The People of the Book

September 26, 2011
Historian and professor emeritus Himmelfarb (The Jewish Odyssey of George Eliot) presents a compelling counter-story to the popular topic of anti-Semitism by focusing on philosemitism, an ambiguous term that is used here to describe England’s historical high regard for Jews and Judaism. This brief yet ambitious social-historical essay highlights the central ideas and events in the history of English philosemitism, from the readmission of the Jews to England in the 17th century (after their expulsion in 1290), to Macaulay arguing for the admission of Jews as members of parliament in the 19th century, through the establishment of the state of Israel in the 20th. Himmelfarb explains that, long before the Holocaust, Zionism and the return of Jews to Israel (then known as Palestine) inspired Christians as well as Jews. In the case of Lord Balfour, Himmelfarb writes, his commitment to Zionism grew out of his immersion in the Old Testament and Jewish philosophy. She concludes her analysis with a discussion of Winston Churchill’s admiration for Jews and Judaism and explains how his advocacy helped foster the creation of the Jewish state. An erudite appraisal of novels by Walter Scott, Benjamin Disraeli, and George Eliot adds a literary context to this fascinating and often overlooked history.