The Reason For Potential Anti-Semitism I. To be explained: the consistent presence of a significant anti-semitic portion of the population. What before why - historical survey - don't overestimate details of present condition II.The most widespread human hatred A.the ancient world 1.Egypt - Manetho (leprosy; 3rd c.B.C.E.), atheism (invisible G-d) 2.Antiochus (167 B.C.E.) - first religious persecution for 1000 years! - Apion: ritual murder 3.Roman persecution after defeat and exile B.Christianity 1.killers of messiah(Matt.27:25), devils (John 8:43-4,47) 2.St. John Chrysostom: synagogue=brothel, drunkenness, murder 3.libels - ritual murder (blood for matzo), poison 4.Luther: extreme persecution, "our misfortune" C.Islam 1.lies - Torah laws as punishment (Quran 4:160), removed references to Muhammad from Bible (2:129, 9:32), not monotheists(!) - Ezra as son of G-d (9:30)! 2.systematic discrimination, periodic expulsion or murder D.Enlightenment 1.Voltaire: human sacrifice, revolting superstition, abominable 2.Mirabaud: anti-semitism -> Jews deserve to be hated 3.Fichte: civil rights -> Jews trample others E.The Left &&1.Marx: G-d=money, filthy, lepers 2.Fourier: parasites, emancipation=vice of society 3.Proudhon: poison, enemy, send to Asia or exterminate F.Details of the record 1.absence in far East 2.possibility of conversion (except Nazis) 3.relative strength of hatred: enlightenment < ancient world < Islam < Left < Christianity < Nazis
III.Mistaken Explanations A.Scapegoats 1.why always the same scapegoat? 2.why hated in good times? 3.Nazis: why kill the scapegoat? Why risk defeat in WW II? B.Economics,usury - confuses cause with effect - Jews lent money because they were denied other employment C.Economics, riches - why hated when they were poor (19th, 20th cent. Poland, Russia)? Why not more anti-semitism in contemporary U.S.A.? D.Psychological - anti-semitism as sickness: too widespread, why always the same object?
IV.Correct Explanation: Hatred of Competing Ideology A.Exclusive Jewish G-d, universal morality B.Chosen people C.Exclusive practices, e.g. no intermarriage, dietary laws D.Jewish nation -> dual loyalties (even before state of Israel)
V.Explanation of Facts A.Far east - too few Jews for serious competition B.Conversion is natural solution C.Relative strength of hatred .enlightenment: progress through education, Judaism too "primitive" for serious competition 2.ancient world: liberalism of polytheism: semi-competition 3.Islam: agreement on all theology, but competition for the Bible 4.The Left: violent political campaign, Jewish Ideology contradicts at all points 5.Christianity: various theological disagreements, competition for the Bible, militancy 6.Nazis: rejection of all Nazi values, impossibility of two chosen peoples, unrestricted violence
VI.Diagnosis: As long as ideological competition exits the potential for anti-semitism exists. VII.Solutions - Long Term A.Assimilation - unrealistic for all Jews, unfair B.Social action - limited to sympathetic society C.Eliminate ideological competition by persuading the world of the truth of basic Jewish ideology (but NOT by conversion) VIII.Solutions - Short Term A.Depend on local conditions - natural allies based on shared basic values and world-view B.Not conflict with long term - evaluation of custodians of the long term perspective
For further reading, see Prager and Telushkin, Why the Jews? Simon and Schuster, 1985 |