Introduction: The Jew as legitimation, Jewish-Gentile relations beyond antisemitism and philosemitism

Abstract

The Introduction to the volume The Jew as Legitimation, Jewish-Gentile Relations Beyond Antisemitism and Philosemitism discusses how, from early Christianity up until the present day, references to Jews and Judaism legitimized non-Jewish ideas, values, decisions and exploits. It introduces and analyses the notion of “the Jew as legitimation” and argues that this notion offers a counter-perspective to more traditional understandings on Jewish-Gentile relations explained by concepts such as antisemitism, philosemitism, assimilation, acculturation, and to a lesser degree, mimicry and hybridity. It also argues that the topic is relevant for Jewish history as the usage of the Jew accounts for important dilemmas Jews faced in their relation with their non-Jewish environment.