Pondering the origin of Anti-Semitism
I've frequently contemplated the origins of anti-Semitism in our world, My insatiable curiosity compelled my to chase down this thread.
By Dary L. Hunter
I've frequently contemplated the origins of anti-Semitism in our world, My insatiable curiosity compelled me to chase down this thread. In my childhood, I heard that Jews were stingy; as I matured, I began to hear increasingly more disparaging stereotypes about this race and religion. At first, this was perplexing to me since I understood that Jesus was a Jew.
My grandfather was a racist, yet a great man, It confused me. He was a successful blue-collar union electrician. His racism likely stemmed from his time and place. Born in Texas during Jim Crow, he adopted a worldview equating whiteness with superiority. Later living in Douglas, Arizona, and California reinforced these beliefs through racial stratification and subtle racism. While personal factors may have influenced him, the sociological context—legal segregation, cultural norms, economic incentives, and systemic violence—made racism the default for many white Americans in the early twentieth century. This understanding doesn’t excuse his views but shows how society shaped them.
A funny anecdote: on my grandparents' fiftieth anniversary, we had a big celebration for them that required a banquet room in a hotel. When it was time for my grandmother to speak, she said, "Now that fifty years have passed, I think it might be safe to tell Leo that I’m half Jewish."
Anti-Semitism
The term anti-Semitism emerged around 1879 to describe hostility toward Jews. This animosity was rationalized by a convoluted theory developed in Germany during the mid-19th century, which claimed that people of Aryan descent are superior to those of Semitic descent. This theory was employed to rationalize the civil and religious persecution of Jews that has persisted throughout history.
Babylon conquered the Levant in 550 BCE, then exiled the Jewish community to Babylon 550 BCE. Under the direction of the priest and reformer Ezekiel, they retained their separate identity by replacing political Israel with spiritual Israel. The religion was ritualized and made liturgical to govern the lives of the exiles, a precedent that would forever strengthen their faith and community in the future. In the ancient Roman Empire, Jewish devotion to their religion was a cause for political discrimination against them, and very few Jews were granted Roman citizenship. With the rise and eventual domination of Christianity throughout the Western world, discrimination against Jews on religious grounds became universal.
The Jews again faced challenges between 135 ACE when the Romans dissolved Judea and transformed the Levant into Syria/Palestina. They did not take kindly to Roman rule and frequently revolted, and rightly so; the Roman renaming of the Levant to Syria/Palestina was intentionally done to exclude Jewish identity from the region. Consequently, the Jews became a people without a country, settling in the nations and communities of others around the world. They became the outsiders and scapegoats for those unwilling to confront their personal and professional failures, facing persecution wherever they settled.
The trials of Judaism's followers have made them resilient. Their marginalized status unites them closely, fostering personal success through a strong sense of community. Their faith helps them navigate adversity, and their commitment to education as an act of worship has created an intellectually vibrant community. Jews represent an ethnic fellowship, preserving their identity for 19 centuries despite relentless persecution and without a state.
The Diaspora
“Diaspora,” a Greek term, refers to the historical movements of Israel's dispersed ethnic population and Jewish exiles from Judea. It includes the 586 BC exile of Jews to Babylon by the Babylonians, the 136 AD expulsion by the Roman Empire, and the Muslims' expulsion of Jews after the Crusades. The term initially applied to Jews during Alexander the Great's reign, who favored them. Many Jews migrated to regions like Egypt, the Black Sea, the Greek Islands, and across the Mediterranean for economic opportunities in Alexander's empire. Whether voluntary or not, the Diaspora resulted in the widespread displacement of a people evicted from their homeland.
Much persecution was instigated by mobs accusing all Jews of being responsible for Jesus' martyrdom. During the Crusades, thousands of Jews were killed in the fervor of the time. The blame on all Jews for Jesus' death arises from misinterpretations of New Testament accounts, especially in the Gospels, often seen as implicating the Jewish people rather than only the priesthood. The Jewish Sanhedrin, a religious elite, worked with Roman authorities to eliminate Jesus, fearing his influence threatened their power. Early Christian texts, combined with later biases, generalized blame to all Jews, perpetuating centuries of antisemitism, despite Jesus and his followers being Jewish, with the broader Jewish population playing no direct role in the crucifixion.
The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) the Roman Catholic church formally repudiated the charge that all Jews are responsible for the death of Christ and condemned genocide and racism as un-Christian.
