“It is easy for Western audiences to ignore the almost incomprehensible fact that Hamas viewed its barbaric murder spree against Israeli civilians as a holy war. Moreover, it was not only an assault on Israelis but also an assault on Judaism itself. No one is better equipped than David Patterson to explore the dual, intertwined threads of the resulting sacrilege. This eminently necessary book is the result.”

— Cary Nelson, Jubilee Professor of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, author of Hate Speech and Academic Freedom.

“A work of formidable intellectual range and moral urgency, David Patterson’s Redemptive Antisemitism after Ten/Seven stands as a landmark contribution to the study of the world’s oldest hatred and its most current manifestations, particularly in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Drawing on an extraordinary breadth of historical, theological, and philosophical sources, Patterson illuminates the deep structures and enduring logic of antisemitism across centuries. His analysis is both erudite and penetrating, uncovering the metaphysical and ideological roots that continue to animate contemporary hostility toward Jews and Judaism. At once rigorously scholarly and profoundly illuminating, this book offers indispensable insight into the historical persistence and evolving forms of antisemitism in our time.”

—Andrew Pessin, Prof. of Philosophy, Connecticut College, and Founding Director of the Institute for the Critical Study of Antizionism

“It is commonly believed that the forces representing various forms of antisemitism came together in their celebration on October 7 and 8, 2023, in response to the most horrific pogrom in the modern world. But the author of this fascinating book shows that the forces of antisemitism which are coming from left and right, Nazis and Marxists, Islamists and progressives — have been brothers since the moment of their birth. All of them proceed from the “axiom” that the Jews (Judaism, Israel) are an evil standing in the way of remaking the world according to their ideology. And therefore antisemitism “is morally required.”

This book is very important and valuable for anyone who wants to understand the nature of antisemitism and fight against it.”

— Natan Sharansky, Chair of the advisory boards of ISGAP (The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy) and CAM (Combat Antisemitism Movement).

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction: Nazis, Jihadists, and the Historical Contexts for Ten/Seven

Chapter One: The Making of Antisemitism Morally Required

Chapter Two: Intersectionality, the Academy, and Antisemitism

Morally Required

Chapter Three: Antisemitism Morally Required of the “Good Jew”

Chapter Four: Critical Race Theory’s Demonization of the Jews as “White”

Chapter Five: Black Lives Matter and Progressive Politics

Chapter Six: The Cancel Culture of Woke Antisemitism

Chapter Seven: The Religion of Redemptive Antisemitism Then and Now

Chapter Eight: What Is to Be Done?

Bibliography

Endnotes

Index