Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism (An Examination of Antisemitism)

This is the best book I’ve seen on the subject, and I’ve read lots of them. The authors not only offer much historical fact and statistics, but probe the different theories as to WHY certain groups, running the scale from the pre-Christian pagans to the modern anti-Semitic nations, from the Nazis to the New Left, hate the Jews. In other words, it’s not another collection of stories of pogroms and massacres, but a careful analysis of anti-Semitism throughout history. A Jewish convert to Christianity, I do NOT see the New Testament itself as anti-Semitic, any more than I see the proliferation of militias in the US today as being done by people hating America. As militiamen love this country but fear the direction that its leaders are taking (Obama is in his fifth year as president as I write this), so the New Testament writers had to deal with that small Jewish minority that had the political power and even the police power to persecute the early Christians. The writers of the New Testament were for the most part Jewish themselves, but they knew what the Jewish minority groups were doing to them. Most Jews left the early Christians alone, but the New Testament sometimes uses the term “the Jews”, in the way that today, flag-waving Americans complain about “the feds”. ‘Nuff said here. Meanwhile, as someone who has read hundreds of books on both Christian theology and Jewish history, I find this to be one of the best. Christians should read it to understand the historical gap in their knowledge. Jews should read it to see WHY there is so much hatred of the Jews. One criticism that I have as a Christian is that it does not mention the real basis for anti-Semitism—Satan hates the Jews, who brought in the Messiah Who will rescue them at a time when the world tries to destroy them and nearly succeeds.

I don't often leave reviews but wanted to recommend this book. It tackles a question I'd long struggled with and provides the best answers I've seen so far. It's well documented, commonsensical and frank. Along the way it also provides a succinct history of antisemitism. I learned a lot, but never felt overwhelmed with details. The authors do a good job highlighting a few historical examples to support each point they make, and then moving on. If you've ever wondered "why the Jews?" this book offers some answers.

I bought this due to coauthor Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, who has never written a bad book imo. The book appears to be a popularization of a more academic study of antisemitism and it is very well thought out and easy to read, although I often wished for a few footnotes citing the sources to which they referred. Particularly valuable for today’s audience were their examination of opposition of pre-Christian religions to Jewish monotheism and an update in this edition non-stridently explaining when opposition to Zionism is and is not a euphemism for antisemitism.

Regardless of how much one might agree or disagree with what Prager & Telushkin have to say on the subject, I have to give them credit for producing a reasonably readable & informative (for anyone who, like myself, didn’t know much on the subject) work. I would note that their premise that antisemitism is “the most accurate predictor of human evil” is problematic in that it is narrowly focused and effectively assumes that all human evil has something to do with Jews (what about evil perpetrated by peoples in the Americas and Asia such as the Aztecs, Mongols, Huns, etc. who had no contact with Jews?) Clearly, there is a more fundamental and universal explanation for evil which has nothing to do with the Jews per se. Likewise, although I think they are essentially correct in arguing against the various attempts to “de-Judaize” antisemitism, at the same time I am inclined to think that there is some underlying aspect of human nature which has tended to make Jews the target of hatred, regardless of their Judaism. In other words, due to evolution, we have become “hard-wired” toward altruism, or at least tolerance for other members of our group, and toward suspicion, fear, hatred, & violence toward those who are not members. Even chimpanzees are now known to conduct what can be described as “tribal warfare” against rival groups. And of course, any sub-culture or ethnic group which refuses to assimilate and do their part to support the welfare of the larger culture (such as be refusing to pray for help or make sacrifices to assuage the wrath of the gods which the majority believe can affect their welfare) is bound to generate the resentment and even the wrath of the larger group. And even without such obvious “triggers,” simply being different (or being perceived as different) can be enough to arouse the deep-seated, “hard-wired” tendency of human beings to see everyone in terms of “us versus them,” and with the inevitable result being in accordance with the old adage that “those who are not with us, are against us.” But having said all of that, I would again judge the book informative. I did not realize for instance that the Jews had suffered antisemitism under the Egyptians prior to the Exodus, and I did not know that an estimated 10% of the Empire had already converted to Judaism before Christianity came along, or that the Greco-Roman majority would have persecuted the Jews in the same way, and for some of the same reasons, that they would persecute early Christians. Finally, I am not entirely convinced that the author’s view that the Jews were chosen merely to spread “ethical monotheism” to other peoples, rather than being chosen in the sense that they are supposed to be God’s favorite, most beloved children. But considering the suffering that Jews have endured for millennia, I must admit that that idea makes sense. After all, if the Jews really are God’s favorite, we might expect that he would occasionally make his favoritism evident in some small way.

Very informative and well written. Everyone should read it!

Very informative.

A good read and excellent service.

A good book worth reading...We need to know the history of the Jewish people to prevent antisemitism from occurring...well worth it...

OUTSTANDING!!! 👍👍👍👍👍