From Antijudaism to Contemporary Antisemitism: Continuities and Discontinuities
Hostility toward Jews is a phenomenon notable for its longevity and durability. While the term “antisemitism” was only coined in the late 19th century, Jews were hated, persecuted, and discriminated against for many centuries before. A wide variety of reasons were given to justify this animus (e.g., theological, political, racial), often reflecting dramatically different contexts and worldviews. This indicates some of the discontinuities between expressions of hostility toward Jews in diverse settings. However, there are stunning continuities as well, even in these very different settings. This reveals some of the common features of antisemitism and the surprisingly persistent influence of certain ideas. Join us for a discussion of the complexity of claims of both continuity and discontinuity in hostility toward Jews and how this is relevant in the present, a time when such hostility is increasing.