Q&A: Antisemitism
Antisemitism
Question
I found several sources about the phenomenon of antisemitism: 1. Esau hates Jacob. 2. Amalek grabbed the foreskins of Israel and threw them upward, which I understand as a claim against the individual providence over Israel—why does the Jewish people attribute the Creator of the world to being their God? 3. I saw in the name of the Vilna Gaon that since the giving of the Torah, the Jewish people have no independent existence of their own, but rather they are bound to God—that is, they either keep His commandments or they have no place in the world; and therefore, when God abandoned them in exile, the nations could not tolerate their existence. I wanted to know what you think about this, and whether you have another reason that you understand for this phenomenon.
Answer
I don’t understand the claim or the question. Are you looking for reasons for antisemitism? And what does searching for reasons have to do with sources? Mystical reasons or natural ones? (There was a question here not long ago on this topic.)
Discussion on Answer
That’s a psychological/sociological question, not really a philosophical one.
I have nothing to add, except that this isn’t only mysticism. There are also real and natural reasons here (envy of success, a reaction to antipathy toward others, religious baggage such as among Christians, etc.).
Thank you very much, everyone.
Yes, I really am looking for reasons for antisemitism, and as someone who believes in the Torah I’m looking for answers in sources as well. I also don’t have a problem with mysticism. All in all, I just wanted to know whether you would add anything from a rational point of view.