In chapters 7-8 of Valhalla, Calvary and Auschwitz, author Giora Shoham examines the social characters and relationship of Jews and Germans prior and leading up to the Holocaust. Shoham believes Jew's participant qualities clash with German separant identities which contributed to the Jew's vicitimization during the Holocaust. Hitler;s leadership escalated these already established differences into a larger, bloodier conflict.
             Chapter 7 outlines the different characters of Jews and Germans. More based on a pagan tradition and Teutonic mythology, Germans focus on power, expansion, grandeur and unity. Shoham uses Gothic churches as an example of German desire to overtake their surroundings and almost "compete with God." In contrast, the author describes Jews as "self effacing", focusing on individualism and peace. With such skewed and opposing characteristics, Shoham suggests these groups enter a "bully victim relationship" where the Jews desire to be swallowed by German society and German society is eager to oblige (270).
             Shoham's desire to explore a new area of holocaust study focusing on roots of anti Semitism within Germany is interesting but has the potential to be dangerous. Sweeping generalization regarding any group are difficult to prove and can be misleading. For example, the author asserts Jews are historically bad planners but offers little evidence to support his claim.
             Chapter 8 expands on the "bully vicitim relationship" created by opposing Jewish and Germanic social characteristics. Shoham believes Jews possessed a "love affair" with Germanic culture which was not reciprocated by Germans. Shoham's premise that Jews willingly disregarded their own cultural institutions is misplaced. YIDDISH, REFORM SYNAGOGUES.......
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