New book by Gauss: criticism of left-wing hatred of Jews

Salzburg ORF, February 11, 2025

German Original: https://salzburg.orf.at/stories/3292853/

In his new book “Essays against the Zeitgeist and hatred of Jews”, the Salzburg writer Karl-Markus Gauss criticizes various actors in art, culture and at universities who locate themselves politically “left” and yet would spread anti-Semitism and massive propaganda against Judaism.

“Hatred of Jews has been driven far out into society by digital pulpit preachers who have hijacked important and legitimate causes such as anti-imperialism, anti-racism, and anti-colonialism.” Karl-Markus Gauss formulates this literal reproach in “Guilt of Ignorance”, the central text in his volume of essays against the zeitgeist and hatred of Jews, which was officially released on Tuesday.

Gauß against solidarity with Hamas murderers

Gauß deals, among other things, with the pro-Palestinian solidarity rallies that took place in the art scene and at universities immediately after the Hamas massacre:

“They know nothing, that's what makes them so unflappable. They have no idea, and that's where they get their conviction from. Their ignorance cannot be forgiven, because it is self-inflicted. These are not children from socially disadvantaged families, they have not broken off their schooling, these are students who have made it to a highly prestigious academy, and these fools from good homes are on their way to representing tomorrow's German society.”

Reversal of perpetrator-victim roles

Gauss was stunned not only by the reversal of the roles of perpetrator and victim that was practiced in this context (“The Jews were not declared perpetrators when they were massacred, but because they were massacred. Because nothing fuels hatred of Jews more than their persecution.”), but also by the composition of the groups that took part:

“It is said that only education can help against anti-Semitism. But that is wrong. Among the high-ranking members of the SS who propagated racial fanaticism and planned its implementation in the Shoa, there were numerous academics. The Austrian historian and cultural philosopher Friedrich Heer once described the horror that seized him when he was led to the Gestapo headquarters in Vienna for interrogation and walked along corridors where the names of high-ranking SS officials with doctorates and professorships were posted on the doors.

Has war long since also reigned in the private sphere?

The Salzburg author, publicist and essayist has added some articles already published in newspapers and magazines to his “ungeordneten Aufzeichnungen 2023/2024” (Disordered Notes 2023/2024).

Gauß also addresses the unsettling upheavals and failed friendships that extend into the private sphere: “It's war. I notice it in the sudden arguments I get into with some acquaintances, and in which we quickly become spiteful towards each other.”

In the new book, he also deals with Jean Améry and Boris Pahor, Theodor Herzl or Leopold Weiss and Eugen Hoeflich, “two Viennese high school students in Palestine”. In addition, there are texts being published for the first time, such as his speech given in May 2023 at the 78th liberation celebration of the Ebensee concentration camp or his acceptance speech for the Jean Améry Prize for International Essay Writing.

Accusation against colleague Gessen: “Reckless comparison”

Gauß has received many prizes in his career – but there is one he would prefer to give back, he hints: the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding, which he received in 2021. The reason for this is a comparison made by the Russian-American essayist Masha Gessen, who received the prize three years before him: she compared the terrorist attack by Hamas with the uprising of the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. “I take personal umbrage at Masha Gessen for this nefarious comparison.”

Presentations in Vienna and Salzburg

Gauss will present his new book at the Jewish Museum in Vienna on February 20th, starting at 6:30 p.m. On February 27th, he will be at the City Library in his native Salzburg, where the event will begin at 8:00 p.m. in the Panorama Bar.

Bibliography:

Karl-Markus Gauß: “Schuldhafte Unwissenheit. Essays wider Zeitgeist und Judenhass”, Czernin Verlag, 128 pages.