Maybe Jews are hated simply because they are different. Traditionally, Jews were characterized by different dress, different laws and sometimes, even a different language. Certainly this discrimination is what the Chinese experienced in early America, and what the Frenchman experienced in England. Sociologists refer to this phenomenon as "the dislike of the unlike."
This theory sounds like a sensible cause for anti-Semitism: Jews have been hated because they were different. Throughout history, Jews kept to themselves. Their ethical, cultural and social systems were different from those of their neighbors. Most pointedly, the Jews' fondest dream was always their return to Zion. They were law-abiding citizens who contributed to their host nations and even took to the battlefield to defend it, but their hearts always pointed in the direction of the Promised Land. It is undeniably true that throughout history, Jews were the ultimate "outsiders."
But what happens when Jews shed their cultural differences and become genuine "insiders"? If the Outsider Theory is correct, then the solution to anti-Semitism should be assimilation. Anti-Semitism should decrease in ratio to the Jews' ability to integrate into their host societies. Is this really what happens?
In the 18th century, the Enlightenment reached Europe, giving equal rights to all people, regardless of religion.
In December 1789, during a discussion in the French National Assembly in which French Jews were granted equal rights, Count Stanislas de Clermont-Tonnere declared: "To the Jews as individuals, everything. To the Jews as a nation, nothing."
The Jews of Europe jumped at the opportunity to attain equality, hoping at long last to rid themselves of the "dislike of the unlike" phenomenon. They shed their foreign dress, shaved off their beards, and attended universities and theaters. They adopted the language, culture and styles of their non-Jewish neighbors, and intermarried with them. They purged their prayers of any mention of the return to Zion. In short, they became more French than the French.
Napoleon was quick to capitalize on this development of Jews adapting to French culture. In 1807, he convened a kangaroo court to pressure the Jews to shed any lingering commitment to Jewish nationhood, forcing the Jews to declare their exclusive loyalty to France.
Jewish acceptance of this attitude widened. In Germany, Reform Jews declared, "Berlin is our Jerusalem; Germany is our Fatherland." Having endured centuries of hatred, the Jews of Europe anticipated a warm welcome from their gentile neighbors.
But they were sorely disappointed. The Dreyfuss affair, in which falsified charges of treason were brought against a Jewish French officer, was contrived to show that Jews could never be loyal citizens of their host countries.
Shortly thereafter, Hitler's rise to power once again pulled the rug out from under the Jews' sense of security in their assimilationist approach. Nazism sent a strong message to Jews: 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.
So long as Jews remained outsiders, the Outsider Theory reflected some degree of logic. Once the Jews attempted to become insiders, the Outsider Theory was dashed to pieces ― because it never had been the real cause of the hatred.
The Racial Theory
This gave rise to a new excuse: the inferiority of the Jewish race. You can shed the external trappings of your life, shave your beard, get rid of your yarmulke, even change your religion. But you can never change your race.
The overriding 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 done so at one time or another.
There is no distinguishing racial physical feature common only to Jews. Even the idea of a "Jewish nose" is a myth. Anti-Semites don't hate only those Jews who have distinctively Jewish physical features; they hate all Jews. They hate Eastern European Jews; they hate Israeli, Russian and Yemenite Jews; they hate blond, blue-eyed Dutch Jews, as well as dark-skinned, Mediterranean Jews. Any Jew will do.
Anti-Semitism cannot be explained as racism for the very simple reason that Jews are a nation, not a race.
Unique Hatred
We have touched on the six most common explanations for the phenomenon of anti-Semitism. None of these standard reasons holds up as the core reason for anti-Semitism. Under scrutiny, they prove to be mere excuses. We must look afresh at this hatred to find a true root cause.
Of all discriminatory forms for hatred, anti-Semitism is unique in four ways:
1) Longevity ― anti-Semitism has been going on for an exceptionally long time. One of the most authoritative books on anti-Semitism is The Anguish of the Jews: A History of Anti-Semitism, authored by a Catholic priest Edward Flannery. He writes:
As a historian of anti-Semitism looks back over the millennia of horrors he has recorded, an inescapable conclusion emerges. Anti-Semitism is different because of its longevity and consistency.
2) Universality ― anti-Semitism is found worldwide. Throughout history, in every region where Jews have lived, they have been hated. No matter where they settle, no matter whom their host, anti-Semitism eventually rears its ugly head.
Between the years 250 C.E. and 1948 ― a period of 1,700 years ― Jews in Europe experienced an average of one expulsion every 21 years. Jews were expelled from England, France, Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, Bohemia, Moravia and 71 other countries.
