WHY ANTI-SEMITISM?

 

Antisemitism means prejudice against or hatred of Jews. Anti-Semitism is an age-old hatred. Actually, prejudice against Jews has existed for thousands of years. The prejudice is universal, although more obvious in the Arab world. Israel, homeland of the Jewish people, is small compared to its Arab neighbours. Whereas Israel is approximately 8,630 square miles, her Arab neighbours occupy more than five million square miles.  

 

In attempting to answer the question, why antisemitism, many answers have been offered. These include economic factors, ethnic hatred, resentment of Jewish influence and affluence, religious bigotry and professional success. But these answers do not explain antisemitism. They do not account for the universality and intensity of antisemitism. In attempting to answer the question, authors Prager and Telushkim contend, “we have encountered virtually no study of this phenomenon that even attempts to offer a universal explanation of Jew-hatred. Nearly every study of antisemitism consists almost solely of historical narrative, thus seeming to indicate that no universal reason for antisemitism exists”. It would seem that antisemitism is based on stereotypes and myths that target Jews as a people, their religious practices, their beliefs and more recently, the Jewish State of Israel.

 

In order to ascertain a reasonable explanation for antisemitism, we should first ask the question, who are the Jews? That answer would take us to Genesis 12:1-3 (The Lord had said to Abram, “leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”). Any history of the Jewish people would contend that that passage should apply to Jewish people. Jewish people use this passage to establish their claim to this same land today.

 

In addition to their claim to the land, they also claim the blessing promised to the descendants of Abraham. Throughout the centuries, Jews have experienced both blessings and curses, because of their Abrahamic faith. Many have been kicked off the land, but maintained a faith through Jewish practices in other lands. Lands that practised polytheism, whereas the Jews maintained a belief in one God. Their practices were quite different from their foreign neighbours. Those practices distinguished them from others, who were not welcomed to adopt Jewish beliefs. In other words, a Jewish exclusivism was emerging and with that exclusivism, a growing pride about being Jewish.

 

When marginalized and ostracized, their sense of community was strengthened. That strength became evident in almost any enterprise in which they were engaged. Their exclusivism, sense of community and success became the envy of many. In addition, Jews resented laws that challenged their religious practices that distinguished them. These differences increased and resulted in very hostile treatment from various authorities. The Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 CE/AD and renamed Jerusalem in 135 CE/AD. The Romans actually renamed the region Palestine, and the city, Aelia Capitolina.

Although some Jews lived in the land, they could not assume any political leadership.

 

In the absence of a homeland and political leadership, Jews were subject to various forms of abuse wherever they lived in the world. With the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933, Jews experienced intense hatred. Hitler imagined Jews to be subhuman polluters of a pure Aryan race. He believed Jews contributed to Germany’s defeat in World War I. He sought an imaginary racial purity and exterminated more than six million Jews.

 

Interestingly, the hatred cited so far in this blog, took place before the State of Israel was established in 1948. A new phase of hatred developed when the State of Israel was established. More than half a million Palestinians left the land and settled in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. Some historians believe the Jews forced the Palestinians to leave, and captured their homeland. Others share the view that Arab leaders encouraged Palestinians to leave, pending their destruction of the Jewish State. Wherever the truth may fall, the situation has given cause for much more hatred. A slogan commonly used in pro-Palestinian campaigns is, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. Said differently, Palestine will only be free until they occupy from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea – that describes all of Israel today.

 

Today’s hatred for Israel will pale when compared to what is described in Revelation 12. Jesus described this 3 ½ year period as the “Great Tribulation”. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall”.

 

The prophet Jeremiah also refers to the Great Tribulation. Jeremiah 30:7 says, "Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved from it." The phrase “Jacob’s distress” refers to the nation of Israel, which will experience persecution and natural disasters such as have never before been seen. The book of Revelation offers us the most information about this Great Tribulation. From Revelation 13 when the Beast is revealed until Christ returns in Revelation 19, we are given a picture of God’s wrath on the earth because of unbelief and rebellion. Thankfully, Christ’s return at the end of the Great Tribulation will mean salvation for Israel (Romans 11:26-29).