Manfred Gerstenfeld

Manfred Gerstenfeld (Hebrew: מנפרד גרסטנפלד‎; born 1937 in Vienna) is an Austrian-born Israeli author[1] and former Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He founded and directed the Center's Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism program.[2]

Biography

Manfred Gerstenfeld was born in Vienna, grew up in Amsterdam where he obtained a master's degree in organic chemistry at Amsterdam University. He also studied economics at what is nowadays Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He has a high school teaching degree in Jewish studies from the Dutch Jewish seminary. In 1999 he obtained a Ph.D. in environmental studies at Amsterdam University. In 1964 he moved to Paris where he became Europe's first financial analyst specializing in the pharmaceutical industry. He moved to Israel in 1968.[3] There he became the managing director of an economic consultancy firm partly owned by Israel's then-largest bank Bank Leumi. He was an academic reserve officer in the Israeli Army (IDF). Gerstenfeld was a board member of one of Israel's largest companies, the Israel Corporation and several other Israeli companies.

In the opinion of Ha'aretz journalist Anshel Pfeffer, writing in 2013, Gerstenfeld 'is without doubt the greatest authority on anti-Semitism today.'[4] Isi Leibler, the former chairman of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress, wrote in the Jerusalem Post in 2015: "Gerstenfeld would today...be considered the most qualified analyst of contemporary anti-Semitism with a focus on anti-Israelism." Gerstenfeld was an editor of The Jewish Political Studies Review, co-publisher of the Jerusalem Letter/Viewpoints, Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism and Changing Jewish Communities and a member of the council of the Foundation for Research of Dutch Jewry, of which he was formerly the vice-chairman. He was chairman of the Board of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a Jerusalem based think tank, from 2000 until 2012, where he headed the Institute for Jewish Global Affairs. He is the 2012 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Journal for the Study of Antisemitism. In 2015, he received the International Leadership Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center. In 2019, Gerstenfeld received the International Lion of Judah Award from the Canadian Institute of Jewish Research in recognition of him as the leading international scholar on contemporary antisemitism.[5]

Positions on anti-semitism

Europe

Extrapolating from a 2011 study that showed respondents agreed at a high rate with the statement of "Israel is carrying out a war of extermination against the Palestinians", Gerstenfeld concluded that some 150 million, out of 400 million, EU citizens espouse a view that demonizes Israel. According to Gerstenfeld, Holocaust inversion is a mainstream phenomena in the European Union.[6]

Norway

Norway has a population of approximately 700 Jews.[7] Gerstenfeld argues that it is a major purveyor of anti-Semitism.[8] and has posted on his blog an interview with Hanne Nabintu Herland which claims that Norway is the most anti-Semitic country in the West.[9]

In 2009, The Jerusalem Post carried a report asserting there was an increase in Norwegian antisemitism and cited a protest led by Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen in which chants of "Death to the Jews!" were heard. Gerstenfeld said that "It gets deep at the heart of Norway's emotional anti-Semitism. The current wave of anti-Semitism shows what people have been holding inside them". [7] Norway's TV 2 subsequently reported that Gerstenfeld said "Norwegians are a barbaric and unintelligent people".[10][11] Gerstenfeld also accused Erik Fosse and Mads Gilbert, doctors who served in Gazan hospitals during the 2008-2009 War between Israel and the Gaza Strip, of financing Hamas.[12]

Holocaust survivor Imre Hercz criticized Gerstenfeld's "propaganda war against Norway", querying his objectivity and noting that Gerstenfeld had visited Norway only once at that time.[10][13] When Gerstenfeld was questioned by Jewish community leader Anne Sender about the effect his book about Norwegian Anti-Semitism might have on the Jewish minority in the country, he is reported as replying," I couldnt care less about the Jewish Community in Norway, all I care about is to get your Jens, Jonas and Kristin off the back of my Prime Minister".[14]

In 2011 Gerstenfeld warned that an investigation into antisemitism in Norway by the Center for Studies of the Holocaust and Religious Minorities was likely to minimize the extent of the problem in Norway and that the center would lose credibility. In response, Odd-Bjørn Fure, genocide authority and the director of the center, said that Gerstenfeld "is not worth arguing against. I prefer to deal with serious people. We do not take this person seriously."[15]

