Universalization and redefinition as a form of appropriation. The language of memory of the European Union and the concept of the Righteous

Abstract

Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s armed retaliation against the Gaza Strip, a new chapter has emerged in the study of contemporary anti-Semitism and Holocaust memory. The Hamas – Israel conflict has highlighted the tensions between the memory of the Holocaust of European Jews and current political conflicts. This article revisits the meaning of the original, foundational concept of the Righteous, which is crucial in the context of rising anti-Semitic sentiment.