Since I was a child and learned about the Holocaust, I've wondered what it is about Jews that makes so many cultures lose their minds. The best theory I ever came up with was something about their alien insularity, which triggers xenophobia and envy as long as they remain differentiated, cohesive, and successful.
This canary-in-the-coalmine explanation rings more true for me, though, than anything I ever came up with:
“Since ancient times, in every place they have ever lived, Jews have represented the frightening prospect of freedom. As long as Jews existed in any society, there was evidence that it in fact wasn’t necessary to believe what everyone else believed, that those who disagreed with their neighbors could survive and even flourish against all odds.”
In other words, where liberty thrives, Jews thrive. But where liberty is under siege, Jews will inevitably be, too.
Beware any culture that celebrates antisemitism.
23 comments:
There is truth in that, but I don't think it is the whole truth (not that I would lay claim to knowing that, either). In my experience though, in the far east, the merchant class is, to a large extent, ethnic Chinese. And they are the first to be persecuted when times are tough, often with targeted violence at the hands of the mob. In the Caribbean and northern South America, the merchant class is represented by both ethnic Chinese and Lebanese - and the same dynamic exists. Jews are often perceived not just as a religious minority, but also as an ethnic one. And like all ethnic prejudices against small minority populations, it is indeed a canary in the coal mine.
A couple of years ago, I saved a Tweet from Bari Weiss that Is very similar to what she says here:
Anti-Semitism is a virus. When the immune system of a society is healthy, anti-Semitism is kept in check. When it is weakened - as it is right now - the virus thrives, as it has so many times before in some of the most seemingly civilized cultures on the planet.
In thinking about why hatred of Jews seems so persistent and/or recurrent, I came to believe that there were two reasons for it. First, the Jews are God's chosen people. This idea enrages those who would prefer to take that honor themselves. Second, the Jews survive and usually thrive even when society treats them badly. This is a constant rebuke to those groups who have more advantages and don't do as well (or better), and to other groups who are also treated badly and don't do as well. Recently, Glenn Reynolds said:
... antisemitism is central to wokrness, because both are built on a hatred of achievement.
https://instapundit.com/489876/
I think to some extent this echoes Aggie's point in the sense that envy is part of the dynamic. And perhaps that envy ties into Tex's point: others are envious of the Jew's freedom from the mainstream culture - and are also rebuked by Jews willing to stand up for what they believe.
In a novel by Lesley Egan, the main character is Jewish and he refers to Jews as a stiff-necked people. I went looking for it and found this article which talks about what Bari Weiss is talking about: the Jews loyalty to their faith and their covenant:
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/4298690/jewish/A-Stiff-Necked-People.htm
Thanks for linking to this, Tex. An interesting if horrifying essay. I can come up with intellectual reasons why people may be anti-Semitic but in the end I simply cannot understand it.
As long as Jews existed in any society, there was evidence that it in fact wasn’t necessary to believe what everyone else believed, that those who disagreed with their neighbors could survive and even flourish against all odds.”
That is, unless you were Christ or a large group of Christians in the early years of Christendom.
In the West, Jews have traditionally been persecuted by Christians because of scripture. That said, scripture also claims that the duty to bear guilt extends to seven generations, which Biblically is 40 years per generation. That timeline has been expired for quite a while, even if the claim were valid.
There is a split, I think, across the centuries. The Jews were not especially noted as successful or traders until the Middle Ages, though they were traders and indeed widespread. We notice the remnant that persevered, but many converted out, as with all ethnic groups. If separateness was indeed the intended lesson, they were still learning it through the centuries in Europe. As all but the Orthodox are outmarrying at high rates now, they are perhaps still learning it. Or not learning it, maybe.
Yet through all that I think you are correct that there is something continually illustrative about their treatment that is rather amazing. Whatever else people are paranoid about, as their buses circle outward they pick up the Jews at the first stop, maybe second. "Oh, those aren't real Jews, they are actually Khazars," which was always crap but we can now at least prove is crap with genetics. (It doesn't stop the antisemites, though.) "It was the Jews who betrayed us/funded the war/were the communists/pulled the strings." It does seem to never stop. When Yugoslavia split into constituent parts, one of the first parties to revive in Serbia was the antisemitic one - even though there were no Jews left there.
If their enemies don't want the idea to persist that they are God's chosen, they should stop choosing them themselves. It makes the otherwise indifferent suspicious that maybe something is indeed up.
In the West, Jews have traditionally been persecuted by Christians because of scripture.
And it puzzled me that Evangelicals are often so supportive of Jews and of Israel. When I went looking for an explanation, the one I found was "God is not an oath-breaker." God make a covenant with the Jews and He is sticking to it. Makes sense to me.
Elise...."And it puzzled me that Evangelicals are often so supportive of Jews and of Israel"
I think there is another reason. A considerable % of Evangelicals are of Celtic background, and Celts generally respect people who fight against heavy odds.
The Israel story, I think, has played a big role in the decline of anti-Semitism among some American groups, as well as its increase among other groups.
Summary of Nazi beliefs...Nationalism, Socialism, a Workers' Party, and Anti-Semitism...written by Josef Goebbels circa 1932:
https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/haken32.htm
Note the hostility toward *trade*.