After three Norwegian universities declined an offer by Alan Dershowitz (who agreed to waive his fees for the occasion) to deliver lectures on Israel, Gerstenfeld claimed that Norway's elite is permeated with Israel-haters.[16] Kristina Fumes writing in Ynet, responded that the topic of Scandinavian anti-Semitism in Israel's English-language media was being hijacked by extremists and that studies show Norway ranks between England and Holland. While 11% of Norwegians displayed anti-semitic attitudes, 92% thought children should be taught about the Shoah.[17] According to Gerstenfeld, the study itself is flawed due to the lack of inclusion of Muslim respondents and that while the English conclusions stated that a "limited" degree of antisemitism similar to the UK exists, the study's own data states that 38% consider Israeli actions as similar to Nazi Germany, which he takes to be an example of Holocaust inversion and, if so, would be antisemitic according to the Working Definition of Antisemitism. By his own extrapolation Gerstenfeld claims that Norway has approximately 1.5 million anti-Semites, whom he defines as 'ideological criminals'.[18]

Progressive social movements

In 2019, Manfred Gerstenfeld warned against growing anti-semitism infesting what he called "ideological" movements, including the human rights movement, feminism, the LGBTQ community, postcolonialism, intersectionality, “extreme veganism,” the anti-nuclear movement, and the climate movement.[3]

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in academia

Against academics who support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel, Gerstenfeld has recommended a tactic of professionally discrediting them by publicizing flaws such as plagiarism in their academic works, rather than engaging them in political debates.[3]

Jews who criticize Israel

Gerstenfeld has denounced Jews who criticize Israel, in particular US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, as "masochists" and "useful idiots for Israel’s enemies".[3]

Publications

Books

Articles

Book reviews by Manfred Gerstenfeld
gollark: Clearly, it's America which is [REDACTED]ing up America.
gollark: Good, walls are meant to not shift.
gollark: You would probably be incinerated or something.
gollark: That seems very stupid.
gollark: Why would it be *their* fault if some idiot climbed it?

References
  1. Fischer, Stefan; Grohmann, Marianne (2010). Weisheit und Schöpfung: Festschrift für James Alfred Loader zum 65. Geburtstag. Peter Lang. pp. 238–. ISBN 978-3-631-59570-1. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  2. "Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld - Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs". Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs.
  3. Arnold, Janice; Reporter, Staff (2019-12-04). "Aggressive policy against academic BDS proposed by expert". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  4. Anshel Pfeffer, 'How to Be a Limmud Snob: A Guide to Navigating the Ultimate Jewish Conference,' Haaretz 22 December 2013.
  5. Arnold, Janice (December 15, 2019). "AGGRESSIVE POLICY AGAINST ACADEMIC BDS PROPOSED BY EXPERT". The Canadian Jewish News.
  6. Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism: The Dynamics of Delegitimization, chapter by Alan Johnson, page 176
  7. Maya Spitzer, Norway: Increased anti-Semitism has local Jews anxious, Jerusalem Post, 30 March 2009
  8. Kristina Furnes, 'Norway doesn’t hate Jews: Presenting Norway as major purveyor of anti-Semitism paints false, exaggerated picture,' Ynet 26 June 2011
  9. Manfred Gerstenfeld, 'Norway: The Most Anti-Semitic Country in the West,' (blog) 23 July 2015.
  10. Israelsk avis: Kristin Halvorsen sa «Død over jødene!», Dagbladet
  11. - Nordmenn er et barbarisk og uintelligent folkeferd, Dagbladet
  12. Martha J. Smith, Comfort Ye My People: the Church's Mandate Toward Israel and the Jewish People, WestBow Press, 2012 ISBN 978-1-449-76015-1 p.127
  13. Philip Weiss 'Anatomy of an anti-Semitic falsehood: ‘Jerusalem Post’ said Norway’s Finance Minister led chant, ‘Death to the Jews!’, Mondoweiss 31 March 2009.
  14. Anne Sender 'Gode og mindre gode venner,' Vårt Land 23 September 2013.
  15. "Frykter for undersøkelsens troverdighet", Norge idag, 25 February 2011.
  16. Manfred Gerstenfeld, Something rotten in Norway Ynet 23 March 2011
  17. Fristina Fumes, Norway doesn’t hate Jews Ynet 20 June 2012
  18. Norway's Holocaust inverters, Manfred Gerstenfeld, Ynet, 6 December 2012
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