In its portrayal of Judaism as a worldwide conspiracy dedicated to the destruction of Christian civilization, the
Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
remains one of the most infamous documents ever written. Despite being proven a crude forgery, the pamphlet managed to pervade twentieth-century thinking, often being twisted to suit its handlers' purposes, and to justify the most extreme persecution of the Jews. As recently as 2002, a documentary was aired in Egypt falsely presenting the
Protocols
as fact—and the
is still regarded as a historical document in many other parts of the world.
In
A Rumor About the Jews
, Stephen Eric Bronner systematically debunks the antisemitic assertions made in the
. He also explores its history, its influence on right-wing movements throughout the twentieth century, and the ongoing appeal of bigotry. A work of intellectual history,
takes the reader on a historical journey that provides a new and deeper understanding of an insidious ideology and its broader implications.
Bronner's sharp and penetrating analysis offers new insights into the nature of antisemitism, along with a warning against underestimating the power of this hateful tract.