To my observation, the only individuals with an intellectually honest grievance against Jews are the Palestinian Arabs who were displaced in 1948 during the creation of modern Israel. This much-needed homeland for Jews encroached on land also claimed by Arabs and sparked fierce opposition from members of the Arab League. That said, the Palestinians, with the assistance of Romans, exiled the Jews 2000 years earlier, making the argument moot.
Since the beginning of wealth, the poor or lazy hate the wealthy.
Since the dawn of wealth, disparities have sparked resentment among the poor or idle toward the affluent. This animosity often unfairly targets Jewish communities, historically stereotyped as prosperous due to cultural values emphasizing education, discipline, and mutual support. These traits foster success, making Jewish individuals visible targets for envy-driven scapegoating. Economic inequality fuels this dynamic, as those struggling may misattribute their hardships to the wealthy rather than systemic issues or personal choices. Sadly politicians exploit this. Historically, this resentment has manifested in tropes like the "greedy Jew," perpetuating harmful biases. Jewish communities’ tight-knit networks and focus on intellectual and financial achievement amplify their visibility, intensifying misplaced blame. Meanwhile, the lazy or disenfranchised may deflect accountability, channeling frustration into prejudice. This cycle of envy and vilification persists, rooted in misunderstanding and economic divides, unfairly burdening a group whose success reflects diligence and communal strength.
The Judengasse dynamic
A Judengasse (German for "Jewish alley" or "Jewish street") was a designated street or quarter in a European city where Jews were required to live, often under restrictive conditions, during the Middle Ages and early modern period. These areas were typically segregated, enclosed, and subject to strict regulations, such as curfews or limited access to certain professions. The term is most closely associated with the Frankfurt Judengasse, one of the earliest and most well-known Jewish ghettos, established in 1462.
A fact of European Jewish life that started in medieval times and continued until the eighteenth century was, Jews were to live apart from Christians, often in walled off communities called Ghettos; these ghettos isolated Jews from their European neighbors. In Germany these communities were called Judengass’s but in other parts of Europe the ghettos had other names. The Jewish perpetual indeterminate status as non-Europeans disregarded the fact that most progeny of Jews had lived on European soil for centuries to the time of Alaxender the Great and beyond, often pre-dating many of the settlements of the non-Jewish populations of Europe. Sizable Jewish communities existed in Europe long before the rise of Christianity, but it was the emergence of Christianity that destroyed the equality of Jewish status they enjoyed in a, Pagan, pre-Christian Europe.
The Judengasse provided more than Jewish isolation, it also provided Jewish autonomy as well. The Jews did not resent their autonomous status as it provided Jewish community leaders with the opportunity of maintaining the Jewish religion in the tradition of Ezekiel, it reinforced educational processes, judicial action, and social welfare for these satellite communities. This medieval apartheid created a dynamic which facilitated the synagogue to remain a center of Jewish life, its activities unimpeded by local government and papal domination from the Vatican. The Jews administered their own laws, based on their book of law, the Talmud.
The evolution of Jewish banking
In one of my favorite books of all time “The Source” by James A. Michener, provided an interesting thread of knowledge that I have been unwinding since 1983, bout how the Jews fell into banking by default.
During medieval times the ascent of Christianity in Europe and its influence restricted Christians from banking, as the charging of interest was seen as immoral. This was a prohibition called usury. The Church held it to be a grave sin and the code was upheld by the civil powers. There were harsh penalties for those who broke the law of usury. That left the business of lending money to non-Christians hence the Jews.
Throughout history, Jews in Europe faced significant restrictions that limited their access to various professions, largely due to widespread discrimination and social stigma. As a result, many were pushed into marginal occupations that were often viewed as socially inferior by the broader society. Among these occupations were roles such as rent collecting and money lending, which were considered necessary, albeit looked down upon.
The scarcity of acceptable professions available to them compelled many Jews to enter the money lending and banking industry, sectors that required individuals willing to perform these essential financial services. Therefore, one could assert that the Jews of Europe were not merely choosing these roles but were effectively drafted into them due to societal exclusion from more prestigious avenues of employment. This historical context reveals how economic necessities, shaped by social barriers, led to their significant involvement in banking and finance.
As centuries passed, Jewish banking acumen increased while European trade increasingly demanded financial services for the expansion of commerce, benefiting the default bankers. Naturally, tensions between Jewish creditors and Christian debtors were compounded by social, political, religious, and economic strains between borrowers and lenders. This was rationalized by Christians and others needing scapegoats to portray Jews as insolent, greedy usurers, when in actuality, it demonstrated the negligence of Christianity in forfeiting its right to participate in a lucrative industry essential for a prosperous European society.
