Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

This book seeks to examine the very roots of anti-Semitism, the term used to describe the hatred of the Jews. Many avenues are explored such as why the Jews have been the object of the most enduring and universal hatred directed towards any people group in history. Additionally, the book discusses why the Jewish state of Israel has now become the most despised country in the World today.

The inherent hatred of the Jews within some elements of the Church and Islam are also studied, both from a historical perspective and also pertaining to the present day.

Sections are also devoted to the anti-Semitism of the Nazi era and how it is also present today in relation to those who support or profess Zionism. A particularly interesting section discusses how much modern day anti-Semitism is hidden beneath a more respectable veneer bearing the anti-Zionist label.

One such example given is that on page 172 which quotes from the statement by Shukairy, who was the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation before Yasser Arafat. Shukairy used to openly declare that "the Jews should be driven into the sea". The book proceeds to describe that when such a statement no longer became politically expedient or served the Arab cause, the statement was promptly changed to "the Zionists should be driven into the sea".

Indeed many differing lines of thought are discussed and a variety of issues investigated. This book will certainly make the reader think and contemplate the real roots of this ongoing issue, which is described as being more prevalent now than at any time since the Nazi era.

The book however does not address the spiritual aspect behind anti-Semitism which underlies the Christian Gospel message. Something which many may dispute, but which describes the real roots of this hatred as being demonic and which sets itself against the whole Jewish race, the coming & return of the Jewish/Christian Messiah together with the message of redemption to all mankind. A demonic hatred whose end is described in the book of Revelation within the Bible.

In addition to this book I would respectfully recommend the books entitled "Jesus Was A Jew" by Arnold Fruchtenbaum & "The Anguish Of The Jews; Twenty Three Centuries Of Anti-Semitism" by Edward H. Flannery.

In the introduction, the authors point out the rising tide of antisemitism in European society and media by citing specific examples, the warning of Lawrence Summers about the eruption of the plague on campus, the 2001 UN conference on racism in Durban where Israel was demonized, the hatred emanating from the Arab and Muslim worlds, from Muslims in Europe and from the political Left around the globe.

The aim of this book is to confirm the age-old Jewish understanding of the condition, which the authors consider to be a response to Judaism. The intention is to refute attempts to deny the particularly Jewish reasons for the hatred and its contemporary manifestation of anti-Zionism.

Part One: The Explanation, demonstrates the uniqueness of antisemitism as the hatred of Judaism and ethical monotheism, considers other theories like the Chosen People concept, the higher quality of Jewish life, plus other theories and the frightening phenomenon of the hatred of Judaism by non-Jewish Jews like Marx, Trotsky, Rosa Luxemburg, Abbie Hoffman, Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky.

The Historical Evidence is assessed in Part Two, from the Hellenic and Roman eras through the Christian, Islamic and Secular (Enlightenment) varieties, Leftist, Nazi and Anti-Zionist Antisemitism. For Christianity, the evidence encompasses the hate-filled words of Church Fathers like John Chrysostom of Antioch and Ambrose of Milan, massacres during the crusades, medieval libels, the Catholic and Protestant versions and the abominable words of Martin Luther. For a full treatment of this, please consult Our Hands Are Stained With Blood by Michael L Brown if you're not too sensitive to the description of atrocities.

Islamic Antisemitism looks at the history of Muhammad and the Jews, the actions of Islamic leaders from the prophet's death up to the modern period, the modern era with reference to Egypt, Syria and Palestine, the 20th century and Muslim hatred of Israel. Further evidence is available in the book Peace: The Arabian Caricature of Anti-Semitic Imagery by Arieh Stav.

Secular Antisemitism: The Enlightenment, demonstrates how the shape-shifting phenomenon re-emerged through Voltaire, De Mirabaud and D'Holbach; virtually every major figure of the French Enlightenment was hostile to Judaism. In Germany there were people like Johann Fichte and Immanuel Kant, but mercifully England proved to be a partial exception where the milder manifestations never led to violence.

