How Have Jews Been Persecuted?
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 1.2.27
How Have Jews Been Persecuted?
Jews have been persecuted throughout history and racial discrimination against Jews is known as "antisemitism."
Antisemitism
- Antisemitism can be defined as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”
- Over history Jews have been hated for being rich and successful as well as being poor and unsuccessful.
- Even in Torah times there were nations and individuals who hated Jews.
- Antisemitism has been called “the Longest Hatred”.
Antisemitism (cont.)
- The word “antisemitism” came into use in the late nineteenth century to describe pseudo-scientific racial discrimination against Jews.
- Now it generally describes all forms of discrimination, prejudice, or hostility towards Jews throughout history.
- There are several definitions of antisemitism that have been created by international bodies to formally recognise antisemitism as a form of racism.
Exiles of the Jews
- Jews were exiled from their homeland in the year 422 BC by the Babylonians and in the year 70 AD by the Romans.
- In both cases, the superpowers wanted to expand their nation's territory and the land of Israel and Jewish life got in their way.
Test yourself on How Have Jews Been Persecuted?
How has antisemitism been described?
When did the word "antisemitism" come into use?