3) Intensity ― hatred against the Jews is vented in a particularly virulent way. A group that is hated usually becomes the butt of ethnic jokes, and is subject to discrimination. Jews, on the other hand, are subject to attempts at genocide. The Chmelnicki pogroms, the Holocaust, and Iran's nuclear threats are attempts to exterminate a people that represent just a tiny minority of the world's population.
4) Confusion ― there is surprisingly little agreement on exactly what anti-Semites hate! When one group hates another, that hatred can be traced to a few simple, well-defined reasons. In Bosnia, people are persecuted over territory and religion; in Ireland, it's national independence and religion. Blacks are hated by some for racial reasons. But no one has yet offered a single, universally-accepted reason to explain why people hate the Jews.
If you will ask an anti-Semite to state his reasons, those reasons are often self-contradictory. Consider this paradox:
• Jews are hated for being a lazy and inferior race ― but also for dominating the economy and taking over the world.• Jews are hated for stubbornly maintaining their separateness ― and, when they do assimilate ― for posing a threat to racial purity through intermarriages.
• Jews are seen as pacifists and as warmongers; as capitalist exploiters and as revolutionary communists; possessed of a Chosen-People mentality, as well as of an inferiority complex.
Too Many Reasons Mean No Real Reason
The "Six Reasons" don't hold water ― they are excuses!
Hatred for Jews over the past 2,000 years has been continuous, universal and vicious, but the explanation for that hatred constantly changes. This fact alone alerts us to the need to look for what lies at the core of those explanations.
Picture yourself at a job interview. The interviewer tells you outright that you cannot be considered for the job because you lack computer skills. You enroll in a computer course, and in a month you have gained the necessary skills.
You return to the company, and the interviewer says he tells you he still cannot hire you, because you lack training in finance and management. You study diligently, and within a short time you have mastered the subject.
When you return to the company a third time, you are told that the real reason they cannot hire you is your hairstyle; you simply do not reflect the image the company wishes to represent to the public.
This fiasco sends you a very clear message: The reasons the company had been feeding you all along were nothing but excuses. The interviewer only used excuses to cover up some deeper reason for his refusal to hire you.
This situation is much like the common explanations for anti-Semitism: Even when the reasons are no longer applicable, the anti-Semitism remains.
This does not mean we should totally discount these reasons. Even though they may be excuses and not the source of the hatred, they do influence the masses to hate Jews. They may exacerbate the hatred, but they certainly don't explain it.
The problem is that each of the explanations focuses on issues external to the Jew. They have nothing to do with the essence of the Jew.
What then is The Reason?
(17) Louie Bernstein, June 19, 2018 2:17 PM
Jews have been passive
In truth, all religions experience persecution, but none has been as long-lasting and widespread as anti-semitism for two simple reasons: Judaism is much older than other religions; and Jews have rarely fought back against their oppressors. But never again. I am anti-religion because I dislike anything that sets people against each other. The world has grown too small for nationalism, racism, political fervour, etc. However, as long as such differences exist, we have to overcome hatred and learn to love humanity for the sake of our survival.
(16) Herschel, February 26, 2018 7:51 AM
The biggest complaint I see is how groups like the ADL and SPLC push for white people to become a minority and be discriminated against in their own countries and at the same time push to keep Israel a pure ethno-state. But the antisemitic claim is that all jews do this. There's a photoshopped image out there now and with a fake news article https://images.encyclopediadramatica.rs/8/8a/IcelandRabbi.png claiming Iceland's first rabbi started pushing for Iceland to accept lots of refugees within days of starting.
Now some jews have tried pushing back against this narrative. Benjamin Netanyahu merely said that Trump was right, a wall can secure a border https://twitter.com/netanyahu/statuses/825371795972825089 and he got a huge amount of hate for it and Israel Deep State is trying to kick him out of office.
Modern antisemitism is against Communist Jews and claiming all Jews are Communist Jews. Religious Jews tend to hold the same views as antisemites whether it's Christian or Muslim antisemites. Like this website is pro-gun (especially in the comments), has many anti-porn articles, and lots of pro-marriage articles and articles promoting wives being loyal to their husbands -- which is the exact opposite of how antisemites depict jews.
Antisemitism these days is a connection between communism and judaism. This month the NRA spoke against "European-style Socialists" and named some communists. Haaretz of course made sure to point out that all the communists he named were jews https://www.haaretz.com/amp/us-news/.premium-in-nra-s-response-to-school-massacre-dog-whistle-anti-semitism-1.5845365
(15) Dennis, May 13, 2016 3:03 AM
First time at this site
Very informative.