Like all the aforementioned, socialism and Marxism were born with Jew-hatred. Marx's writing is full of it, but it was even more virulent amongst French intellectuals like Charles Fourier, Pierre Leroux, and Proudhon, with a few exceptions. Then followed Soviet antisemitism and that of the Western Left, including Leftist and Far Right churches and bodies like the World Council of Churches.

Nazism was not an outgrowth of racial ideology which was fundamentally irrelevant to Nazi antisemitism. Equating it with racism is just an attempt to dejudaize the phenomenon. It was the other way around; in their war against the Jews the Nazis employed racist arguments. The authors provide plenty of facts to substantiate their case. Nearly every popular ideology in German history contributed to the ideological roots of Nazi antisemitism. Furthermore, Europe has always harbored a widespread and profound strain. This was revealed during the Second World War when the only continental governments that protected their Jewish citizens were Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Bulgaria.

After the Holocaust, open anti-Semitism became taboo so a change of rhetoric took place following the rebirth of Israel in 1948. Anti-Zionism had its origin in the Soviet Union. The authors argue convincingly that Anti-Zionism is antisemitism in theory and practice. Examples are given from the writings of American Leftists, the Italian media, the UK author AN Wilson, the Arab media and the statements of Arab leaders.

In chapter fourteen, eight common lies about Israel are refuted: the accusations that Israel refuses to compromise for peace; stole the land from the Palestinians; is morally obligated to absorb the 1948 refugees and their descendants, that Jerusalem is as holy to Muslims as it is to Jews, Anti-Zionists being distinct from antisemites, that Jews and Christians in the Holy Land were well-treated under Islamic rule, that Israel illegally occupies the West Bank and that Palestinians embraced violence out of desperation.

Part Three considers ways of dealing with the problem, like assimilation, Zionism, making converts and combating specific outbreaks. The authors believe that Jews should resume their original mission of spreading ethical monotheism, helping to bring mankind to a universal God-based morality. In the tradition of the Hebrew Prophets, they ought to promote the concept of goodness tied to faith as God's major concern while also opposing secularists advocating political systems devoid of religious moral values. Antisemitism is a moral failing that can only be prevented by the moral values of non-Jews. It is significant that in the USA it currently issues overwhelmingly from the Left - religious like Jimmy Carter and secular academics like Walt & Mearsheimer - whose deceptions are brilliantly exposed by Abraham Foxman in The Deadliest Lies.

In the Epilogue, the authors warn that antisemitism never remains just a Jewish problem; as it metastasizes it inevitably brings terrible suffering to all societies under its spell. In history, treatment of the Jewish people has always served as a reliable barometer of humanity's moral state. Nowadays those who hate the Jewish nation are most likely to be anti-American too. Authoritarian regimes resent American success and covet the country's power and wealth; this hatred is shared by some Western Leftists and particularly the parasites infesting transnational bodies like the United Nations and the EU bureaucracy. It should now be clear to thinking people that Arab antisemitism forms part of a deep-seated hatred of the West that fuels jihad in many forms.

There are 23 pages of bibliographic notes, a 9 page bibliography of cited works and an index. I fear the hour is late; I urge all Christians who love our Jewish Redeemer to pray without ceasing and to consider supporting organizations like Christians United For Israel, Christian Friends Of Israel and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

i did not like the book, because what the authors were saying is that jews are hated mainly due to envy! the following are direct quotes from the book.

1. From recorded beginnings of Jewish history until modern age, Jews never asked, "Why the Jews?" They know exactly why. Throughout their history Jews have regarded Jew-hatred as an inevitable consequence of their Jewishness. The age-old Jewish understanding of anti-Semitism does posit a universal reason for Jew-hatred: JUDAISM.

2. Anti-Semites have hated Jews because Jews are Jewish. Christian anti-Semites ceased hating rich Jews when they became Christians.

3. The ultimate cause of anti-Semitism is that which has made Jews Jewish - JUDAISM,

4. JUDAISM has held from the earliest time that the Jews were chosen by God to achieve the mission of perfecting the world. This doctrine of the Jews' Devin election has been a major cause of anti-Semitism.

