Why Are the Jews So Hated?
Why are the Jews hated so much?
Anti-Semitism, as it’s called, has been around for along time. Jews attained an accommodation in the Roman Empire of old. So much so that the Christians only got persecuted when they were forced out of the protective cover of Judaism.
But the Roman Empire collapsed. Jews became even more scattered than they been throughout the Middle East and then into Europe. They fared well for a while under Christian and Islamic rulers. But not for long. They became scapegoats for the woes of various societies.
Thomas Cahill wrote a great book a few years back (The Gift of the Jews), highlighting all we owe to the world-view that began with Abraham 4000 years ago: the idea that history is linear and not cyclical. This, he says, made progress in terms of culture, science, and technology possible.
The worst of their long history of woes came with the Holocaust as the secularistic regime of Hitler inflamed hatred to the point where he wanted to exterminate all people with Jewish blood in them. About six million perished.
And now Iran and other Islamic nations want to wipe out Israel, after trying and failing to do so in the past.
In discussing this, let’s try to focus more on the religious aspects and not merely on the political.
Anti-Semitism, as it’s called, has been around for along time. Jews attained an accommodation in the Roman Empire of old. So much so that the Christians only got persecuted when they were forced out of the protective cover of Judaism.
But the Roman Empire collapsed. Jews became even more scattered than they been throughout the Middle East and then into Europe. They fared well for a while under Christian and Islamic rulers. But not for long. They became scapegoats for the woes of various societies.
Thomas Cahill wrote a great book a few years back (The Gift of the Jews), highlighting all we owe to the world-view that began with Abraham 4000 years ago: the idea that history is linear and not cyclical. This, he says, made progress in terms of culture, science, and technology possible.
The worst of their long history of woes came with the Holocaust as the secularistic regime of Hitler inflamed hatred to the point where he wanted to exterminate all people with Jewish blood in them. About six million perished.
And now Iran and other Islamic nations want to wipe out Israel, after trying and failing to do so in the past.
In discussing this, let’s try to focus more on the religious aspects and not merely on the political.
posted by Jim Gustafson | 10:25 AM
14 Comments:
Strange how I came across this minutes after posting this blog on the Jews. It may give you some background for commentary. So let's pretend Mr. Kuhner is our first commentator on Why Are the Jews So Hated.
KUHNER: Israel vs. Iran
Sunday, June 29, 2008
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The winds of war are sweeping the Middle East. Recent press reports reveal Israeli military has been conducting secret exercises in preparation for possible air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton predicts Israel will launch a devastating air campaign before the end of President Bush's term.
Tehran poses an existential threat to Israel - and to the West. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed to "wipe Israel off the map." He boasts that the end of the "Zionist regime" is "near." Mr. Ahmadinejad is a revolutionary Islamofascist, who believes Tehran is the strategic anchor for a global caliphate. He wishes to spread radical Shi'ite Islam across the Middle East - and eventually the world.
The immediate goal of Tehran's mullahs is to establish Iran's regional hegemony. The mullahs are arming Hezbollah in an attempt to destabilize Lebanon. They are supporting Hamas in Gaza in order to wage a proxy war against Israel. They have transformed Syria into a client state. They are funding, training and equipping both Shi'ite and Sunni insurgents in Iraq. As a result, hundreds of U.S. soldiers have been killed. Tehran is assaulting American troops in order to force a humiliating U.S. retreat from Mesopotamia. Iran seeks to defeat America so that Iraq can be destabilized and fall under its geopolitical influence. Tehran hungers for Baghdad's rich oil resources and the expansion of Shi'ite power.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is the Adolf Hitler of our time - an ideological fanatic who cannot be deterred by traditional carrot-and-stick diplomacy. In 1938, Hitler was consolidating his dominance over Central Europe. This paved the way for genocide and mass murder. By failing to stop him at Munich, the West emboldened Hitler.
