Hannah Trager's Gentile Problem

[Karl Radl]

Hannah Trager's Gentile Problem

Hannah Trager, a twentieth century jewish communal activist in Palestine, (1) is best known for the product of a small but inordinately valuable 1926 account of jewish practices in Palestine in 1870s - 1880s called ‘Pictures of Jewish Home-Life Fifty Years Ago’. (2) As an unusual first-hand account of the private and communal practices and ideas of the jews in Palestine before Zionism. Trager’s work is immensely valuable as a scholarly point of reference and a friendly witness for specific practices and ideas as they existed at that time in that locale among the jews.

‘Pictures of Jewish Home-Life’ however is also a source of several tell-tale statements by Trager that provide yet more evidence of the animus towards non-jews held by jews.

A good example of which Trager’s comment in the second chapter that a family were referred to as ‘Shiksas’ (i.e. devilish non-jewish women who deliberately lead other jews astray), because they did not recite traditional blessings over their food before they ate (thus leading other believing jews into error just like the evil non-jewish temptresses of jewish cultural lore).

This clearly indicates that non-jews (as referred to by the derogatory term ‘shiksas’) are regarded by the religious jews (probably of either the Orthodox or the ultra-Orthodox persuasion) as being evil creatures who exist to tempt and persecute jews into irreligious behaviour with their various and nefarious wiles.

Further evidence of this anti-gentile belief system is found in Trager’s assertion in chapter five that Arabs and Turks (as non-jews) are prone to try and rape jewish girls. An idea which as it happens finds direct confirmation in the statements of the Mishnah on the subject of why non-jews are to be considered utterly evil and avoided at all costs (i.e. because they long to rape jewish women/molest jewish-owned animals etc). (3)

Such a statement might be taken, and probably has, as indicating the ‘persecution’ of jews by Muslims in Palestine in the mid to late nineteenth century, but this is revealed as a lie when we note that in chapter eight. Trager records that jews preferred to use Muslim doctors and medical services rather than Christian equivalents as they loathed Christianity far more than they did Islam.

The basis of this detestation of non-jews by jews is indicated when Trager states in the second chapter of ‘Pictures of Jewish Home-life’ that jews were healthier than all other inhabitants of Palestine and were superior to them by dint of their habits (largely due passing their water through unbleached cotton [calico] before drinking it). This sense of biological superiority was recorded rather adroitly by the contemporary liberal jewish author Rabbi Lewis Browne (4) as well as his Zionist Orthodox contemporary Rabbi Arthur Cohn. (5)

So it is therefore reasonable to assert that Trager’s assertion of the jewish self-description of superiority (and ascription of inferiority to non-jews) is not just the assertion of one source, but actually the prevailing opinion of the jews in Palestine in mid-late nineteenth century, which necessarily throws useful light on the formative attitudes of the early Zionists in that country.

References

(1) On Trager’s life and importance as a source see: http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/...-trager-hannah
(2) Hannah Trager, 1926, ‘Pictures of Jewish Home-Life Fifty Years Ago’, 1st Edition, Bloch: New York
(3) Cf. Babylonian Talmud, Aboda Zarah 2:1; confirmed by Jacob Neusner, 2004, ‘Making God’s Word Work: A Guide to the Mishnah’, 1st Edition, Continuum: New York, p. 74
(4) Lewis Browne, 1930, ‘The Story of the Jews’, 1st Edition, MacMillan: New York
(5) Arthur Cohn, 1972, ‘Israel’s Teachings and Destiny: Sermons, Studies and Essays’, 1st Edition, Ahron Press: New York

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This was originally published at the following address: http://semiticcontroversies.blogspot...e-problem.html