German-Jewish cultural identity from 1900 to the aftermath of the First World War : a comparative study of Moritz Goldstein, Julius Bab and Ernst Lissauer / Elisabeth Albanis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Albanis, Elisabeth, author.

Series:

Conditio Judaica ; 37.

Conditio Judaica : Studien und Quellen zur deutsch-jüdischen Literaturund Kulturgeschichte, 0941-5866 ; 37

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jews--Germany--Identity.

Jews.

Jews--History--1789-1945.

Goldstein, Moritz, 1880-1977.

Goldstein, Moritz.

Bab, Julius, 1880-1955.

Bab, Julius.

Lissauer, Ernst, 1882-1937.

Lissauer, Ernst.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (318 p.)

Edition:

Reprint 2013

Place of Publication:

Tübingen, [Germany] : Max Niemeyer Verlag, 2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

By illustrating the quintessentially different self-perceptions of three German writers of Jewish background, all born in or around 1880 in Berlin, this book examines a range of German-Jewish identities in a socio-cultural context in Wilhelmine Germany. Moritz Goldstein (1880-1977), the conflict of his dual identity and the interplay between being a German writer and a cultural Zionist is covered first. Particular attention is given to the genesis of his essay 'Deutsch-jüdischer Parnaß' with its call for Jews to vacate their seats in German literary culture. The range of positions unfolding in the debate, following its publication in 'Der Kunstwart' in 1912, serves to illustrate the spectrum of German-Jewish self-definition at the time. In the second part, the writings of Julius Bab (1880-1955) are examined in so far as they shed light on his advocation of a synthesis of 'Deutschtum' and 'Judentum'. The far side of the spectrum of German-Jewish self-definition is represented by Ernst Lissauer (1882-1937), who propagated complete assimilation, considering the Jewish element as an obstacle which had to be overcome on the road to 'Deutschtum'. This study depicts how external cultural and political influences shaped the transformation of their ideas of what it meant to be Jewish in Germany and how they responded to increasing anti-Semitism. By recognising the way in which the individual's cultural identity was constantly refashioned in the face of external challenges, a fuller understanding of the evolving self-perception of German Jews is reached.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter I: The Legal, Socio-Historical, and Political Background of German Jewry 1869-1918

Chapter II: Moritz Goldstein: An Example of the German-Jewish Cultural Dilemma: A Cultural Zionist Stance

Chapter III: Julius Bab: An Example of a ›Prosymbiotic‹ Stance on German-Jewish Culture and Identity

Chapter IV: Ernst Lissauer: An Example of a German Nationalist with a Jewish Background

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9783110965933

3110965933

OCLC:

853241094