Though other peoples also claim to be “semites,” the term antisemitism refers solely to Jews. The term stuck and today “antisemitism” is used universally to describe hatred and bigotry against Jews. And while some of these reasons may describe a particular antisemite’s motivation, none of them really explain antisemitism, especially since antisemitism happens at times and in places where these reasons don’t make a whole lot of sense. So, no matter where you look in history, antisemitism is always there, and with the explanations always changing and evolving, it’s hard not to think they’re really just… excuses. So in a surprising way, Judaism teaches that antisemitism is a reminder to the Jews of what they stand for - morality and conscience.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 26, 2023 13:07 UTC