naturally. However, it was Arendt’s view that part of the origins of totalitarianism lie in the lack of political community among Jews, combined with a universal unwillingness of other nations to defend the human rights of Jews. Because she finds “human rights” unenforceable, she sees the “right to have rights” as more fundamental. What is most important is to be recognized, as oneself, in a political community. She was, therefore, a secular supporter of the Zionist movement and, as a result, had a perspective on the Jewish state that – perhaps – continues to offer insight.
Recommended Citation
Boyle, Noel, "Secular Zionism: Hannah Arendt, the Holocaust and Jewish Community" (2010). Humanities Symposium. 15.
https://repository.belmont.edu/humanities_symposium/2010/2010/15
Secular Zionism: Hannah Arendt, the Holocaust and Jewish Community
Massey Board Room
German Jewish political philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote “if one is attacked as a Jew, one must defend oneself as a Jew.” As a secular scholar, Arendt never saw herself as a Jew until she was forced to by the Nazis; defending herself as a Jew did not come naturally. However, it was Arendt’s view that part of the origins of totalitarianism lie in the lack of political community among Jews, combined with a universal unwillingness of other nations to defend the human rights of Jews. Because she finds “human rights” unenforceable, she sees the “right to have rights” as more fundamental. What is most important is to be recognized, as oneself, in a political community. She was, therefore, a secular supporter of the Zionist movement and, as a result, had a perspective on the Jewish state that – perhaps – continues to offer insight.
Comments
Convo: CA