The West is committing a similar tragedy regarding Mr. Ahmadinejad. For several years, Germany, Britain and France have offered numerous diplomatic incentives and economic inducements in exchange for Iran suspending its uranium-enrichment activities. This has failed. The United Nations Security Council then imposed economic sanctions. Still, Mr. Ahmadinejad thumbs his nose at the international community. Like Hitler, he is not interested in realist diplomacy; nor does he have limited, rational aims. Instead, he seeks what the Nazi leader did: World power or ruin.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is a Shi'ite extremist. He vows that the mythical 12th Imam is about to return, signaling the beginning of an apocalypse that will usher in a new Islamic golden age. He believes his divinely ordained role is to help bring this about - and to destroy the Jews in the process. His ultimate objective is to forge "a world without America."
Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear bomb. If it does, then every major country in the Middle East - Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan - will develop its own nuclear weapons program in order to balance Iran's military superiority. The consequences could be cataclysmic. Iran may also surreptitiously transfer a nuclear weapon to terrorists - who are more than willing to use it against Israel or the United States.
Some State Department officials argue that the world can live with a nuclear-armed Iran. These prophets of appeasement claim that, during the Cold War, the West survived even though the Soviet Union and China possessed massive nuclear arsenals. These officials assert that, if the doctrine of MAD (mutually assured destruction) acted as an effective deterrent against Moscow and Beijing, then it can certainly keep Tehran's mullahs in check.
However, for Mr. Ahmadinejad, the purpose of having a bomb is to use it. In fact, Tehran's mullahs believe that, if millions of Iranians are killed in a nuclear confrontation with Israel (or America), these victims will be rewarded by going straight to heaven. Mr. Ahmadinejad is convinced he will be doing them a favor: Call it salvation through nuclear war.
Iran is a clerical fascist state. It has imposed Shariah law on every aspect of society. It enslaves women. It routinely executes homosexuals. It imprisons and tortures political dissidents. It oppresses religious and ethnic minorities. It sanctions official anti-Semitic propaganda. And it champions radical Muslim supremacy and cultural dominance.
In other words, the Jews of Israel are witnessing the return of Nazism - only this time with a Persian, Islamic face -right before their eyes. The Israeli government realizes it has about a one-year window before Tehran reaches the point of no return.
If Hitler had been stopped in 1938, tens of millions of lives would have been saved, including 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
Israel will not - and should not - allow a similar tragedy to happen again. There is no doubt: If Mr. Ahmadinejad acquires the bomb, he will use it to destroy the Jewish state. Israel must defend itself before it is too late.
Jeffrey T. Kuhner is a columnist for The Washington Times.
As an air strike on Tehran's nuclear facilities seems to be inevitable and vital to the survival of Isreal, I think the US needs to do more than enter political talks with Mr. Ahmadinejad. According to reuters.com, "Israel believes strongly...more needs to be done to pressure the regime in Tehran to cease its aggressive nuclear program."
I think that without the intervention of the United States, this escalating tension in the Middle East could result in the next world war. If Jeffrey Kuhner has his facts strait in that Ahmadinejad aims to forge a "world without America", I see no reason for America to treat this maniac with political respect.
As far as religion is concerned, I found an interesting opinion on jihadwatch.org: "In vain I searched to hear one voice that would admit that there must be something deeply wrong in Islamic societies that they had bred the sort of hatred that created so much senseless violence". Although I have not read the Koran, I do accept this widespread belief that Islamic culture is a perfect catalyst for creating violent people. It is for this reason that I think this conflict between Isreal and Iran cannot be resolved without overwhelming force being exherted on Iran; Islamic people such as Ahmadinejad will stop at nothing to destroy any conflicting religions and their followers.
Wow! Talk about a loaded question. I had always thought that Islalm was apeaceful religion that was hijacked and distorted by extremist-it has happened in all religions. now I'm not so sure!
I have been surfing the net and found several sites with disturbing content and I have to do more research and weigh in again later, but look at this little morsal from the Quaran:
"They [the Children of Israel] were consigned to humiliation and wretchedness. They brought the wrath of God upon themselves, and this because they used to deny God's signs and kill His Prophets unjustly and because they disobeyed and were transgressors"
I'll be back. Ralph
In general the Islamic point of contention [there are many] seems to be this: Judaism is understood to be a deviation from the teachings of Islam [the Abrahanic concept of Islalm]- taught by the prophets, and something which is replaced by Islam, as taught by the last prophet Muhammad.
