What are the Origins of Anti-Semitism?

What is the origin of anti-Semitism?

Anti-Semitism has been called "the longest and deepest hatred of human history." It is indeed an ancient phenomenon— already in the 6th century B.C. Haman sought to wipe out all the Jews of the Persian Empire. Why? Because Mordecai, a Jew, refused to bow down to him. Haman exhibited the classic traits of the virulent disease of anti-Semitism. He made unfair stereotypes, projected negative characteristics from individual Jews onto an entire nation, and called for the liquidation of the Jewish people because of the perceived misdeeds of one Jew.

Let us examine what the Bible says about Haman's hatred for Jews and about the hatred of all other anti-Semites, as well. In the Book of Esther we find Haman saying to King Ahashverosh— also known as Xerxes— of Persia: ""There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business" (Esther 3:8-9).

Haman despised the Jews because they lived and believed differently from others. He accused them of being clannish, unpatriotic to their nation, and disloyal to the king. He planted doubts in the King's mind about the safety and wisdom of having Jews living in the Empire. Haman finally succeeded in rallying the King and the masses to his anti-Semitic cause by cleverly appealing to their greed. He assured them that by destroying the Jews they would not only rid themselves of their national problem, they would also reap great financial reward in the process.

The actual term "anti-Semitism," however, originated much later. It was coined in 1873 by Wilhelm Marr, a German who believed that Jews as a group were unalterably tainted and "racially determined." Their goal, in his view, was to overrun society and corrupt the pure Aryan German Nation. This new concept of anti-Semitism reflected a fundamental shift in attitudes. What was once historic anti-Jewish prejudice that flared up in response to offensive Jewish behavior or beliefs, changed to a view that was anti-Jewish on genetic grounds. This experience has had a profound effect on the identity of the Jewish people.