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The Dark Secret of Jew Hatred
(Los Angeles Jewish Journal) David Suissa - Why do Jew haters hate Jews? The general consensus is that Jews have served throughout history both as humanity's conscience and its convenient scapegoats. Whatever one hates at any point in time, just blame the Jews. Something has changed, however, since Oct. 7. We've rarely seen such hysterics. Whether on campuses or city streets, the haters have gone bonkers with a fanatical exuberance. The fury has reached such a frenzy that I've been wondering if there's a deeper motivation at work. British philosopher Eve Garrard has argued that "There are (at least) three principal sources of pleasure which anti-Semitism provides. First, the pleasure of hatred; second, the pleasure of tradition; and third, the pleasure of displaying moral purity." The anti-Israel protesters we're seeing on college campuses and major cities may be enraged, but they're not sad or unhappy. Indeed, there's a kind of thrill in the air; a crowd-driven exhilaration in the service of going bonkers against the world's most condemned country. Behind the screams and the fury, the experience itself must feel good for them to keep showing up. No amount of education or condemnation can overcome visceral satisfaction. To be sure, the fight must continue. But let's not waste time hoping haters will stop hating. Their anger is hard-wired; it feels too good.