Good Jews
Philosemitism in Europe since the Holocaust

The first investigation of philosemitism in post-Holocaust Europe, exploring evolving attitudes towards Jews, Judaism and Jewishness.

Gerard Daniel Cohen (Author)

9781009370912, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 August 2025

296 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.592 kg

'This first comprehensive analysis of European attitudes of toward Jews deftly explains why widespread prewar antisemitic sentiments transformed after the Holocaust into philosemitism, anti-antisemitism, and growing support for Israel. A crucial and timely contribution at a time of controversy over the uses and abuses of antisemitism and anti-Zionism.' Omer Bartov, author of Genocide, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine: First-Person History in Times of Crisis

The Holocaust is now widely recognized as a central event in twentieth-century Europe. But how did the genocide of the Jews affect European attitudes towards Jews, Judaism and Jewishness after 1945? While many histories of antisemitism exist, Good Jews offers an investigation of philosemitism – defined as a politics of post-Holocaust friendship. Gerard Daniel Cohen presents a critical exploration of the languages of philosemitism in mainstream European politics and culture from 1945 to the present day, with particular emphasis on Germany and France. Within this framework Cohen explores how the 'Jewish question', or the problem of Jewish difference and incorporation in Western countries during the postwar decades, has been distinctively foregrounded in the language of philosemitism. Ultimately, Good Jews demonstrates that philosemitic Europe is not an idealised love story, but a reflection of European attitudes towards Jews from the Holocaust to the present.

1. 'Philosemitic Europe': A Contradiction in Terms?
2. From Antisemitism to Tactical Philosemitism (1945–1960)
3. Genesis of a Struggle: Anti-Antisemitism (1945–1948)
4. From Humanism to Israelophilia (1948–1967)
5. Birth Pangs: 'Judeo-Christian Europe' (1945–1965)
6. The Long 1960s and the Jews (1960–1980)
7. Archetypal Friends: Euro-Philosemitism (1980–2020)
Epilogue: New Philosemitism and Its Critics: From the Turn of the 21st Century to October 7th, 2023
Index.

Subject Areas: European history [HBJD]