Norman H. Finkelstein

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Norman H. Finkelstein (1941-2024) was an American author and educator whose books Heeding the Call and Forged in Freedom won National Jewish Book Awards in the Children's Literature category. His 2024 book Saying No To Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America was said by Kathleen Gianni of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle to "open a necessary dialogue about antisemitism in the US by providing context as well as solutions." [1]

Contents

Career

Finkelstein earned his Master's degree from Boston University and taught Jewish history at Hebrew College. [2] Finkelstein's book Remember Not to Forget: A Memory of the Holocaust expressed his admiration for the creation of the Jewish state as a haven from persecution. [3]

Finkelstein’s 1999 book The Way Things Never Were aimed to debunk the popular notion that the 1950's and 60's were a golden time. To that end, Finkelstein cited the polio epidemic, strip-mining, pollution, segregation, cold war school drills, ubiquitous smoking and bad food.  The New York Times chided Finkelstein’s failure to appreciate the “fabled” Route 66 and disputed his assertion that nostalgia had labeled the 1950’s a healthier era. [4]

Kirkus Reviews described Finkelstein's 2024 book Saying No To Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America as "a brief, even-toned overview of American antisemitism". [5] Publisher’s Weekly praised the book’s “comprehensive, accessible, and nuanced” account of antisemitism in America, while commenting that its suggestions for combating antisemitism were familiar strategies, namely to “engage allies” and hold elected officials accountable. [6] Foreword magazine described the book as revealing, sobering and empowering, with occasional strays into whataboutism. [7] The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle noted that some readers “will undoubtedly be shocked and disturbed” by the book’s content, and elaborated on Finkelstein’s strategies for combating antisemitism: defining and identifying hate, improving education, showing Jewish pride, and holding teaching institutions accountable. [1]

Books

Children's books

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 Gianni, Kathleen (2024-07-24). "'Saying No to Hate' delivers essential insights and strategies". The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  2. ↑ Maughan, Shannon (2024-01-11). "Obituary: Norman H. Finkelstein". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ↑ Popper, Nathaniel (2004-05-28). "Two Finkelsteins Share a Name But Not a Political Perspective". The Forward. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ↑ Stansell, Christine (1999-05-16). "Those Weren't the Days". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  5. ↑ Finkelstein, Norman H. (2024-05-01). "SAYING NO TO HATE". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  6. ↑ "Saying No to Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America by Norman H Finkelstein". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. ↑ Gonzalez, Eileen (2024-05-01). "Review of Saying No to Hate". Foreword Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  8. ↑ Reviews of Saying No to Hate:
  9. ↑ "American Jewish History: A JPS Guide by Norman H. Finkelstein". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  10. ↑ Finkelstein, Norman H. (2024-02-20). "AMAZING ABE". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  11. ↑ Finkelstein, Norman H. (2021-06-08). "THE SHELTER AND THE FENCE". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  12. ↑ Schwartz, Penny (2021-07-01). "A Holocaust tale with a happy ending". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  13. ↑ "Interview with Norman H. Finkelstein, author of THE SHELTER AND THE FENCE". Jewish Books For Kids…and More!. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  14. ↑ Finkelstein, Norman H. (2019-06-11). "UNION MADE". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  15. ↑ "Other 1492: Jewish Settlement in the New World by Norman H. Finkelstein". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  16. ↑ "CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Bookshelf". The New York Times. 1990-02-25. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  17. ↑ Reviews of The Way Things Never Were:
  18. ↑ Finkelstein, Norman H. (1997-04-14). "WITH HEROIC TRUTH". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  19. ↑ "Golden Kite Awards". SCBWI. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  20. 1 2 "Past Winners". Jewish Book Council. 2022-02-11. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  21. ↑ "Forged in Freedom: Shaping the Jewish-American Experience". Home. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
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