Polish-Jewish Relations: 1,300 Keyword-Phrase-Indexed Book Reviews (by Jan Peczkis)

The Jew at Home, Impressions of a Summer and Autumn Spent with Him .., by Joseph Pennell. 1892

A Middle View (Judeorealist View) of the Polish Jew and His Conduct

Author Joseph Pennell was an Englishman who visited Partition-era Poland and adjacent areas of Eastern Europe. My review is based on the original 1892 edition.

A RARE, OBJECTIVE, JUDEOREALIST ANALYSIS OF JEWS

Nowadays, the Jew is portrayed exclusively as the victim. Or–occasionally–he is blamed for everything. Neither extreme tells the whole story and both the exculpatory and inculpatory views of Jews can validly coexist. Thus, Pennell comments, “I am neither a Jew hater nor a Jew lover. I can sympathize with the oppressed Jews of Russia, and also with the Hungarians who are thoroughly sick of those they already have, and who are doing all they can to keep from importing any more.” (p. 7).

JEWS SELL TRINKETS TO POLISH PEASANTS

Pennell writes, “The weekly market was held while I was in Brody…For, if in Europe there have been now and then great Jewish musicians, great Jewish poets and artists, it is no less true that the average Jew all over the southeastern part of the Continent is doing his best to crush out all artistic sense in the peasants by supplanting their really good handiwork with the vilest machine-made trash that he can procure.” (p. 56).

PUSHY JEWISH SELLING IN ACTION

In describing his firsthand impressions of the Jews of Austrian-ruled Poland, Pennell comments, “The Jew with clothes to sell is the same the world over. He rushes out and assails every one who passes in Brody, as in Whitechapel or New York. For a man whose sole aim in life is buying and selling, his methods are most unbusiness-like and repulsive.” (p. 59).