Hatred of Jews is not about anything “wrong” with Jews; it is called antisemitism and is a long‑standing form of prejudice built from religion, politics, and conspiracy theories over many centuries. Antisemitism today is widely recognized as dangerous and unjust, similar to racism or other bigotries.
What antisemitism is
Antisemitism means hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews as Jews, whether they are seen as a religious, ethnic, or cultural group. It has appeared in many societies and time periods, often changing its language and justifications but keeping the same core hatred.
Historical roots
In parts of Christian Europe, church teaching for centuries blamed Jews collectively for the death of Jesus and portrayed them as spiritually stubborn or evil, which legitimized exclusion, forced conversions, and violence. In Muslim and Christian societies, Jews were often tolerated but kept in an inferior legal or social status, making it easy to turn them into targets in times of crisis.
Scapegoating and conspiracy theories
Rulers and political movements repeatedly used Jews as scapegoats when societies faced war, plague, economic collapse, or social tension, claiming “the Jews” were secretly responsible. This produced recurring myths: that Jews poisoned wells, spread the Black Death, controlled finance or media, or ran shadow conspiracies, none of which are supported by evidence but have fueled pogroms, expulsions, and, in the twentieth century, the Holocaust.
Modern racial and political antisemitism
From the nineteenth century on, pseudo‑scientific racism recast Jews as an inferior or dangerous “race,” leading to laws, segregation, and ultimately Nazi ideology that culminated in the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust. Modern antisemitism also appears in political forms, simultaneously accusing Jews of being capitalist manipulators and communist subversives, or of being both clannish “outsiders” and all‑powerful “globalists,” a set of contradictions that shows the hatred is irrational rather than fact‑based.
How to respond to it
Because antisemitism is rooted in fear, ignorance, and scapegoating, the most effective responses involve education, challenging stereotypes, and standing up publicly against antisemitic jokes, slurs, and violence. If this topic affects you personally, it can help to talk with trusted people or communities (Jewish or non‑Jewish) that are informed about antisemitism, and to use reputable educational resources to understand both the history of the hatred and the resilience of Jewish life and culture.