The Israel story, I think, has played a big role in the decline of anti-Semitism among some American groups
I believe it was one of Florence King's books that claimed the Six Day War sent Southerner's opinions of Jews skyrocketing.
@ Elise - that sounds like her.
From where I sat in the 70s, a lot of the old fundamentalist types divided into those who believed in end-times prophecy and those who thought those dispensationalists were dangerous heretics. For the former, Israel figured prominently in a lot of theories - all those Hal Lindsays and Salem Kirbans. They believed that the conversion of the Jews was just about to happen and they were going to rise up and be great leaders in the Last Days. So a lot of new Jesus Freaks went heavily into that mindset and were very pro-Israel. That didn't last, but at that point a lot of them had picked up that there were some basic fairness issues here, and whatever people might think of Jews, the Palestinians and Arabs were clearly lying about the whole thing, and the underdog-rooting kicked in. They came for the prophecy, stayed for the fairness.
There was plenty of muttering from those influenced by the more antisemitic fundamentalists - Jimmy Carter was one who before he was president was on record as believing that Israel was supposed to let God do all its fighting and just be righteous, which deeply informed his foreign policy. Bigoted antisemitic bastard who knew how to make it sound sweet. They were outnumbered among the evangelicals, but they never really went away. You can still find old independent Baptist preachers who believe all kinds of crazy shit about the Jews.
DF: "A considerable % of Evangelicals are of Celtic background, and Celts generally respect people who fight against heavy odds."
Elise: "I believe it was one of Florence King's books that claimed the Six Day War sent Southerner's opinions of Jews skyrocketing."
That's got to be right. I went to Israel in 2014, and I liked everyone I met there; but the guy who won me over was a gun-toting paratrooper rabbi. I understand that guy; I know what he's doing.
Despite my nat-con leanings, I've never like the 'smells like freedom' variety of pro-Americanism, and the backhandedly congratulatory "they hate us for our freedoms" formulation popular since 9/11 makes me wince. As noted by Grim earlier, Jews have flourished in illiberal societies at times.
Tribalism is everywhere and always. The Jewish people are something of a special case as pillars of their religious observance are separateness and remembrance of their diasporas. Reflections of those affect our perception of antisemitism. When the Hutu and Tutsi go at it, we see another two somewhat random tribes of the multitude in Africa bashing each other. Somebody tagging a synagogue can get connected to everything from Ivy League quotas to Czarist pogroms to medieval Spain, and eventually the Holocaust.
Recognizing antisemitism is important, and it might be more recognizable than some prejudices but it's not ur-tribalism and exists independent of other intolerances.
That timeline has been expired for quite a while, even if the claim were valid.
Indeed. We just don't want to selectively forget history--and as a matter of interest, there is still anti-Christian persecution practiced by some Jewish people. See: https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-persecution-in-hostile-israel-highlighted-by-evangelical-group-some-may-disagree-and-even-take-offense-says-nonprofit.html
To say you have forgiven but not forgotten is to say that you have not forgiven.
T99 - I requested your response on my most recent post.
@ Dad29 - there is lots of persecution of Christians in the world - some data suggests the most ever in history. But the Jews, even in Israel, are the least of our worries. We still contribute to VOM, even after their horrible scandals, but at a reduced rate, still looking for other similar charities. But I am much more suspicious of their reporting these days.
I have always thought that it is simple envy: Jews are more successful, and others envy that success. Of course, the question arises as to why they are more successful. Are they smarter? Is their culture better? Or are they just dishonest? The latter is the easy answer for anti-semites, but I believe it is mainly the first two points. Of course, it is very hard to admit that someone else is more successful than you because he is smarter and works harder, so it is much easier to believe that they just cheat. By the way, I think we are seeing a lot of that attitude in today's American society, but not with respect to Jews.
"To say you have forgiven but not forgotten is to say that you have not forgiven."
That is a Buddhist proverb. It's a good one. A lot of people are determined not to forgive; but that is God's most basic commandment, if you take Christianity seriously.
They got what they deserved
Greg
Lest I get pushed into the 'anti-Semite' barrel--which would be an error--I'll repeat what I said earlier in different phrasing: selective memory is destructive insofar as it does not represent truth fairly.
I don't understand castigation of "the Jews" any more than "the Russians" in today's Slavic conflict story. There are certain Russians, certain Jews, certain Germans, certain Scots......etc., who are problems.
Lest I get pushed into the 'anti-Semite' barrel--which would be an error...
You are always welcome here, my friend. Even if you and I disagreed about something so substantial as that, I would not let you be slandered nor driven away.
That doesn't go for everyone. D29 has a special and continuing welcome here.
Let me modify what I said, when I stated they "deserve it"
Lets be specific as to why. Look at what the ADL posted at the link.
When monsters tell you they are monsters, take them at their word and treat them accordingly. And for the love of all that is Good, Beautiful, and True, stop trying to correct them, defend them, or conflate them with their hated enemieWhen monsters tell you they are monsters, take them at their word and treat them accordingly. And for the love of all that is Good, Beautiful, and True, stop trying to correct them, defend them, or conflate them with their hated enemies.s.
https://voxday.net/2022/05/18/believe-them/
Greg
Not all deserve persecution.
https://coalitionforjewishvalues.org/2022/05/baltimore-jewish-times-the-torah-is-unequivocally-pro-life/
Greg
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