Many people do not actually hate Jewish people, but antisemitism is a long- standing and very real form of prejudice and violence. Hatred of Jews is not caused by anything Jews have done; it comes from myths, stereotypes, and political manipulation by others.
What antisemitism means
Antisemitism is prejudice, hostility, or discrimination directed at Jews as individuals or as a group. It treats all Jews as one “collective enemy,” regardless of who they are or what they personally believe or do.
Historical religious roots
In many Christian societies, Jews were falsely blamed for the death of Jesus and portrayed as spiritually dangerous or stubborn for not converting, which helped justify exclusion and violence. Supersessionist beliefs in both Christianity and Islam (the idea that the newer religion “replaces” Judaism) sometimes fueled pressure on Jews and resentment when Jews refused to give up their religion.
Scapegoating and conspiracy theories
Rulers and political movements have often used Jews as scapegoats in times of crisis, blaming them for war defeats, economic problems, or plagues such as the Black Death. Over centuries, myths like “blood libel,” well-poisoning, or controlling banks and governments created a false image of Jews as secretly powerful and dangerous.
Racial ideologies and modern extremism
In the 19th and 20th centuries, antisemitism shifted from mainly religious prejudice to racist ideology, claiming Jews were a separate, harmful “race,” which helped lead to the Holocaust. Today, many far-right and other extremist groups still spread conspiracy theories that Jews control media, finance, or politics and see Jews as a main threat to their vision of society.
Why this hatred is irrational and harmful
Serious historical research is clear that these accusations and stereotypes are false and that Jewish communities have repeatedly been targeted as “the other” because they are a visible minority. Antisemitism does not just harm Jews; it strengthens racism and extremism more broadly and can destabilize whole societies.
