Portraits of Polite, Good-Mannered, and Civilized Anti-Semites

Description

The remark that an anti-Semite is “someone who hates Jews more than is absolutely necessary” is attributed to Sir Isaiah Berlin. Then, what does more than is absolutely necessary mean? And who measures it?
This book is an original stab at a stimulating answer. The stories, mostly about experiences with prejudice against Jews, offer examples illustrating what is too much for a Jewish kid, adult or senior citizen. The anti-Semites portrayed in Livni’s stories are neither Nazis nor white supremacists. They are nice, polite, and educated people; they work, pay taxes, mortgage, healthcare and other bills. The book is not another political investigation about anti-Semitism; it doesn’t analyze its features, its history, and its root causes. The first five chapters take place in Communist Romania. The author met there the first anti-Semite, a little boy like himself, a role model, and a best friend. He taught the author that Jews are cowards. Subsequent episodes invite the reader to bear witness to similar occurrences in Israel, Belgium, Lebanon, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, and Canada.