5. As a result of the Jews' commitment to JUDAISM, they have led higher qualify lives than their non-Jewish neighbors in almost every society in which they have lived. This higher quality of life among Jews, which, as we shall show, directly results from JUDAISM, has challenged non-Jews and provoked profound envy and hostility. In this way too, JUDAISM has been the source of anti-Semitism.

6. Once we perceive that it is JUDAISM which is the root cause of antisemitism, otherwise irrational and inexplicable aspects of anti-Semitism become rationally explicable.

7. The Nazis simply maintained that the Jews could never really become non-Jews, that no matter how much Jews may consciously attempt to appear and behave like non-Jews, they nevertheless retain the values of JUDAISM. Nazi anti-Jewish "racism" emanated from hatred of JUDAIM.

8. The generally higher quality of Jews' lives, as exemplified by the stability of the family life, significantly lower rates of intoxication and wife beating, higher education, greater professional success, much less violent crime, and greater communal solidarity, has been due solely to millennia of adherence to Jewish law, and provoked profoundly ambivalent reactions from non-Jews.

9. Another Jewish belief has further inflamed anti-Semitic passions throughout Jewish history, that the Jews are the Chosen People - that of all the nations of the world God has chosen them to be His messengers to mankind...the church leaders did not deny Jewish chosenness; rather they so believed in it that they sought to appropriate it to themselves. Islam did the same thing. Muhammed did not deny the chosenness of Abraham; he simply called Abraham a Muslim.

10. At a time when nearly all Christian and Muslim men, and certainly women, were illiterate, nearly all Jewish men and women could read and write, and many of them achieved high levels of knowledge. ...This Jewish passion for study in turn helps to explain why Jews have the highest income of any ethnic group in the United States, earning 72% more than the national average. .....This unique intellectual achievement is due solely and directly to JUDAISM.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 23 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

3.0 out of 5 stars Fair and balanced ?
To be fair about this book you need to check out the authors - both Jewish scholars deeply involved in their religious beliefs. Read more

Published on Jun 19 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Prager and Telushkin DO Provide Answers
-
First, the term "anti-Semitism" is in my opinion an inappropriate term for describing the viewpoint of people who do not see eye to eye with the PHILOSOPHY of Judaism... Read more

Published on Jan 3 2004 by Woodcraft Designs & Books

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book
If one wishes to better understand anti-Semitism this book is a must. To understand anti-Semitism you need to know more about the Jews and thier religion. Read more

Published on Jun 30 2003 by Robert D. Sanchez

2.0 out of 5 stars Still doesn't answer the question
I read this book and still didn't come away with a clear understanding as to why some people are anti-semites. Read more

Published on May 31 2003 by Ben

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative!
This is an excellent book, which presents, for the most part, the Jewish dilemma. The authors, Scholar Dennis Prager and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, stress that Jewish philanthropy is... Read more

Published on Oct 15 2002 by Thomas Shepherd

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Answers to Tough Questions
Prager and Telushkin compile a brief but illuminating history of antisemitism, address and dispense the common explanantions and then offer a unique persepctive. Read more

Published on Sep 29 2002 by Henry Oliner

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book
Very insightful and well written, but what does one expect by a book written (or co-written) by Rabbi Telushkin? Read more

Published on Sep 17 2002 by Jeff

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opener
As I followed the Arab-Israel conflict I got more and more confused about how people that didn't know anything about the subject, of all walks of life, became more and more... Read more

Published on May 27 2002 by N. Silva

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book to read but doesn't contain all the answers
I read this book some years ago. I think this book could be good to have, especially if your library is sprase, because it comntains a discussion of a lot of things. Read more

Published on Mar 26 2002 by Sam Finkelman

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides a quick yet informative understanding
If you are curious and seek some real knowledge on the subject, the book is a must read. The book goes well beyond what is commonly said and written about Antisemitism. Read more

Published on Oct 24 2001

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 23 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!