This document discusses the history and meaning of antisemitism. It defines antisemitism as prejudice or discrimination against Jews and traces its roots to early Christianity, driven by theological differences and misunderstandings between Christians and Jews. The document outlines some notable historical instances of antisemitic persecution against Jews, such as pogroms in medieval Europe and the Holocaust in the 20th century. It also notes that while the term "antisemitic" refers to hostility toward Jews, it is technically a misnomer since Arabs are also Semites.
2. Jewish History: Antisemitism
• What is “semitic” or semite?
• What does antisemitic mean?
• Misapplication of the term
• History of antisemitisim
• Roots of religious antisemitism
3. What does antisemitic mean?
• Prejudice, hatred of, or discrimination against
Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish
heritage.
– It is considered by many to be a form of racism.
• Antisemitism may be manifested in many ways:
– expressions of hatred of or discrimination against
individual Jews
– to organized violent attacks by mobs, state police, or
even military attacks on entire Jewish communities.
4. What does semitic mean?
The term Semite means a
member of any of various
ancient and modern Semitic-
speaking peoples originating in
the Middle East, including;
• Akkadians Canaanites,
Phoenicians, Hebrews, Arameans,
Chaldeans, Hyksos, Syriacs, Arabs
and many others.
Origin:
• The concept of "Semitic" peoples is
derived from Biblical accounts of the
origins of the cultures known to the
ancient Hebrews.
• Those closest to them in culture and
language were generally deemed to be
descended from their forefather Shem.
• The earliest historic evidences of these
people/languages are found in:
– the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia), an
area encompassing the Akkadian,
Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations,
– Extending into southern Asia Minor and
– the Levant along the eastern
Mediterranean.
5. Roots of religious antisemitism
Hostility among Christians to
Judaism and the Jewish people
may have developed from the
early years of Christianity:
• the persecution of Christians in the New
Testament,
• and persisted over the ensuing centuries,
driven by numerous factors including
• theological differences,
• competition between Church and
Synagogue,
• misunderstanding of Jewish beliefs and
practices,
• a perceived Jewish hostility toward
Christians.
Antisemitic depiction of Jews:
6. Warning!
Who led this persecution?
• In many Christian countries, it led to
civil and political discrimination
against Jews, legal disabilities, and
in some instances to physical
attacks on Jews which occasionally
ended in emigration, expulsion,
and even death.
– This was not led by the Church, but
by private individuals in positions of
power.
• Throughout Christian history, some
Popes, bishops and some Christian
princes stepped up to protect Jews
Why was religion misused to
persecute Jews?
• Rabbinic Judaism is the basis for
modern Judaism. Itself was based on
Phariseic thought.
• Who instigated the crucifixion of
Jesus? A small group of Pharisees.
– Popular ignorance led to a
misinterpretation of this into open
conflict and persecution.
• Therefore early Christians developed
a natural resentment against the
Jews.
7. Brief history of Antisemitism
Notable instances of persecution include
• The pogroms which preceded the First Crusade
in 1096,
• The expulsion from England in 1290,
• The persecutions of the Spanish Inquisition and
the expulsion from Spain in 1492,
• Cossack massacres in Ukraine, various pogroms
in Russia,
• the Dreyfus affair,
• the Holocaust,
• official Soviet anti-Jewish policies.
• the Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim
countries.
• Progrom: a
violent
massacre or
persecution of
an ethnic or
religious group,
particularly one
aimed at Jews.
8. Misaplication of the term
• We have learned so far that the
term "anti-Semite", came to refer
most commonly to one hostile or
discriminatory towards Jews in
particular.
• However and ironically, Arabs
are Semites too! So is it an
accurate term?
• Also, due to the Diaspora, Jews
have mixed with Germans,
Russians, Spaniards, etc, so it is a
mistake to call them Semites.
9. Ask Yourself
• Recall:
– Which people are Semites?
– What does antisemitic mean?
• Analyze:
– Why is the term “antisemitic” misused?
• Relate:
– In how many ways can we relate ignorance with
antisemitism?
– How is Rabbinic Judaism related with early Christianity?
• Identify:
– Give some historical examples of persecution against
the Jews
