Dr. Dara Horn is the author of eight books, including People Love Dead Jews, and her newest book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living.
Dara is a scholar of Hebrew and Yiddish literature, with a doctorate from Harvard. She’s taught at Harvard, Sarah Lawrence, and Yeshiva University. She was named one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists, and she has won the National Jewish Book Award three times.
Her work keeps returning to a hard question: why the world is so fluent in Jewish death, and so uneasy with Jewish life. After People Love Dead Jews, thousands of readers asked her for a solution. Her new book is her answer — part history, part investigation, and part argument that antisemitism is a lie that can be named, pointed out and fought. And she encourages us not to bend to tyrants, and be brave in speaking the truth.
She is also the founder of The Tell Institute, and the creator of the podcast Adventures with Dead Jews.
With us today is also my co host, Dr. Leif Knutsen. Leif is an economist and philologist with a background as a consultant and advisor, and holds a doctorate in engineering science. Leif has been published in both Norwegian and international media, including in The Times of Israel
In this conversation, Dr. Dara Horn discusses her literary journey and the themes of her books, particularly focusing on the perception of Jewish life and death in society.
She explores the impact of antisemitism, the institutional responses to it, and the importance of Jewish identity and agency. Dr. Horn defines antisemitism as a lie used to gain power and emphasizes the anti-tyrannical nature of Jewish civilization.
The discussion also touches on the criticism of Israel and the silencing of dissent, highlighting the reality of antisemitism today. We talk about the importance of curiosity in combating hate, and the historical resilience of the Jewish community. Dr. Horn famously says, and has been quoted by many in that: "The opposite of hatred isn't love or empathy, it's curiosity".
She emphasizes the need for inquiry and understanding over blind acceptance of narratives, and highlights the roles of literacy, community, and memory in Jewish survival. The discussion also touches on the responsibilities of individuals to resist tyranny and dissent against oppressive ideologies.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dara Horn and Her Work
03:01 People Love Dead Jews
05:57 The Impact of Anti-Semitism and Institutional Responses
09:02 Understanding Jewish Identity and Agency
11:49 The Final Solution to the Jewish Question
14:52 Defining Anti-Semitism
18:12 Engaging with the World
20:45 The Anti-Tyrannical Nature of jews
23:56 Criticism of Israel and Silencing of Dissent
27:03 The Reality of Anti-Semitism Today
32:11 The Bogus Show Trial
35:36 Curiosity vs. Hate
40:44 Literacy, Community, and Memory
46:40 The Time Machine of Jewish History
50:11 Dissenting
55:15 The Responsibility to Resist Tyranny
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