According to much of what I read from the Islamic point of view -the percieved deviation of Judaism was to elevate the material success of the Jewish race to a value. This little nugget from the Qran was present on numerous sites:
They were covered with humiliation and misery; they drew on themselves the wrath of God. This because they went on rejecting the Signs of God and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled and went on transgressing. [Qran:Surah 2 Verse 61]
Ain't they just a bunch of sweethearts- they drew the rath of God upon themselves soooo.....we get to kill them.
Holy crap! I hope they don't find out about my three weeks in Rio!
BTW what about the drinking and whoring of the Islamic terrorist that pulled off the 911 just days before the attacks?
On another note -I have been to Israel twice-I have a grand respect and a soft spot for her people. As to Kuhner's opinion that " Israel must defend itself before it is too late." and Mike's opinion that "Ahmadinejad aims to forge a 'world without America', I see no reason for America to treat this maniac with political respect." I say this:
It is my hope that I'll get to spend part of my summer [like I did in 06] cheering on an Isreali attack on Tehran that will set them back 20 years in nuclear development and topple the existing government by initiating a CIA backed rebel uprising.
Peace [but not to Hezzboulah] Ralph,
BTW- Hezbollah is an Iraninan funded terrorist arm of Iran's army. Lest anyone feel that I'm a krass lover of violence- I think I should state why I'm rather disinclined to coddle Iran- whom kills in the name of God -which is, some would childlishly argue "their belief."
Why would any STATE engage in terrorism? The answer my friends is simple- it is too insatible a weapon to forsake.October 23, 1983 was one of the most memorable days in my life.
It was a day that historians and militatry analyst marked as the END of The US Marine Corps- "goats rope." I was enlisted [as were 17 other members of my HS graduating class 1984]less than 24 hours later.
Journalist and Pulitzer Prized military author Thomas Ricks [wall St Journal] identifies this as the most damaging, long lasting event on the phyche of the Corps [I concur] and also notes that in the wake of the explosian another unexpected one took place- thousands jammed Marine Corps recruiting offices [Making the Corps]. He pointed out how this stands as an example that defines the Corps.
I say that men like us can not be defeated- kill 239 of our BROTHERS [we consider the Navy corpsmen our brothers too] and thousands more will show up.
The following is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing
The 1983 Beirut barracks bombing was a major incident on October 23, 1983, during the Lebanese Civil War. Two truck bombs struck separate buildings in Beirut housing U.S. and French members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon, killing hundreds of servicemen, the majority being U.S. Marines. The blasts led to the withdrawal of the international peacekeeping force from Lebanon, where they had been stationed since the Israeli 1982 invasion of Lebanon. "Islamic Jihad" took responsibility for the bombing, but that organization is thought to have been a nom de guerre for Hezbollah receiving help from the Islamic Republic of Iran.[weidpadia]
Rescue efforts continued for days. While the rescuers were at times hindered by sniper fire, some survivors were pulled from the rubble and airlifted to the RAF hospital in Cyprus or to U.S. and German hospitals in West Germany.[5]
In the attack on the American barracks, the death toll was 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel and 3 Army soldiers. Sixty Americans were injured.
So, I hope that this and 911 will remind the high minded, idealistic and unrealistic amongst us that a persons RELIGIOUS BELIEF is not always something that demands protection or reverance --sometimes they are WRONG and dangerous.
HAVE A NICE DAY Ralph
The Jews are being enslaved by the Muslims and are not allowed to return to their home land of Israel nor are the allowed to practice their own true religion. The core religion is Islamic. If Jews are believed to be in contact with Israel or America they are murdered or sentenced to jail. Ludicrous. I agree with Ralph when he says that not every religion deserves to be protected. I say blast holy hell on those Aholes and allow the Jews to live the life that was inteded of them by God. Islam has cost our country and so many more so much. It needs to stop and I say we are just the country to do it.
