What Exactly Is Anti-Semitism?

What exactly is anti-semitism? The oft-repeated Jewish claim that anti-semitism is simply an irrational hatred of Jews based solely on their Jewishness seems a pretty wild accusation on the face of it, and one that can’t be logically and reasonably defended without indicting all Gentiles on charges of insane and unjustifiable hatefulness.

What possible reason could there be for people to hold such an irrational and preposterous hatred for people of a particular group, especially if that group had never done anything to earn their ire? To reasonable people these claims would appear to have very little merit, unless you want to make a case for Gentiles being hateful lunatics hell-bent on displaying enmity towards the poor, innocent little Jew.

This concept flies in the face of all reason and logic. What purpose would Gentiles have for hating Jewish people only because they are Jews? It makes absolutely no sense. And yet, despite the sheer and utter lunacy of the claim, it is made frequently, with Gentiles usually assumed to be the guilty party.

Over the years, historians have made several attempts to explain so-called anti-semitism by claiming it was due to Jewish economic success or due to their complicity in the death of Jesus Christ. Some believe it is because of their “chosenness” and many other reasons. Personally, I believe that these aren’t reasons at all, but excuses that those of the Jewish pursuasion come up with to keep people from figuring out exactly what “anti-semitism” really is. More