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Responding to
Antisemitism
in the Thought of Rabbi Sacks zt”l Dr. Daniel Rose
ntisemitism was a theme Rabbi Christian children, etc.) However, in the age try as far as possible not to be different. The
Sacks returned to often in his of reason of post-enlightenment Europe, best way for Jews to combat antisemitism is
writings, broadcasts and speeches no longer could a rationale for prejudice to wear our identity with pride.
A(including his last two speeches be based on religious belief. Jews instead But we cannot fight antisemitism alone. He
in the House of Lords). He argued that it is became hated for their ethnicity, an alien
a pressing issue facing not only Jews across race polluting the bloodstreams of Europe. urged Jews to stand together with other vic-
tims of hate and to find allies from other
the world but society as a whole. “The hate This new form of pseudo-scientific, racial
that begins with Jews never ends with antisemitism led directly to the crematoria communities, to stand together with society
Jews,” he wrote. “Antisemitism is the world’s of the Holocaust. as a whole against hate.
most reliable early warning sign of a major
threat to freedom, humanity and the dignity Prejudice and hate always seek justification In defense of difference
of difference.” in a civilized society. This lowest form of He argued that antisemitism is the para-
evil must seek legitimation from the highest
In explaining the historical phenomenon of source of authority of the age. In the Middle digm case of dislike of the unlike and fear
antisemitism, he gave us a framework for Ages, this was religion, in post-enlighten- of the other. The hatred of difference. For
understanding, the tools to respond, and ment Europe it was science, and today it Rabbi Sacks, this is the quintessential role of
hope for a future without hate. is “Human Rights.” So the antisemitism of the Jew – to be different and to teach the dig-
our age is disguised as criticism of Israel nity of difference. Antisemitism is an assault
The mutating virus that attacks Jews not as individuals but as not on Jews alone, but on the human condi-
a nation, directed against their nation-state. tion. Life is sacred because each human is
Rabbi Sacks showed us that like a virus, different and irreplaceable. A world without
a nefarious prejudice like antisemitism room for Jews is one that has no room for
needed to mutate to survive and defeat the What should our difference, and a world without space for
immune systems set up by cultures to pro- response be? difference has no space for humanity itself.
tect themselves from hatred. In the Middle Our response to antisemitism must be to
Ages, Jews were persecuted because of their While encouraging the fight against honor the dignity of difference. This is the
religion, at first because they rejected Chris- antisemitism, Rabbi Sacks warned Jews not Jewish message to the world.
tianity, and later as a perceived demonic to internalize it. Antisemitism says every-
force in Europe, who were to blame for thing about antisemites and nothing about
all the evils of the age (poisoned wells, Jews. It is a mistake to say that since we are Dr. Daniel Rose is the Director of Edu-
spreading the plague, the ritual murder of hated because we are different, we should cation for the Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust.
Antisemitism can take many forms
Theological or religious the business world and Political or ideological the Holocaust or exag-
antisemitism | Jews are control the economy. antisemitism | Jews are gerated the facts. Other
persecuted because of their Racial antisemitism | accused of being disloyal to conspiracy theories include
religious beliefs; they are The belief that Jews are of their country or of harboring the claim that Jews have
portrayed as “Christ-kill- an inferior race, what was perverse and destructive a secret plot to take over
ers” or forced to convert behind the Nazi ideology political ideologies and are and control the world or
to Christianity or Islam. and the Holocaust. seen as the cause of political that Jews are the cause of
upheaval. Historically, Jews
Economic | Antisemitism Social or cultural antisem- were accused by nationalists Coronavirus or other calam-
ities or natural disasters.
rises due to the Jews’ finan- itism | Jews are consid- of creating communism,
cial and economic success; ered socially inferior; they and by the communists Anti-Zionism | Hatred or
they are accused of being are accused of either not as being capitalists. criticism of Israel is used
stingy and obsessed with assimilating enough or of Holocaust denial and to mask hostility toward
money. This often includes assimilating too much and conspiracy theories | The Jews in general, even those
the belief that Jews run their culture is shunned. claim that Jews fabricated disconnected from Israel.
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