OR? Is it possible that some folks who are Jewish deplore Jews? Why would I think that?

I've had close associations with Jews all my life - my "god" parents or trustees, several close friends, and my husband. All agree that a very small number of Jews are anti-semitic.
Anti-Semitic Jews are not racist. Rather, they reject Judaism because they view the religious holidays and certain sets of laws within the Mishna as directly contributing to the triggering the persecution of Jews.

Eight of the nine religious rites in the Jewish calendar mark a moment of "triumph" over persecution. For instance, Passover marks the escape from slavery in Egypt, Sukkot celebrates the temporary shelters used during the forty years of exile in the desert and the temporary shelters for the Arc of the Covenant, and Hanukkah makes the overthrow of the Maccabees.

In the Mishnah, many of the laws are designed to help people integrate as citizens of foreign countries in the diaspora, for instance, owing allegiance to whatever government rules, scrupulous fairness in business, and the practice of making immediate amends for mistakes. However, some practices which helped survival simultaneously endangered it. The Mishna instructs parents to ensure that the children (especially boys) are well educated - can read, write and do maths fluently. In medieval times, this often meant that a Jew was the only person in a village who could read and write letters. It made them indispensable - and also a subject of suspicion concerning unwelcome messages. For the same reason, Jews often became accountants and lawyers, earning good fees - and again - suspicion and resentment of their wealth. Jews were, in different places and times, forbidden from specific occupations - but were rarely forbidden to trade. So many became merchants, hence wealthy, hence the wealth a reason for intense resentment.

Anti-Semitic Jews see the religion itself as a "set-up" for persecution, and hence reject Judaism. They regard fellow Jews with suspicion - "are they one of those, the conservatives who are to blame for the whole shamozzle?" 

In addition, there are many Jews, perhaps even a majority, who reject Orthodox Judaism - partly because it is far too extreme for easy integration in modern life - but mainly because most Orthodox are also Zionists. They have a gerrymander in Israel, enshrined in the constitution since the British departure from the colonial administration of Palestine, which gives them a permanent majority influence in parliament, no matter who is voted into power. Many view this as the primary reason for the mistreatment of Muslim citizens in Israel and the atrocities against Palestinians on the East and West Banks.


This post was edited by inky at June 17, 2019 4:35 PM MDT