Sebastian Albuquerque, 9th Grade

For those who don’t know, anti-Semitism is a term used to discriminate against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. It has a long and tragic history that spans centuries. The term ‘anti-Semitism’ was coined in 1879 by Wilhelm Marr, who sought to give a scientific name to the movement against Jews.

However, this is not the beginning of it all, as Jewish people have faced hardships for a long time due to their adherence to their own beliefs instead of assimilating with the majority. Back during the Hellenistic and Roman times, they endured oppression, violence, and were even expelled from their homes because of their culture. Later, during the early days of Christianity, Jews were blamed for the death of Jesus and accused of harming Christian children for strange rituals. This led to anti-Jewish movements and rules within the Christian church, influencing how people in Europe perceived and treated the Jewish community.

During the Middle Ages, Jews were subjected to various forms of discrimination and persecution. They experienced unfair treatment, such as being confined to ghettos, required to wear special badges and hats, and even expelled from countries. Things took a dark turn when Jews were massacred, stripped of citizenship and basic rights, and unfairly blamed for various social and economic issues. Some found a bit of relief in places like the Ottoman Empire, where they were tolerated, but even there, they faced restrictions and occasional hostility.

In more recent times, people still treat Jews poorly. The worst part was during World War II when the Nazis committed the Holocaust, attempting to annihilate the entire Jewish population, resulting in the loss of 6 million lives. Even after that terrible time, mistreatment of Jews did not disappear; it changed, but there are still some countries that do not support Israel as a nation. A cause of modern anti-Semitism may be the resurgence of extremist movements on the right and left. These movements often use anti-Semitic phrases and symbols to express their opposition to democracy, racism, and human rights. Additionally, some forms of religious extremism, such as Islamic extremism, may promote anti-Semitic views and violence.

According to various reports and surveys, anti-Semitism is on the rise in many parts of the world, especially in Europe, America, and the Middle East. Some indicators of this trend include the increase in anti-Semitic incidents, such as vandalism, harassment, assault, and sometimes even murder.

With this, we can see that anti-Semitism is a form of racism that denies the rights and freedoms of Jews, and this can lead to violence and genocide. Anti-Semitism has a long and complex history that spans many centuries. In history, there are six stages in the historical development of anti-Semitism: Pre-Christian anti-Semitism in Ancient Greece and Rome, Christian anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages, Muslim anti-Semitism, political, social, and racial anti-Semitism that arose in the 19th century and culminated in World War II, and finally, contemporary anti-Semitism, which has been labeled by some as the new anti-Semitism.

References:

Berenbaum, M. (2023, December 5). Anti-Semitism | History, Meaning, Facts, & Examples. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/anti-Semitism

Defining antisemitism – United States Department of State. (2021, December 9). United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/

What is Antisemitism? – United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (n.d.). https://www.ushmm.org/antisemitism/what-is-antisemitism