# "If the Jews did not exist, we would have to invent them" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291 "2010-08-05T16:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![onethumbpicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@onethumbpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onethumbpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291/21 "2011-03-28T02:27:44Z")
Eric Hoffer attributed this quote to Hitler in the book “True Believer”. To quote the book-“When Hitler was asked whether he thought the Jew must be destroyed, he answered: “No-we should then have to invent him. It is essential to have a tangible enemy, not merely an abstract one.”” This appears in the 14th Chapter of the book, 65th passage. Hoffer uses this quote as an explanation of the need of a common subject of hatred in order to unify disparate elements(in this case the German people). Hoffer reference source was Hermann Rauschning “Hitler Speaks” New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1940), p. 234. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291/22 "2011-03-28T07:41:18Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > But there are dozens of devices sold to enable them to actually use electrical devices, supposedly without violating these rules. Like timers that will turn the stove on at specified times the next day, or elevators that are pre-programmed to stop on each floor on the Sabbath, so they don’t have to push an electrical button to call it, etc. > > Apparently their God was smart enough to dream up all these laws, but is too stupid to notice when people are bypassing them. You should read up more on Jewish philosophy. The Jewish faith is dogmatic, but not at all impractical. While it would be against scripture to use an electric device in the sabbath, it would be a greater shame still for anybody to miss the sabbath services because they can’t mount ten flights of stairs, hence elevators are allowed to run during sabbath as a compromise. Likewise, using a car during sabbath would be against scripture, but according to many orthodox scholars it’s allowed in order to attend a service, if not using a car would mean that one missed it. There is in fact reason behind the madness. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291/23 "2011-03-28T20:28:11Z")
> [@kombatminipig](#): > > You should read up more on Jewish philosophy. The Jewish faith is dogmatic, but not at all impractical. While it would be against scripture to use an electric device in the sabbath, it would be a greater shame still for anybody to miss the sabbath services because they can’t mount ten flights of stairs, hence elevators are allowed to run during sabbath as a compromise. Likewise, using a car during sabbath would be against scripture, but according to many orthodox scholars it’s allowed in order to attend a service, if not using a car would mean that one missed it. Definitely not. I believe that the Conservative movement allows for the use of cars to drive to services, but the universal Orthodox position is that it’s better to pray at home by oneself than to drive to services, and that the only time it’s acceptable to drive on the Sabbath is to save a life. According to most Orthodox opinions, one can have an elevator that runs automatically (eg stopping on every other floor of a tall building for ten seconds, without any human intervention), but one can’t actually control the elevator. (The minority bans the use of such elevators entirely, and nobody Orthodox permits them in the manner you outlined.) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291/24 "2011-03-29T14:13:45Z")
> [@onethumbpicker](#): > > Eric Hoffer attributed this quote to Hitler in the book “True Believer”. To quote the book-“When Hitler was asked whether he thought the Jew must be destroyed, he answered: “No-we should then have to invent him. It is essential to have a tangible enemy, not merely an abstract one.”” This appears in the 14th Chapter of the book, 65th passage. Hoffer uses this quote as an explanation of the need of a common subject of hatred in order to unify disparate elements(in this case the German people). Hoffer reference source was Hermann Rauschning “Hitler Speaks” New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1940), p. 234. Well spotted! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291/25 "2011-03-29T14:33:47Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Definitely not. I believe that the Conservative movement allows for the use of cars to drive to services, but the universal Orthodox position is that it’s better to pray at home by oneself than to drive to services, and that the only time it’s acceptable to drive on the Sabbath is to save a life. According to most Orthodox opinions, one can have an elevator that runs automatically (eg stopping on every other floor of a tall building for ten seconds, without any human intervention), but one can’t actually control the elevator. (The minority bans the use of such elevators entirely, and nobody Orthodox permits them in the manner you outlined.) Vague memories of practice in Eretz. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291/26 "2011-03-29T14:41:26Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > But there are dozens of devices sold to enable them to actually use electrical devices, supposedly without violating these rules. Like timers that will turn the stove on at specified times the next day, or elevators that are pre-programmed to stop on each floor on the Sabbath, so they don’t have to push an electrical button to call it, etc. > > Apparently their God was smart enough to dream up all these laws, but is too stupid to notice when people are bypassing them. Other than being vaguely offensive and inaccurate, this shows a misunderstanding of how Judaism looks at the mitzvot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-jews-did-not-exist-we-would-have-to-invent-them/549291.md?page=1)