(14) aaron, September 19, 2014 1:27 AM
the sages discuuss
with a spiritual core d.n.a. jews are intrinsically different.much is explained in classical jewish sources. learn ,study who we are.
(13) Sebastjan, September 12, 2014 10:29 AM
Anti- Semitic scums, Jews are scientists, physicians, musicians...
Amos Oz is a Jew too. Read more and speak less...or shout.
(12) Gbenga, July 21, 2014 12:49 PM
Ignorance
First we are all humans, that is universal. We all should be entitled to equal right. Minority, majority are all inventions of the human mind. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. The most important thing we owe each other is love. We must love each other. It reminds me of the story of the good Samaritan. Owe no man nothing but love. Love your neighbor as yourself. Nations and governments needs to understand that. Love is the answer to chaos around the world now. Jew, Greek, English etc does not come when it comes to love. Really enjoyed this discussion and I hope we will all embrace love. Shalom
(11) John F.Rendell, December 29, 2013 9:45 AM
Jews were never persecuted in India
It is not true that Jews were hated wherever they had been. India is one (and probably the only) country where they were accepted with open arms and faced no discrimination or persecution at any stage. The probable reason I guess - India is a happy home to hundreds of such divergent religious sects and races since times immemorial and apparently Indians found nothing wrong with co-existing with just another religious sect like the Jews. It shows that at times polytheistic countries (like India) prove safe for all.
(10) Al Krantz, April 5, 2013 9:53 AM
We are different, and "they" don't wan't to know who we really are.
I find Judaism and Jews get a bad rap from many schools and sects of Christianity, or we are simply shunned as unbelievers who have hardened our hearts against G-d's salvation, or soulless money lenders and businessmen, who would sell their soul. They think all Jews are either rich or cast into the darkness for rejecting the Christian Messiah.
Vlad Seder, April 9, 2013 11:19 PM
Who we are
I believe our problem is NOT that THEY don't want to know who we really are, rather - it is that often we ourselves do not want to know who we really are
(9) Anonymous, January 10, 2013 11:13 AM
In a class at school these points were made as well, " the jews killed jesus." But the persecution of jews started and happened before the cucification (2000 years ago).
(8) Frank Adam, November 6, 2012 4:05 PM
Watch the small print
The Enlightenment did not "reach" Europe . It arose in Europe. Look carefully at the US Constitution as it is the French Montesquieu interpretation of the English Constitution as then understood. The Enlightenment was an application of Calvinist organisational theory transferred from Church to State and in the same way that Calvin - a lawyer - wanted to get the princes ie the state, out of the Church; the Enlightenment wanted to get the Church out of the State. Clear division of labour eases accountability and efficiency. None of this stops the same person continuing to be a subject or citizen and continuing to indulge their religious particularities. Trouble arises when people consider being snobbish or nasty to the neighbours as part of their religious or national duties. If you think this is all a bit schizoid, hard cheese, but nobody has ever promised dealing with people is a cakewalk. Ask Moses for a second opinion on on that one!
(7) Richard, July 10, 2012 2:28 PM
Cannot speak for others, but...
I would not presume to speak for others. But soeaking for myself, I say that I am Jew, with pride in our achievements that are embarrasingly far beyond our actual percentage in world population. The unity of G-d is a Jewish concept which separates Judaism from many other religious beliefs. A Jew can be as closely allied to his religion or totally disconnected from it. Nonetheless, he/she is and will always be:: a Jew in heart and soul and nothing in the world can change it, including one's own mind given at birth and for which one has only partial responsibility for it's contents. As for me, i never forget to thank G-d for making me a Jew. It is a gift and I treasure and revel in it, every day of my life and the older I become, the more I revel andthe more I thank G-d !!
(6) Chris Rettenmoser, June 6, 2012 9:03 PM
There IS a main reason for Antisemitism !
The main reason for Antisemitism is the alleged deicide, that the Jewish people as a whole are held responsible for, according to the "New Testament", the founding document of Jew hatred...! All the other "reasons" are just SYMPTOMS of the original infection... The most telling example is Adolf Hitler, who grew up as a "traditional" Christian Jew hater and only later in his life adopted his racist madness... The road to Auschwitz began with the conspiracy theory which is written into the "New Testament". It is the mother of all conspiracy theories...
Anonymous, April 9, 2013 11:55 PM
There IS a main reason for Antisemitism !
