Antisemitism

Refers to hostility, prejudice, or hatred toward Jewish women and men.
It can manifest itself in negative stereotypes (“Jews are …”), discrimination, violence against Jewish people, institutions, or symbols such as synagogues, or conspiracy theories, for example “Jews control the world.”

Antisemitism is not a new phenomenon — it has existed for over 2,000 years and has appeared in different forms over time, adapting to the respective historical and social circumstances.

Main forms of antisemitism

1. Religious / Christian antisemitism

Originated in early Christianity.
Christians blamed Jews for the death of Jesus, known as the accusation of “deicide.”
Consequence: Centuries of discrimination, forced baptisms, pogroms, and expulsions in Europe.
For a long time, the Church taught that the new Christianity had replaced the “old” Judaism.
Only after the Holocaust did the Catholic Church officially declare, with the Second Vatican Council in 1965, that Jews are not collectively guilty of Jesus’ death.

2. Economic / social antisemitism

Jews were often portrayed as “greedy for money” or obsessed with power.
These prejudices date back to the Middle Ages: in many countries, Jews were not allowed to own land or pursue certain professions, so they were often left with money lending, which was later used against them.
In the 19th century, with industrialization, antisemitism also became noticeable as social envy, for example against “rich Jewish merchants/bankers.”

3. Racial / nationalist antisemitism

Developed in the 19th century with the idea of “racial ideology.”
Jews were portrayed as a “foreign race,” regardless of their faith.
The peak was National Socialist antisemitism under Hitler / the NSDAP.
Jews were considered subhuman.
The goal was their systematic extermination in the Holocaust.
6 million Jewish women and men were murdered.

4. Muslim antisemitism

Has several roots:

Religious texts: Some Quranic or traditional narratives about conflicts between Muhammad and Jewish tribes are interpreted antisemitically.
European influence: Antisemitic ideas from Europe, such as the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” spread in Arab countries in the 20th century.
Middle East conflict: The conflict between Israel and Arab states led to Jews in general, not only Israelis, being viewed as enemies.

5. Anti-Zionist / Israel-related antisemitism

Manifests itself in the rejection of the Jewish state of Israel.
It becomes antisemitic when:

Israel is judged by double standards, meaning Israel is judged differently from other states for its actions, for example settlement policy.
Israel’s right to exist is denied.
Israel is compared to Nazis, for example “The Jews are doing the same thing as Hitler.”

It often appears in a hidden or modernized form, especially in political debates.

6. Conspiracy-ideological antisemitism

Jews are often portrayed as “secret puppet masters”:

“Jews control banks, media, or governments”
“George Soros is behind everything”

Why antisemitism is dangerous

Antisemitism is not just an opinion, but a form of hatred against human beings.
It threatens:

the lives and safety of Jewish people,
social peace,
and the fundamental values of democratic societies.

Quote by Kurt Tucholsky

Kurt Tucholsky (1890–1935) was one of the most important writers, journalists, and satirists of the Weimar Republic.
He once said: “They attribute to us (Jews) their own wickedness.”
By this he meant projection, which therefore sums up antisemitism.
The wickedness of the world is reflected in Judaism — and that is a lot.

Important

Not all criticism of Israel is antisemitic — but when Jews as a people or religion are held collectively responsible, then it is antisemitism.