Christians held the belief that forbidding usury among believers was essential to keep money connected to reality. They did not see money as inherently good, but rather as a means to measure value. Usury, defined as earning money through lending, was considered a form of theft because it was thought to create profit without any real contribution or effort.
The growth and success of Jewish bankers reinforced this negative image. With the evolution of systematic anti-Semitism in Europe, and the rise of xenophobic nationalism, the wealthy Jew was seen as an alien financier, in collaboration with Jews abroad. The success of Jewish bankers coupled with paranoiac xenophobia caused many too deduce that Jews were out to dominate and control the world.
A significant amount of Jewish legal scholarship during the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages focused on ensuring that business dealings were fair, honest, and efficient. Given that pogroms against Jews for both real and imagined offenses were not uncommon, it was important for the Jewish community to uphold ethical business practices.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, published in 1897, describe a plan by Jews to achieve world domination. Russian publishers claimed that the Protocols are the minutes of a meeting of Jewish leaders at the first Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897, where Jews allegedly plotted to take over the world. This Russian lie had a political purpose: to strengthen Czar Nicholas II by exposing his opponents as allies of those purported to be the authors of the Protocols. Fake news wasn’t born yesterday. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a proven forgery, were created in Russia for Czar Nicholas II's secret police. They are a product of a deliberate government policy aimed at diverting the discontent of Russian workers and peasants into religious bigotry, with the Jews being the usual scapegoats. The Protocols blame the Jews for all the country's ills. It was first privately printed in 1897 and made public in 1905. The work was plagiarized from an 1868 novel by Hermann Goedsche that claims a secret Jewish cabal is plotting to take over the world. The Jews were the czar’s scapegoats. Wow, America’s fringe white supremacist groups sound the same.
Scapegoats: what a wonderful treasure they are for the weak or ineffectual.
The tendency to blame others for personal shortcomings, a concept I refer to as blame redistribution and is a foundation of racism, it is prevalent in both leaders and individuals. Leaders often deflect attention from domestic issues by scapegoating others, including minority groups like Jews and Gypsies. This behavior is not confined to the powerful; those struggling may also blame both their misfortunes and the successes of others, often aligning with extremist groups.
For over two millennia, Jews have been scapegoated for societal problems due to a combination of religious, economic, and cultural factors. Historically, early Christian narratives placed blame on Jews for Jesus’ death, which perpetuated hostility. During the Middle Ages, Jews were marginalized into professions like money lending, becoming targets during economic downturns. Their minority status and distinct practices attracted suspicion, further fueled by conspiracy theories like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. During times of crisis, such as the Black Death and 20th-century chaos, Jews were falsely accused as outsiders. Despite their contributions to various fields, anti-Semitic stereotypes persist, unjustly portraying Jews as scapegoats for complex issues.
Several historical, social, and cultural factors contributed to Jewish success in business. Excluded from land ownership and certain professions, Jewish communities in Europe turned to commerce, developing adaptability and innovation. A strong emphasis on education, a core Jewish value, led to high literacy and readiness for complex professions. The diaspora fostered close-knit networks, enhancing trust, resource sharing, and mentorship. Cultural resilience, shaped by persecution, combined with the principle of tikkun olam—repairing the world—encouraged ethical business practices, ultimately leading to Jewish prominence in finance, media, and technology. Jewish immigrants significantly influenced Hollywood, demonstrating the impact of creativity and entrepreneurship. While stereotypes may cloud perceptions, education, community, and historical necessity have solidified a strong basis for achievement across diverse sectors.
General Racism.
The convergence of anti-Semitism with racism against Blacks and Hispanics in U.S. hate groups like the KKK and skinheads arises from a shared ideology, reinforced by conspiracy theories, economic scapegoating, and organizational overlap. These groups exploit historical tensions and modern media to create a unified narrative of hate, portraying Jews, Blacks, and Hispanics as interconnected threats to their vision of a white-dominated society. People with a narcissistic tendency often belittle others to boost their own self-image, but this behavior stems from a limited perspective. It reveals insecurity and a delusional need to put others down, mistakenly believing that this makes them more worthy. This mindset is indicative of a narrow perspective and a lack of emotional depth. Economic and social upheavals often fueled the recruitment of hate groups. During the Great Depression, the KKK and similar groups blamed Jews for the financial collapse while targeting Blacks for labor competition. In the late 20th century, skinheads exploited working-class white anxieties about job losses, attributing them to Hispanic immigrants and Jewish "elites."
