Anti-Semitism in the Modern World

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Currently people know what anti-Semitism is and how it affected our history in events such as the Holocaust and Inquisition, but how many people know if anti-Semitism exists in the modern world? Even if people do know this, can they answer where and why? Why do people often avoid learning about other people’s cultures and beliefs? According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary anti-Semitism is, “Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.” Anti-Semitism has existed in the world since the time of the ancient Roman Empire, and has been evident in events such as the Inquisition and Holocaust. It has been such a large topic of controversy that even William Shakespeare, a famous English poet, wrote a play called Merchant of Venice on the topic. If we know about anti-Semitism in the past then why do we not know about it in the present?

Most people can give a fair explanation of their idea of a “Jew”, but what is the proper definition of a Jew? According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary a Jew is, “A member of the tribe of Judah, a member of a nation existing in Palestine from the sixth century B.C. to the first century A.D., a person belonging to a continuation through descent or conversion of the ancient Jewish people, or one whose religion is Judaism.” Jews have often been called the scapegoats of history. A scapegoat according to Merriam-Webster online dictionary is, “A goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur, one that bears the blame for others, or one that is the object of irrational hostility.” The Jewish community has often received the blame for a large variety ...

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...s and all people of every religion and race.

Works Cited

Anti-Semitism-Flames. Digital image. San Francisco Sentinel. San Francisco Publishing Co, 27

July 2009. Web. 5 Mar. 2011.

Arsu, Sebnem. "New Film Disrupts Turkey’s Holocaust Day." New York Times. The New York

Times Company, 7 Jan. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2011.

Packouz, Kalman. "Why Do People Hate The Jews?" SimpleToRemember.com. Judaism Online, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2011.

Pryce-Jones, David. "The dark side of tolerance: British anti-Semitism." World Affairs 172.1

(2009): 35+. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

"List of Attacks against Jews And/or Israeli Targets outside Israel since 9/11." Anti-Defamation League., 4 Dec. 2008. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.

Nirenstein, Fiamma. "How Suicide Bombers Are Made." Commentary 112.2 (2001): 53. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

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