The Elie Wiesel Living Archive

at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

The State of World Jewry 1993

A Cheshbon Nefesh, Taking Stock: Resurgent Antisemitism, Young Jews Choosing To Be Jewish, Embracing Tradition Brings Isaiah's Moral Bearing

Dec 03, 1992

It is an occasion for a cheshbon nefesh, a time to make an accounting concerning Anti-Semitism, Eastern Europe, Israel, America, Yugoslavia. My credo remains: Everything Jewish has priority. But this is not an exclusive claim. A Jew’s horizons must include others. Hence my trip to Yugoslavia and Serbia, if only to demonstrate the importance of listening to others. Unfortunately, the promise shown by the break up of communism in 1989 in Eastern Europe and Germany has revealed resurgent antisemitism and the failure of democracy. In contrast circumstances in Israel which in 1989 looked dim now show promise, particularly with the Russian and Ethopian immigration. We hope the new leaders will not only be Israelis but also Jewish. Statistics in America underscore why Jews shouldn’t count. But young Jews in America are returning. Choice is the main issue: Sartre’s book, Anti-Semite and Jew, was mistaken. It is not the antisemite that makes a Jew Jewish. It is rather the Jew who everyday chooses to be Jewish. A half-dozen moderated questions included: Can Jewish morality be passed on to future generations outside of Orthodox religious practice? The answer: No, not really. Such practice implies a kind of mystical quest which moves every Jew to identify himself or herself with multitudes of sages and disciples, with multitudes of creative spirits. What a privilege it is to be a descendant of Isaiah! And when we repeat chazon Yeshayahu, that means we are Isaiah’s descendants, and we, therefore, pass on the morality that was his to this generation.

Selected Quotes:
Subthemes:
1) Kierkegaard’s Laundry: What are Jews Selling
2) Cheshbon Nefesh/A Reckoning of Jewish Life Worldwide
3) My Credo: Everything Jewish has Priority
4) But a Jew’s Horizons Must Include Others:
5) Hence Travel to Yugoslavia and Serbia
6) Resurgent Antisemitism in Eastern Europe and Germany: Failure of Democracy in this Respect
7) In Contrast, Israel is Stronger, Especially Concerning Emigrating Russians and Ethiopians
8) America: Assimilation is Discouraging
9) But Young Jews are Returning
10) Choice: Contra Sartre, A Jew is the One Who Chooses to be Jewish
11) What Happens, Happens to Jews First: The Warsaw Ghetto, Then Warsaw
12) Violence and Racism In/From the Jewish Community
13) Antisemitism without Jews: Japan, Poland
14) We are Responsible for Our Own Memory: Learn More, Study More, Remember
15) I Have Faith in the Jewish Community: the Grandchildren of Communist Leaders Returning to Judaism
16) Post Lecture Audience Questions Include:
Is There a Jewish Moral Path Outside of Orthodoxy? EW: No
Influence of Islamic Fanaticism
President Bill Clinton and the US-Israel Relations
Pollard Case
Survival in Judaism in Eastern Europe
American Jews’ Responsibility to Yugoslavia
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