Source of Anti-Semitism

Submitted by Erik Nelson (United States), Sep 4, 2003 at 04:12

I highly recommend the book, "Healing Israel / Palestine" by Rabbi Michael Lerner. He traces the historical evolution of anti-semitism through medieval European monarchies to Imperial Rome, when ruling elites created it to contain the revolutionary influence of Judaism. Realizing that the Jewish religious narrative espoused the triumph of peace, hope and equality over slavery and injustice (cf. The Exodus and Babylonian Captivity), they concocted anti-semitism to tarnish Jews in the eyes of their subjects. Thus discredited, radical notions of freedom would wither while tyranny took root.

Anti-semitism has always been a tool of tyranny to turn hearts and minds away from progressive political notions. I am deeply saddened that it has such social inertia.

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