REVIEW - PEOPLE LOVE DEAD JEWS: REPORTS FROM A HAUNTED PRESENT

Dara Horn's collection of essays is a searing and incisive exploration of the ways contemporary society fixates and formulates Jewish death while simultaneously ignoring or actively erasing the lived experiences of Jewish people. Horn's work is not a historical treatise, nor is it a sociological study in the traditional sense. Instead, it is a deeply personal and often darkly humorous, dissecting the problematic and often insidious ways in which the world engages with Jewish history and identity. The provocative title, disturbing for Gentiles and apparently humorous for Jews is designed to activate exploration of her beliefs.

The centrepiece of Horn's thesis is the elevation of the Holocaust and Jewish memorials to such a height that any other 'lesser' antisemitic behaviour is not recognised for what it is. The author highlights the hypocrisy of those who profess to "never forget" the Holocaust while simultaneously ignoring or downplaying contemporary antisemitism.

The immortalisation of famous Jews like Anna Frank holds a similar story. Jewish suffering often is transformed into a commodity profiting tourism while ignoring a meaningful context or education.

The use of Jewish history is used to serve political or ideological purposes and the lack of understanding of Jewish culture leads to the erasure of living Jewish communities and the perpetuation of antisemitism.

While the cause of scapegoating Jews is open for debate, Horn believes society has avoided taking responsibility for managing their own problems and blamed it on Jewish culture, considered as an ancient matriarch. "Then as now, Jews were cast in the role of civilisation's nagging mothers, loathed in life and loved only when they are safely dead. (page 190- 191)

Tablet Magazine captures the essence of Horn's message and invitation: "Jewishness is not a museum, a graveyard, or a heritage site but a lively ongoing conversation at a long table that stretches before and behind us. Come out of hiding, Horn urges us, it’s time to take part in Jewish life."

'People Love Dead Jews' disturbed me, enlightened me, challenged me. An important critical lens to uncover embedded antisemitism and a call to respond appropriately.

David Kerr