Why have Jews been hated for centuries?

Answer 1

Anti-Semitism is a prejudicial hate, and prejudice comes from the term "pre-judge." It is not based in reality. It is based in a "pre-judgment" of people, made usually without any knowledge of that people beyond the repetition of myths, legends, and stereotypes.

If you look throughout history, Jews are not the only victims of other peoples' hate, as the history of African-Americans shows.

Hate does not need a reason to exist. It simply exists, created by those who either believe it (from ignorance) or fuel it (from cynicism) or spread it (from previous hatred).

Further informationIt's worth adding that at various times the Jews have been actively 'demonized' and blamed for all kinds of things. For example, in the Middle Ages they were blamed for the plague! In the aftermath of WWI there was a widespread view of the Jews as Bolshevists. Hitler and many other extreme right-wingers claimed that they had encouraged non-co-operation and subversion in Germany.

Answer 2

During World War II (and even well before its outbreak), Jews were hated by many Europeans for many different reasons, not the least of which is that they were simply different from many of their European countrymen. Fundamentally, however, the hate that spawned the Holocaust is best attributed (if only in a general manner) to an undeniable, deep-rooted, and violent prejudice.

Answer 3

Please see the Related Questions linked to below.
Why do people hate the Jews?
Why do some Christians hate Jews?
Why do some Muslims hate Jews?

Answer 4

Historians have listed six explanations as to why some people hate the Jews:
1) Economic: Some people hate Jews because "they possess too much wealth and power."
2) Chosen People: Some hate the Jews because Jews claim that they are the chosen people (Exodus ch.19 and other passages).
3) Scapegoat: Jews seem to be a convenient group to single out and blame for the troubles of society.
4) Deicide: Some hate the Jews "because they killed Jesus."
5) Outsiders: Some hate the Jews "because they are different than us." (Xenophobia.)
6) Racial Theory: Some hate the Jews "because they are an inferior race."

As we examine the explanations, we must ask: Are they causes for anti-Semitism or excuses for it? The difference being, that if one takes away the cause, then anti-Semitism should no longer exist. If one can show a contradiction to the explanation, it demonstrates that the "cause" is not a reason, it is just an excuse.Let's look at some of the contradictions:

Economic -- The Jews of 17th- 19th century Poland and Russia were dirt poor and had no influence, and yet they were hated.

Chosen People -- a) In the late 19th century, most Jews of Germany denied "Chosenness;" and they assimilated. Yet the holocaust started there.

b) Christians and Moslems also profess to being the "Chosen people," but the world and the anti-Semites tolerate them.

Scapegoat -- Any group must already be hated to be an effective scapegoat. The Scapegoat theory does not cause anti-Semitism. Rather, anti-Semitism is what makes the Jews a convenient target. Hitler's ranting and ravings would not be taken seriously if he said, "It's the bicycle riders and the midgets who are destroying our society."

Deicide -- a) the Christian Bible says the Romans killed Jesus, with Jews mentioned as accomplices. (The claims that Jews directly killed Jesus came several hundred years later). Why are the alleged accomplices persecuted, but there hasn't been an anti-Roman movement through history?

b) Jesus himself said, "Forgive them [i.e., the Jews], for they know not what they do." And the Second Vatican Council in 1963 officially exonerated the Jews as the killers of Jesus. Neither of these events lessened anti-Semitism.

Outsiders -- With the Enlightenment in the late 18th century, many Jews rushed to assimilate. Anti-Semitism should have stopped. Instead, for example, the Nazis proclaimed in essence: We hate you, not because you're different, but because you're trying to become like us! We cannot allow you to "infect" the Aryan race with your "inferior genes."

Racial Theory -- The overriding problem with this theory is that it is self-contradictory: Jews are not a race. Anyone can become a Jew - and members of every race, creed and color in the world have done so at one time or another.

Answer 5

Although there are hints of prejudice by Greeks and Romans against Jews as far back as the third century BCE, this was probably little different from prejudice against 'barbarians' and other ethnic groups.

Antisemitism really began with the first Christian emperor, Constantine, in the fourth century. He was constrained in the extent to which he could persecute pagans, because the overwhelming majority of the empire's population was pagan, but he could discriminate against the Jews. Through the fourth century and beyond, persecution increased, interrupted only by the short reign of the pagan emperor, Julian the Apostate (361-363), who even initiated plans to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple but was killed in battle before construction could begin.

In 391 CE, Emperor Theodosius banned the public worship of the pagan gods, but was constrained by tradition from banning Jewish worship. The empire would soon ban paganism altogether, making it a capital offence, but permitted Judaism to continue, although Jews were excluded from many of the rights enjoyed by other citizens. Undoubtedly one of the reasons for the irrational hatred of Jews has been the Christian belief that they are responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Answer 6

See this link, referred to in the other Answer to the Question.