The debate about anti-Semites and Jews
The debate about anti-Semites and Jews mostly centers around three key periods in Jean-Paul Sartre's life: before, before, and during World War II.
The issue of Anti-Semites and Jews in Schocken's book
Schocken highlighted the issue about Anti-Semites and Jews in his book, which was published following the defeat of the Nazis and their conflict. The question raised a lot of issues because it focused on recent events, which the majority of individuals acknowledged to have been quite horrible. Sartre's query on whether or not the Anti-Semite produced the Jew was helpful in igniting the personal animosities that had grown.
The rise of the Jews after the end of Nazi activities
Foremost, the thought that Sartre presents is that the Anti-Semite was the reason behind the rise of the Jews. Concurrently, historical facts never fail to note the fact that the Jews came back into the picture after the completion of the activities that the Nazis were carrying out. In accordance with history, the Jews were back because the end to the activities of the Nazis paved way for the Jews to escape from the German hangmen. Since the end to the operations that were the leading cause of the escape of the Jews was due to anti-Semitic actions, Sartre's thought seems to be in the right direction. Also, presents a claim that is worth noting with a lot of concern.
Anti-Semite responding to Jewishness
In the same context, stating that there have been efforts in place trying to prove the fact that the anti-Semite has been responding to Jewishness. The author explains the hard experience that he went through in trying to publish his article since most of the publishing firms were quite reluctant to mention anything relating to the events that had taken place due to the severity in the manner in which they happened to have taken place. Most of the publishers he found in Paris were not willing to speak of anything that had a direct bearing on the recent partakings. This is a clear indication that even though anti-Semitic actions led to the rise of the Jews, the anti-Semite is seen to act in response to Jewishness as a way to trying to contain the situation after it had spilled over.
Describing authenticity and inauthentic Jews
In his text, Sartre happened to have delved into describing authenticity. He gave it the definition of having a lucid and consciousness that is true of the situation in the assumption of the risks and responsibilities which are involved in it. However, later on, after the release of the publication, he mentioned that there was a profound connection between a classless society and authenticity which made a slight alteration of the definition making it seem somewhat vacuous from the initial one that appeared to be formal. This is mainly because it connects and agrees to the concept that an individual would accept or engage in any kind of activity as long as they were clearly conscious of their actions and made efforts to endure the aftermath that would be as a result of them. However, there are scenarios in which some of the Jews would engage in certain activities but not assume full responsibilities for the results that such actions would bring forth thus making them be part of the inauthentic Jews as described by Sartre.
Bibliography
Liebman, Stuart, and ENZO TRAVERSO. "The blindness of the intellectuals: Historicizing Sartre's Anti-Semite and Jew." October no. 87 (Winter99 1999): 73. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 14, 2017).
Marks, Carol, and PIERRE BIRNBAUM. "Sorry afterthoughts on Anti-Semite and Jew." October no. 87 (Winter99 1999): 89. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 14, 2017).