Who would have guessed that tiny little piece of land, worth crap in all other respects would create such havoc for the enitre world. I believe that it is entirely possible for this long stnding conflict between isreal and and the enemies that suround it could potentially turn into the next nuclear world war.
"Evidence of a Jewish presence in Israel dates back 3,400 years, to the formation of the religion"(wikipedia) does this not prove who is entiled to that land? not to say that even if the isreali's gave up and said "ok here it is your .. were out!" that the hatered muslims have for them would diminish, but at least the current crisis would disolve.
it seems this sort of religions battle of right to land and god has been happening in the middle east forevver. And there is no end in sight because the basic fundametal mind set of the people behind this conflict is hate. hate drives them and devours them. the I have not read the Quaran either, but i do know that all muslims are not extremists, so there has to be something in that book that peopel are just getting wrong. All reigions have thier faults and attract people who somehow get it all wrong or it as a cover for their evil deeds but to me it seems that satan or whatever ruler of the undergroudn you choose has deep roots in the part of the world that first supported human life. i wouldnt go there for a million and 1 dollars.
Oh yea.. i was listening to NPR the other day .. a piece was being dont on aljezara being broadcast here in the US . aparently burlington Vt wants to air it. The Jewish populationthere got really upset and said that it was offensive, and degrading. I think it would be intreresting to see .. i mean our news stations are broadcast there right? should we not be able to see and hear the what is happening there from there instead of our government filtering what we see?
sorry if my typoing is bad .. i was in a car accidnet and am on muscle relaxers.. and pain meds .. my brain and hand eye cordination is not quite right yet .
sorry
What prompted anti-semitism in the first place? All religions suffer some sort of discrimination, but the Jews have been persecuted for centuries. The text book provides a lot of theories. It states that the Halakah (the legal portion of the Torah) stresses the sense of otherness, and that the concept of otherness partly contributed to anti-semitism. The idea of the Jews being God's chosen people would have surely rubbed some people the wrong way, with their kosher observances helping preserve their purity, and so separating them from the Gentiles. It is noted that historically, Jews have been considered to be outsiders and so have suffered discrimination all along in countries or regions that do not liberally accept others. The Jews endured discrimination under Muhammad when they refused to convert to Islam in and when they were given an ultimatum by Catholic monarchs to convert or leave Spain in 1492. It seems that the Jews were always getting expelled from somewhere. Some people think of the Jews as "Christ killers", that when the Roman Pontius Pilate was going to pardon Jesus, the crowd of Jews there to watch urged Pilate to continue with His crucifixion.
I think the hateful attitudes towards Jews may have started with their believing that they alone were God's chosen people, and that they enjoyed a sacred covenant with Him. This would have inspired jealousy, along with the Jews' non-ascetic view that wealth and prosperity were legitimate life goals. They became very well educated and wealthy, and so were easy targets for the envious. These are all just general observations on why the Jews have been historically disliked.
I was just going to say sort of the same things about how Jews have continuously been persecuted and cast out of societies through history. From the first Roman- Jewish wars when the Jews were murdered by emperor Nero and Jerusalem destroyed by Titus,to the Holocaust and to today's political unrest suroundung Isreal. They can't catch a break!! The only thing I can add it up to is that it is like being the teachers pet... or in this case gods pet. but really that is just silly, if the jews are gods chosen people then should everybody else be sucking up to them to like get a foot in or something? Maybe it is the "poor me" mind set that the Jews may have developed that has made it easier to be prayed upon.?.
Good comments. Maybe this explains why Jews in the USA are often supportive of Christians, because, since the visit of George Washington to a synagague in Rhode Island, Jews have enjoyed a lot of freedom and safety here. I recall a couple of Christmas seasons ago Christians were getting it for greeting people with "Merry Christmas." Two Jewish men were on the streets of New York supporting Christians' right to say Merry Christmas. They were not offended. It's a free country and Merry Christmas is a greeting of good cheer and goodwill, they said. So what's the uproar about? Get a life!
Well !!!!!!!
