From lineage to sexual mores: Examining "Jewish eugenics"

Noam J. Zohar

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

To describe the attitude of the Jewish tradition toward eugenic ideology and policies, it is necessary to examine classical sources from a contemporary perspective. In the heyday of eugenics, Rabbi Max Reichler (1916) enthusiastically endorsed its ideology, supporting his position with numerous traditional texts. Similar views of traditional teachings on "chosen people" and on the importance of lineage have a certain contemporary following as well. The paper argues, however, that these views involve a one-sided reading of the Jewish tradition and, particularly, the suppression of traditional critiques of lineage and of the notion of a "Jewish race.".

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)575-585
Number of pages11
JournalScience in Context
Volume11
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

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