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Harper Lee and the Jews

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Published: 23 February 2016

Last updated: 4 March 2024

Harper Lee’s Philo-Semitism – Richard D Zelin – The Times of Israel 20.02.16
‘Hitler is the government,’ said Miss Gates. ‘That’s the difference between America and Germany. We are a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. There are no better people in the world than the Jews, and why Hitler doesn’t think so is a mystery to me. They contribute to every society they live in. You’ll learn that the Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history. Time for arithmetic, children.’
Harper Lee’s death on 19 February, at the age of 89, is a time to revisit reflections on her novels and legacy.
Read op-ed here

And see:
Did Harper Lee whitewash the Jewish past? – Eric Herschthal – The Jewish Week 12.07.10

Harper Lee's Jewish lessons – Alexandra Levine – The Forward 11.07.15
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