First, the holy land, Jerusalem, has played a great role in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. These three religions believe that Jerusalem is the holiest city on earth. The holistic place in Judaism was the temple. It was destroyed by Greeks. The second temple was destroyed by the Romans. Jerusalem has been captured by many rulers over the centuries. They wanted it to be only for members of their own faith. The Crusades began when the Pope wanted to capture Jerusalem from the Muslims. Why can’t we learn to live productively rather than destructively with one another? Why can’t people all faiths worship the holy land freely? They all wanted it to be only for members of their own faith.
Secondly, Why do people hate Jews? Why has anti-Semitism been so pervasive in so many countries, in so many time periods and for so many reasons? Jews have experienced more than eighty expulsions from various countries. The Jews believe they are the chosen people. This has often provoked antagonism from non Jews. This is not true because, reformed Jews rarely speak about chosenness, and Maimonides did not list it as one of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish faith. Einstein said he saw nothing "chosen" about the Jews, and that they were no better than other people "although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power."
Reformed Jews believe that laws can be changed to suit modern times. One recent change states that men and women should be equal in every area of Jewish practice. Reform Judaism accepts women as rabbis with the authority to fulfill all religious duties. I have not seen any nuns performed Sunday mess yet.
Finally, Israel and Muslim countries surrounding that state are very religiously oriented. They do not seem to be able to separate religion from politics. The antagonism between those states are historically based on religious differences. The creation of the Jewish state is very recent in historical terms. Somehow, the hatred of Jews by Muslims in surrounding countries has been translated from ancient historical episodes into modern political separation.
In my conclusion, how can we allow ourselves to destroy the world’s most holy land and hate Jews? The only way to ensure that religions contribute to peace rather than violence is to guarantee religious freedom and promote religious education. Therefore, all believers understand that peace and harmony are at the core of every religion.
SooMyung
Laura said almost the same thing I was thinking after I read the blog and the article by Kuhner. I think that the Jews have been hated for so long mostly because of their chosen by God status, because people don't like other people saying that they are better or more privileged than them. The Jews haven't exactly been discreet about that though.
They've never really been on great terms with the Muslims, either. That conflict hasn't changed much for years, and it probably won't any time soon. I think even if Iran or even all Islamic nations were to be destroyed, somebody else would become just as big an enemy of the Jews. God and His people have always had enemies, and I that's not going to change any time soon. I do think that God will protect them to some extent though, as He has in the past from being totally wiped out. This is probably another reason for people not liking them very much, because they won't go away. Various nations have tried exterminating them in the past, deporting them, killing them, anything to destroy their sense of being a nation belonging to God, but they just won't die, and I'm sure that has been frustrating to those rulers. Most other kingdoms have had their time, and then they fall and are pretty much gone, but the Jews keep springing back up from some small remnant somewhere.
From this I think we don't have to worry too much - I'm not saying that this persecution is bad or that we shouldn't try to prevent it (or nuclear war, for that matter), but I don't think the Jews are suddenly going to be destroyed after so many millenia of people trying and failing.
No one will probably read this (its so late) but between work and it being the popular time for weddings (out of state) its a wonder I sleep. Not looking for sympathy, just a statement. Anyways, I pondered the question and then I asked a friend of the family who is a devout christian why the jews are so hated within the parameters asked. He replied that I shoud read Romans 9 through 11, he explained that those passages would lead me to the answer. So I read the passages and what stuck out the most was Romans 9-31 But Israel, which follwed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained the law of righteousness". Interesting to me because my studies in criminal justice have mostly been because I believe there is room for improvement in every aspect of life, that said, the legal system is flawed in many ways, especially treatment of poor and less fortunate, lets face it (O.J., bogus sentencing etc...) is god saying that the jews became god-like in their attempts to control humanity and prosper? Maybe, but the fact that the religion could be constued as elitist to say the least, is also a factor .
Many people hate to hear that others are more privileged than others. Therefore i think that it first began with ancient Hebrew attitudes and beliefs which promoted the Jews as God's "choosen people" and everyone else as the "gentiles". The Jews also became very acomplished merchants and intellectuals which resulted in great wealth and knowledge. What i don't understand is why the hate when Jews, christians and Muslims worship essentially the same God. Jews have been use as scapegoats basically, and they've never been overly-violent type.
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