Dear Chris, I'm sorry to disappoint you - true, there IS a main reason for Antisemitism, yet it's not what you think. The reason has been masterfully and clearly described in the article you had commented - you just need to read it to the very end - and the reason is the nature of the Jews as Gd's witnesses and messengers. As for the Christian Jew-hatred - it was not the first - and unfortunately it was not the last - instance of the Antisemitism. I believe the very first one happened much earlier than your supposed namesake was born (if he really ever was) - like 1,312 years before his official birth date - in year 2448 after Creation, around this time of the year, shortly after the Jews left Egypt and crossed the Sea of Reeds, in the area of Refidim in Sinai desert - and it was Amalek's attack against the Jews - see Exodus 17:8-10.
(5) Gil, January 8, 2012 8:45 PM
Hatred of the Jew
There is no one logical reason for the hatred of the Jew. The Jew is clanish and stays to themselves - the Jew is "pushy" and wants to join where he is not welcomed. The Jew is money hungry, keep all the money for themselves [business people, capitalists, bankers, money lenders, stock brokers] - the Jew is the socialist and communist wanting to give all the money away. The bottom line is that Jews show all of human characteristics, but more so. In the course of human events, we Jews have certainly made a decisive mark in history, given the small numbers in comparison to others. We are not a monochromatic people. We are a religion, made up of many races, nationalities, and theologial interpretations.
(4) Tariku, December 31, 2011 11:35 AM
I really have got it to contain the eve inspiring history I have been in search.It gave me the knowledge about my usual worries.It is fully educative and thank you so much through all points I can see.however ,i sill have no the purest idea why we are hated,but sill remains part of our history.What ever there happens is something that gives me a sens. i am a Jew and am happy for that for ever.behind is the mystery for the Almighty God as been to in the past and He made us too....
(3) Antonio Perez, December 20, 2011 10:39 PM
Jews are not a race
I catagorically disagree that we are not a race. Perhaps we are Hebrews and that is a race. Jews who were non-observant and communist were also sent to concentration camps. Jews are discriminated against whether non-religious or observant. If you take a DNA test, that will determine if you are a Jew or a proselyte. I understand there are different definitions as to what a Jew is - Ethnic, Religious, Cultural. I am a Jew and a Christian. I consider myself every bit a Jew and I am discriminated against as such. It makes no difference if I was raised as a Catholic or Hassidic. No one in the Rabbinic authorities has been able to "define" what a Jew is or who is a Jew. They may define in the religious sense but otherwise, NO. No one can define me, us, our people. We are Jews, simply put. Disagree as you like. Makes no difference. I'm discriminated against not because of my religion or culture, I am a Jew and that is all the reason the bigot needs. Perhaps the root is that HaShem chose Abraham and not some other person. We are the people of promise and they despise that.
Sholem, September 19, 2012 9:20 PM
Jews are a religion
You are not a Jew and a Christian, you are an apostate Jew and a Christian - Judaism is a religion and Christianity is another - you cannot choose both. To the Jew, to worship Yoshke is idol worship, simple. Jews have been slaughtered by Christians for hundreds of years for refusing to give up their religion for another. The Jewish and Christian religions are diametrically opposed beliefs, and do not support each other - the 13 Principles of faith state that G-d is incorporeal and had no body, form or shape and also that the Jewsih Messiah has yet to come. Christianity teaches man-worship of Yoshke and claims him to be G-d and Messiah all at once.
(2) albert hirschsprung, June 26, 2011 4:28 PM
being a small minority
I do not claim to have any serious understanding of the grave problem of anti-Semitism. I just hope my contribution to the debate will help a better informed writer to develop or deny some of my arguments. There is no difference intrinsic to the Jews. Jews aren't more different than any other people. They were only different or forced to be different from the people they happened to live with (as their change of attitude and appearance shows when they were accepted as full citizens of their host country following the French revolution). Their particular difference is not the cause of anti-Semitism, only the fact of their being a small minority. Everywhere, minorities are the natural scapegoats and targets for hatred or mockery. The French tell demeaning jokes about the Belgians, the British tell them about the Irish and the Russians about the Polish etc. The Dreyfuss affair was manipulated in such a way as to put the blame of treason on a member of a powerless minority. The solution to the Jewish problem would be to breed as extensively as Muslims do. The Arabs, in France, used to be looked down upon in the 50s, they are now feared and respected because they have become a considerable fraction of the electorate. There is another anti-Semitism particular to the Jews themselves though, which it would be interesting to explore. Is it of little significance that the most virulent proponents of the final solution, Hitler and Heydrich, were suspected of having Jewish ancestors? This phenomenon is very real and apparent in France today, for example, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I hope the subject is not taboo! Please feel free to edit!
(1) sally, July 26, 2010 8:33 AM
brilliant
very well-written and insightful. thank you for this great article.