I found Avraham Burg's book exactly what I was looking for. He has made a courageous statement on the negative effects of holocaust memory on the philosophy and ethics of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. He makes the cogent point that it is time to move on from the position of 'narcisstic victimology' (not his term). He points out how Israel/Jews are seeing the Shoah (holocaust) as 'sui generis' and are deprecating some of the other 'holocausts/massacres' that have occurred in recent history. Bauer (2001,p20) states that" "the genocide of the Jews was neither better not worse than any other" In this book Burg is discussing the detrimental effects of this belief in the 'unprecedentness' of the Shoah in both Israel and the Diaspora. Burg makes the important point in the choice of the title of the Hebrew version of his book -"Defeating Hitler" - indeed as another writer (Yehuda Elkana 1988) has stated "this is Hitler's paradoxical and tragic victory" Defeating Hitler is what it is all about. The final chapters link the initial argument to Judaism and he propounds on "A New Judaism" in which the new prayer book (Siddur) says "You chose us with all of the nations" instead of ' You chose us above ll of the nations". I can't speak highly enough of this book. Firstly for the courage to say the unsayable. Secondly for the insightful and skilled writing. Margot Salom

Burg writes that disagreement is the essence of written and oral discussion. He delivers on his promise of controversy staking out positions that contradict almost all the positions of the major U.S. Jewish organizations especially AIPAC. This makes his book stimulating and refreshing stating, for example, that a refugee people (Jews establishing Israel) created another refugee people - the Palestinians. I think his message is weakened by some apparently unresolved issues with his father and by a surprisingly unrealistic idealism that frames his answer to the problems and contradictions he raises. The book is worth reading, however, and will surely anger pro-Israel hard-liners.

A remarkable book, written by one with impeccable Israeli, Jewish credentials, should be read by everyone who cares about this part of the world. Bernice L. Youtz

I would not be inclined to read a book titled "The Holocaust is over." For me, as a Holocaust survivor, the Holocaust has been roaring within me and I shall live with its trauma till my last day. A person who had been torched once remains torched for the rest of his or her life. I had assumed that only anti-Semites or Holocaust deniers could have written a book with such a disturbing title. I was shocked noticing the name of the author, a son of a renowned man whom I had admired. I read the book twice to be sure that I have understood the motives, the reasoning, and the judgment behind the eloquent words The book is very well written. I could identify with some of Burg's philosophical thoughts. His eloquence in depicting the Jewish people's contribution in so many human endeavors, throughout history deserves a high rating for the book. Burg sounds to be a man of dignity. He is educated, knowledgeable, tolerant and a good citizen of Israel. However, for a tormented soul as I am, having experienced the gruesome events during the Holocaust and its aftermath ramifications, I was very disturbed by Burg's assertions. He claims that too much time is devoted to the Shoah studies in Israeli high-schools Perhaps if Burg would have read my autobiography "From A Name to A Number" he would have realized how important it is to perpetuate the Holocaust legacy. How many young students learn from it and benefit from reading about it or listening to a Holocaust survivor. There is handwritten letter (on page 158) from a teenager averring that hearing a Holocaust survivor had saved her life. She is not the only one! Burg has overlooked or perhaps ignored the positive impact that remembering and talking about the Holocaust motivates people, young and old, to be more appreciative of their lot; to cherish freedom. They start to look at life from a new perspective; to understand what prejudice and bigotry may lead to! It changes lives for the better. "The Holocaust is over" misrepresents a material fact. The Holocaust lives within me; it is a part of me! How can it be over? I have physical and mental scars as constant reminders. Burg, is hurting my feelings, he makes me cry. I am tortured by the lack of sensitivity and understanding from a man of intellectual caliber and social statue as he has been. He is expecting respect for his ideas and ideals which imply disrespect for the Holocaust victims. Their last words: " Gedenkt unz", "Zychru otanu"," pamietaj nas"," Ne felejes el bennunket"- remember us, remember the Nazi's cruelty. Simon Dubnow, the renowned Jewish historian from Latvia (killed by the Nazis in December 1941) pleaded (in Yiddish) "shreibt unt farshreibt" Write and record! He felt that those who witnessed the horrific events of the Holocaust have a sacred duty to tell what they had experienced. Burg invalidates what Dubnow considered to be a sacred duty. Most of my audiences, especially in Churches, tell me "God wanted you to survive; you have a mission to share your life story." Mr.Burg negates that mission. Those who attend my presentations (470 so far) cry with me and wishing to stop my nightmares. Mr. Burg seems not to care about my inflictions. Eradicating remembrance of the Holocaust will not diminish prejudice and bigotry; it will just enhance ignorance. Destroying existing Holocaust memorials will just leave a void in the landscape of visual history. I do not know to what extent Burg had hurt the feeling of Holocaust survivors. He definitely did hurt mine. I do not know how many historians or if any Holocaust survivors are able to digest his book; it made me nauseous. In either case the book is probably schismatic! Alter Wiener, author From A Name to A Number, a Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography

Burg, whose Jewish and Israeli pedigrees are impeccable asks Zionists and his country to put aside the Shoah industry and become less like the Nazis and more like univeralist, humanitarian people of the Book. Burg's father served on the first Knesset, Avraham served more that once in the Israeli Cabinet and in the Knesset. This presents an opportunity to hear this modern prophet give permission to rational people to disagree with the colonial character of the new Israel...and not be labeled Anti-Semites.