Amoz Oz and the Fanatic

By David Bidussa*

“The fanatic is a walking exclamation mark. The fight against fanaticism would do well not to reply with an opposite exclamation mark. Fighting fanaticism does not mean annihilating all fanatics but, perhaps, putting in place a cautious therapy on the little fanatic who more or less hides inside the soul of most of us, and also laughing a little behind our exclamation marks … “.
(Amos Oz, “Dear fanatics”). A year later we miss your voice a lot, Amos Oz. Luckily, we at least have his books.

*David Bidussa is a historian of social ideas.