Open AccessPhilo-Semitism in Serbia 1940 and after
Author(s) -
David Pickus
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
sociologija
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.174
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 2406-0712
pISSN - 0038-0318
DOI - 10.2298/soc0804433p
Subject(s) - serbian , friendship , conviction , judaism , identity (music) , meaning (existential) , religious studies , sociology , philosophy , political science , law , aesthetics , theology , epistemology , social science , linguistics
This paper analyses Serbian philo-Semitism, or friendship toward and appreciation of the Jews. Its primary focus is on Naši Jevreji, an anthology of statements supporting the Jews that appeared in 1940. It also examines the recurrence of philo-Semitic themes in post World War Two writings. The main arguments is that philo-Semitism played (and plays) an instrumental role in the formation of modern Serbian identity. In particular, expressions of warmth and friendship toward Serbian Jews served to vindicate a conviction that Serbia was a virtuous and generous nation. At the same time, philo-Semitic discourse carried its own ambiguities with it, both in regard to Serbian attitudes toward Jews in general, as well as conflicting Jewish responses to the friendship offered. This paper also studies these ambiguities, and concludes with an evaluation of the meaning of Serbian philo-Semitism in general