Since both the Black community and Jews have a history of unjust persecution, I was puzzled by why they seem to be adversaries instead of allies. Some Black Americans harbor antisemitism, influenced by historical tensions, socioeconomic factors, and misinformation. The historical roles of Jewish people in inner-city businesses are viewed as exploitative, leading to resentment. Organizations like the Nation of Islam promote hate and distrust. Economic disparities and a lack of education allow harmful stereotypes to flourish. Fortunately, this sentiment isn't universal—many Black Americans oppose antisemitism, and shared challenges often unite Jewish communities.
Scotty, my grandfather Leo’s best friend, was a Mexican but Granddaddy refused to acknowledge it. Eventually, Scotty’s son, my father, married Leo’s daughter, resulting in the racist grandfather having five part-Mexican grandchildren. Scotty had swam the Rio Grande in 1915.
I have a niece and nephew who ran away at fourteen and fifteen; they were taken in and sheltered by predatory skinheads who sought out disaffected to add to their cult of evil. Kenny and Amber bought into the whole lie; scapegoats are an easy tool. I bumped into them when they were about twenty at my grandmother’s ninetieth birthday celebration. They were appalled when I informed them that I was part Jewish and part Mexican, as certified in my Heinz 57 pedigree, just like their father. I went on, "You love your great-grandmother, and she is half Jewish." In disbelief, they conferred with their father, hoping for a denial, but they didn’t get it. I felt it was my duty to inform them, "Be careful whom you hate! It may be yourself, or someone you love." It rocked their world!
I am such a Pollyanna
I am such a Pollyanna. Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, I watched the civil rights movement unfold through grainy black-and-white television broadcasts, a time when segregation and systemic racism were stark realities. The nightly news captured protests, speeches, and acts of courage that pushed for equality. Over the decades, I observed tangible progress: integration in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, with each generation appearing more inclusive, gradually embracing a colorblind ethos. Minorities ascended to prominent roles in business, politics, and culture, great advancements until 2008. Yet, the resurgence of overt anti-Semitism on university campuses by 2024 was a jarring regression. Jewish students, even those studying online, faced hostility so severe they withdrew or transferred to safer institutions. This alarming shift, reminiscent of pre-civil rights era prejudice, betrayed the progress of decades, revealing how fragile tolerance can be when divisive ideologies reemerge among younger generations.
The college protests were driven by a mix of global events, student activism, and campus dynamics, academic indoctrination and non-student Muslim activists and organizers. The chant “From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” a call for genocide by Palestinians, echoed across America, both on campus and in marches in the cities across America. Academia’s role was significant—through faculty activism and participation and ideological frameworks like DEI—but it was one of many factors, alongside social media, political pressures, and the emotional weight of the Gaza conflict.
The spectacle of American youths, eyes ablaze with righteous fury, chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” shatters any lingering Pollyanna delusions I treasured. It’s not just naivety; it’s a wilful blindness to history’s brutal truths. My heart, once softened by hope, now recoils at this sloganeering mob, intoxicated by simplistic causes, heedless of consequence. Our society isn’t as mature as I fancied.
Conclusion
The persistent scapegoating of Jews across centuries reveals a troubling facet of human nature: the tendency to deflect personal and societal failures onto a convenient "other." From the Babylonian exile to medieval ghettos, and from the fabricated Protocols of the Elders of Zion to modern conspiracy theories, Jews have been unfairly blamed for economic woes, political instability, and moral panics. Their resilience, forged through persecution, and their success, driven by cultural values like education and community, have made them visible targets for envy and resentment. It has been my observation that it is underachievers who gravitate to hate groups, of merely independent prejudice, the skinheads, Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam, the KKK, Goyim Defense League, Aryan Freedom Network, and Patriot Front, often targeting Jews, etc. Antisemitism in the Black community stems from historical tensions, economic disparities, and influential figures promoting divisive narratives. In urban settings, Jewish landlords and shopkeepers were often visible in Black neighborhoods, leading to perceptions of exploitation. This pattern of vilification, rooted in economic inequality and intellectual laziness, underscores the need for honest reflection on racial issues rather than perpetuating cycles of blame. By recognizing the historical and social forces at play, we can dismantle the myths that fuel anti-Semitism and foster a more equitable understanding of shared struggles.
A Jew is a person of Semitic origin who settled part of the Levant, known as Israel, around 1500 BCE. One of the three religions of the book. All who defended them are also Jews. After the jews were kicked out of their homeland by the Romans, Jewish culture preserved the Jewish identity and traditions.
Now it is past my bedtime so we can carry on this pissing contest tomorrow.
Absolutely, sadly, our decadent culture isn't keeping up, then our losers blame those who put in the effort to win. Entitlement breeds apathy. Thanks Trillis.