Anti-Semitism v2

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) discovered that 26% of the world’s population have anti-Semitic attitudes which refers to hostility ‘toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious or racial group’. The term anti-Semitic was created in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to refer to the then Central European anti-Jewish campaigns. Before that anti-Judaizing was used.

Why did this happen, with what contradictions and with what consequences?

WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED

Economic -- "We hate Jews because they possess too much wealth and power."

Chosen People -- "We hate Jews because they arrogantly claim that they are the chosen people."

Scapegoat -- "Jews are a convenient group to single out and blame for our troubles."

Deicide -- "We hate Jews because they killed Jesus."

Outsiders, -- "We hate Jews because they are different than us." (The dislike of the unlike.)

Racial Theory -- "We hate Jews because they are an inferior race."

CONTRADICTIONS IN REASON

Economic -- The Jews of 17th - 20th century Poland and Russia were dirt poor, had no influence and yet they were hated.

Chosen People -- a) In the late 19th century, the Jews of Germany denied "Choseness." And then they worked on assimilation. Yet, the holocaust started there. b) Christians and Moslems profess to being the "Chosen people," yet, the world and the anti-Semites tolerate them.

Scapegoat -- Any group must already be hated to be an effective scapegoat. The Scapegoat Theory does not then cause anti-Semitism. Rather, anti-Semitism is what makes the Jews a convenient scapegoat target. Hitler's ranting and ravings would not be taken seriously if he said, "It's the bicycle riders and the midgets who are destroying our society."

Deicide -- a) the Christian Bible says the Romans killed Jesus, though Jews are mentioned as accomplices (claims that Jews killed Jesus came several hundred years later). Why have the (claimed) accomplices been persecuted while there has never been an anti-Roman movement? b) Jesus himself said, "Forgive them (i.e. the Jews), for they know not what they do." The Second Vatican Council in 1963 officially exonerated the Jews as the killers of Jesus. Neither statement of Christian belief lessened anti-Semitism.

Outsiders -- With the Enlightenment in the late 18th century, many Jews rushed to assimilate and anti-Semitism should have stopped. Instead, for example, with the Nazis came the cry, in essence: "We hate you, not because you're different, but because you're trying to become like us! We cannot allow you to infect the Aryan race with your inferior genes."

Racial Theory -- The problem with this theory is that it is self-contradictory: Jews are not a race. Anyone can become a Jew - and members of every race, creed and color in the world have become Jews at one time or another.

CONSEQUENCES FOR THE JEWS

Book Burning * Jews Enslaved * Stake Burnings * Burning Alive

Forced Conversion * Holocaust * Pogrom * Book Confiscation

Synagogue Burning * Land Confiscation * Mass Arrests * Boycotts

Property Confiscation * Judaism Outlawed * Mob Attacks * Public Torture

Expulsion * Forced Conversion * Jews Burned Alive * Forced to Wear Badges

Today, daily consequences are discrimination, the major expense of sophisticated security systems, airport queues, guarding against planes being hijacked or blown up in mid flight, on a bus or tube and someone going into a civilian area and blowing up those around them.

ZIONISM

The movement was created in reaction to the anti-Semitism at the end of the 19th century for the re-establishment, development and protection of a Jewish nation. This is now Israel.

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Click here for Part 8 the NY Times revieww of
‘The Popes Against the Jews’ by David Kertzer, 2002

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