Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD
1 min readMar 14, 2024

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Thanks for your comments. I share your discomfort with the term "Jewish question." Given that this is an article with an historical dimension, the title attempts to capture some of the (antisemitic) categories through which Jews have been understood across the centuries. If I was writing only about the present, I wouldn't use the term but this is as you say exactly how Jews were discussed in past centuries. Is there a better title that would capture this history of discrimination? Even though I agree with your critique, I would note that during the 19th century, there was also a parallel "woman question." It was obviously misogynist but it was the term used at the time. Finally, and in support of your point, it's important to note that Abram Leon whom I discuss here and elsewhere and whose book in English is called The Jewish Question, actually never called it that in French. The title was chosen by his English publishers and it's a disaster that I hope will be changed someday. I hope it is clear that by using the term "Jewish question" I don't accept its antisemitic foundations.

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Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD
Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD

Written by Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD

Poetry & politics. Free Palestine 🇵🇸. Caucasus & Iran. Writer, Educator, Translator & Editor. rgould.substack.com https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/rebecca-gould

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