Yossi Kugler

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Dr. Yossi Kugler is a researcher at Yad Vashem's International School for Holocaust Studies, where he develops innovative educational materials on the Holocaust and antisemitism, including the online course "Antisemitism: From Its Origins to the Present." He holds a bachelor's degree in General History and Political Science and a master's degree in General History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He completed his PhD at the School of Jewish Studies and Archaeology at Tel Aviv University in 2022, focusing on Israeli society's attitudes toward antisemitism between 1948 and 1987. In 2024, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yad Vashem's International Institute for Holocaust Research.

Since completing his doctorate, Dr. Kugler has focused on studying the perspectives of prominent Israeli figures on antisemitism, including David Ben-Gurion, Yehezkel Kaufmann, Yehoshafat Harkabi, and A.B. Yehoshua. Additionally, he examines Israeli society's attitudes toward the role of Poles during the Holocaust. His articles are slated for publication in Zmanim, HaMizrach HeChadash (The New East), and Israel Affairs.

Dr. Kugler’s work combines rigorous historical research with applied educational development and meaningful contributions to public discourse. He publishes in academic journals and popular media and has participated in numerous international conferences, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and bridging the past with the present.

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Dafna Dolinko

Armin Lange

University of Vienna

Anthony McElligott

University of Limerick

Aomar Boum

University of California, Los Angeles

Joëlle Allouche

Gunther Jikeli

Indiana University

Juliane Wetzel

Technical University of Berlin

sara valentina di palma

University of Siena / Università di Siena

Joëlle Allouche-benayoun

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Bensoussan Georges

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Book Reviews by Yossi Kugler

Review of Shalom Lappin, The New Antisemitism: The Resurgence of an Ancient Hatred in the Modern World

Jewish Culture and History, 2024

This review examines Shalom Lappin's The New Antisemitism (Polity Press, 2024), which explores co... more This review examines Shalom Lappin's The New Antisemitism (Polity Press, 2024), which explores contemporary antisemitism across the far left, far right, and political Islam. The book is praised for its timeliness, accessibility, and relevance, offering historical context and practical solutions for liberal Jews facing rising hostility. While commended for its conciseness and broad appeal, the review critiques its economic explanations and limited engagement with broader historical debates. Despite these gaps, the book succeeds in sparking meaningful discussion and providing an important introduction to the complexities of modern antisemitism.

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Papers by Yossi Kugler

Between Rhetoric and History: Ben-Gurion and the Comparison of Arabs to Nazis (in Hebrew)

Muza, 2024

Various scholars have noted inconsistencies in David Ben-Gurion's leadership, particularly betwee... more Various scholars have noted inconsistencies in David Ben-Gurion's leadership, particularly between his public declarations and his actions, and between his actual beliefs and the public's perceptions of those beliefs. This article delves deeper into these discrepancies by examining Ben-Gurion's comparisons of the Arab public and their leaders to Nazis and Hitler. Through an analysis of Ben-Gurion's rhetoric, viewed in the context of his Zionist beliefs and compared to Menachem Begin's similar discourse, it becomes evident that a significant gap existed between Ben-Gurion and the public's understanding. Often, when Ben-Gurion referred to someone as a 'Nazi,' he was metaphorically labeling them as 'Fascists,' drawing from the anti-Fascist repertoire of the 1930s. However, this nuance was lost on the Israeli public, and this rhetoric, to some extent, shaped the prevailing perception in Israeli society, portraying many Arabs as antisemites and even as Nazis.

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The Attitudes of Israeli Society towards Antisemitism, 1948-1987 (Abstract of PhD Dissertation, in Hebrew)

Kesher, 2024

This article presents the abstract of a PhD dissertation titled “The Attitudes of Israeli Society... more This article presents the abstract of a PhD dissertation titled “The Attitudes of Israeli Society towards Antisemitism, 1948-1987.” The dissertation examines the evolving attitudes of Israeli society towards antisemitism during the formative decades of the state. It argues that significant shifts in perceptions occurred prior to the Six-Day War of 1967, challenging the traditional assumption that these changes were a result of the war. The research explores key events, public discourse, and the role of Israeli leaders in shaping these attitudes. By analyzing archival materials, press coverage, and political statements, the study sheds light on how Israeli society navigated the tension between its Zionist identity and its response to global antisemitism.

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“’Antisemitism from Its Origins to the Present’: An Online Video Course by Yad Vashem”, in Confronting Antisemitism from Perspectives of Philosophy and Social Sciences (ed. By Armin Lange, Kerstin Mayerhofer, Dina Porat, and Lawrence H. Schiffman, De Gruyter, 2021, pp. 393-401.

Confronting Antisemitism from Perspectives of Philosophy and Social Sciences, 2021

This article, published four years ago as part of the multi-volume work An End to Antisemitism!, ... more This article, published four years ago as part of the multi-volume work An End to Antisemitism!, presents the development of Yad Vashem's open online video course, Antisemitism: From Its Origins to the Present, which I co-led with my colleague Dafna Dolinko. Featuring lectures from dozens of leading scholars worldwide, the course has reached tens of thousands of learners globally. It examines the complexities and dangers of antisemitism throughout history, offering detailed insights into its manifestations and how to distinguish it from legitimate criticism of Israel.

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Public Outreach Articles by Yossi Kugler

And It Must Be Said, First of All, We Failed

Haaretz, 2024

This article examines A. B. Yehoshua’s controversial critique of Jewish chosenness and his radica... more This article examines A. B. Yehoshua’s controversial critique of Jewish chosenness and his radical rejection of the diaspora, which he connected to antisemitism and the Jewish experience. Yehoshua’s seemingly paradoxical positions—his secular-liberal worldview alongside nationalist undertones—often appeared unclear. This article proposes a coherent analysis of Yehoshua’s thought, arguing that his long-standing critique of Jewish chosenness serves as the unifying thread behind his seemingly conflicting ideas, including his claim that the Jewish people failed to prevent the Holocaust

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"Preferring the Troubles They Know," in Telem Magazine, 2024. (in Hebrew)

Telem, 2024

This article, written for a general audience, was published in Telem, an online magazine by the B... more This article, written for a general audience, was published in Telem, an online magazine by the Berl Katznelson Foundation. It is based on a 2023 research group at the Yad Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Institute that explored Israel–Diaspora relations during the Yom Kippur War. The article examines the evolving dynamics between Israel and American Jewry during two pivotal conflicts: the Six-Day War, which fostered unparalleled solidarity, and the Yom Kippur War, which introduced vulnerability and doubts about Israel as a secure Jewish homeland. Using migration theories and concepts of collective identity, it explores how triumph and trauma shaped these relations and offers insights into contemporary challenges, including the October 7 massacre and the surge in global antisemitism.

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Review of Shalom Lappin, The New Antisemitism: The Resurgence of an Ancient Hatred in the Modern World

Jewish Culture and History, 2024

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Between Rhetoric and History: Ben-Gurion and the Comparison of Arabs to Nazis (in Hebrew)

Muza, 2024

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The Attitudes of Israeli Society towards Antisemitism, 1948-1987 (Abstract of PhD Dissertation, in Hebrew)

Kesher, 2024

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Confronting Antisemitism from Perspectives of Philosophy and Social Sciences, 2021

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