Anti-Semitism

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9 This book differs from other treatments of anti-Semitism for this age group in that its organization is not historical (like Meltzer's Never to Forget: the Jews of the Holocaust Harper, 1976) or geographical (like Arnold and Silverstein's Anti-Semitism Messner 1985) but thematic. Dolan first delineates the various charges that have been made against the Jews, then traces some of the incidents that have stemmed from these claims, from Biblical times to the present. Unfortunately, this abstract approach does not always work. Explanations of some concepts, especially the distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, are clear and objective, but others are muddled and unnecessary. Nor is the scope of this book clearly defined. The text strays into irrelevant distractions (such as an aside about the actual number of Crusades), while ignoring such germane issues as the Dreyfus affair. Finally, Dolan's direct attempts to counter the traces of anti-Semitism his readers are likely to harbor miss the mark. He dismisses the stereotype of the rich Jewish banker as ``silly'' but doesn't provide any concrete demographics to support this rejection. Likewise, it is unfortunate that he uses Nazis as examples when less dramatic situations closer to the readers' experiences would serve just as well. Black-and-white photographs of varing quality add little to the text. Meltzer's work, while far more limited in scope, is unsurpassed in quality. Arnold and Silverstein's book, while it lacks Dolan's objectivity, provides more details about present conditions. Ruth Horowitz, Notre Dame Academy Girls High School Library, Los Angeles