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Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism

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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.

To be fair about this book you need to check out the authors - both Jewish scholars deeply involved in their religious beliefs. Fair and balanced its not but it is a clear statement of the Jewish side of anti-Semitism.

The only point I totally disagree with is the authors' point of view that any criticism of Israel is equivalent to anti-Semitism - some is and some isn't.

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. Unfortunately it appears that as long as thier are Jews there will be anti-Semitism. Fortuantely Jewish values and the appreciation of them by both Jews and non-Jews holds the solution to this longest hatrid.

I read this book and still didn't come away with a clear understanding as to why some people are anti-semites. The authors put forth the theory that anti-semitism exists because Judaism (the religion itself) follows it's own set of peculiar customs and rules that are immutable; that is, no matter how hard one asks, cajoles, discriminates against, or tortures a Jew they will never truly conform to the edicts of any other religion besides Judaism.
This theory is all well and good if you are an intellectual who understands that the Jews have been immovable in their customs and their belief that they are "God's chosen people" since the beginning of time. This theory does make sense as to why people could hate them. But this theory is lacking to me, in the sense that NON-intellectuals (i.e. anti-semite Joe Sixpack) doesn't know (mostly) jack about the Jews religion and could probably care less that religion is what makes a Jew a Jew.

I have tried to understand why such hatred against Jews exists. From what I have gleaned on my own, the causes seem to be jealousy over the Jews uncanny knack to be prosperous, an unpleasant demeanor, oh, and a secret Jewish cabal intent on taking over the world. I have never had cause to feel anything towards Jews because I have never really been around them. But a lot of other non-intellectuals sure do seem to dislike Jews. I have a stereotype of Jews - does the anti-semitism that emanates from other people based on just the Jew stereotype, or do these people have a real reason to hate?

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 very important, and they claim that Jews give more than any other people.

The authors also stress that "although Jews represent less than 3 percent of the population, they are overrepresented in medicine by 231 percent, in psychiatry by 478 percent, in dentistry by 299 percent, in law by 265 percent, and in mathematics by 238 percent."

The authors also make it a point to stress that the above achievements are "NOT, as is sometimes alleged, to some innately superior intelligence among Jews, but solely and directly to Judaism." Jewish law, according to Prager and Telushkin, MANDATES that Jews give PRIORITY to enabling one another to establish themselves in the business world as proprietors and as professionals.

Prager and Telushkin compile a brief but illuminating history of antisemitism, address and dispense the common explanantions and then offer a unique persepctive.

Antisemitism predated Christianity but accellerated in intensity throughout the early Christain church history, the Reformation (Hitler took many cues from Martin Luther), and more surprisingly the Renaissance, and the rise of socialism and communism. Hitler was so successful because of the universal accesptance of European antisemitsm attracting so many willing accessories in Poland and Russia.

The authors examine economic scapegoating, jealousy, myths of wealth and world domination- but returns to specific beliefs in Judaism that make them suspect in the eyes of two millineums of rulers. The belief in one god, adhearence the their own laws (the Torah), the largely misunderstood concept of the "Chosen: and their unique tie to Israel. Their commitment left them isolated and unconquerable. This infuriated history's despots and continues to do so in the Middle East Today. Myths of the blood libel (drinking the blood of murdered Christian and Arab children)and world domination (Protocols of the Elders of Zion)were repeated and accepted, and continue to be spread as the truth in the Arab world today.

The epilogue equates the current hatred of the Jews with the common hatred of the United States in the world community. They also warn the non Jews that this hatred always extends beyond the Jewish People themselves to their ideals which is largely embodied in the American Principles.

Very insightful and well written, but what does one expect by a book written (or co-written) by Rabbi Telushkin? The book is dead on in its ideas about the origins of antisemitism.

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 prejudiced against Israel in my country with the help, of course, of the media. Since I knew a little about Israel's history and how it had been the target of many neighboring countries since its very beginning, I decided to do a little research to understand what was happening. Part of the research is this book, which really opened my eyes to a very sad picture. Easy to read, the authors use very simple logic and examples (full of quotes) to disprove common myths about anti-Semitism. It shows how Jews have been killed because they were poor or rich, because they were communists or because they were capitalists. In the end, because they were Jews. It gave a me a first idea of what Judaism is. The book was written at the time of the Soviet Union and shows what was happening then. I intend to read more from the same authors because their style isn't aggressive and is coherent with what they preach, in my opinion. It is a warning to those who think that what happens in the Middle East is a Jew problem.