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Why Does Antisemitism Persist? Because the World Wants It To

(Washington Post) Clive Gillinson - Why has antisemitism endured among people of vastly different religions, races and ideologies, often adapting to fit each era's prevailing prejudices? This is one of history's greatest ironies: without antisemitism, Judaism might well not have survived at all. Societies without external threats often see their cultures and traditions fade over time, whereas persecution fosters resilience. The more Jews have been targeted, the stronger their communal identity has become. Without antisemitism, it is quite possible that Jews would no longer exist as an entity. Instead, hatred has kept Jewish identity alive, only compounding the fury of antisemites. This may be the true nature of antisemitism: it may well not be primarily about the Jews, but about the need for an eternal scapegoat. Maybe antisemitism survives because societies continually need "another" to blame. And Jews, in their stubborn refusal to disappear, have remained the ideal target. The author lives in New York.
2025-05-04 00:00:00
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