Antisemitism: Then and Now
Antisemitism is once again on the rise, both here in the United States and abroad. What has made antisemitism so malleable and enduring over the centuries? What are its historical roots and how do these compare with its contemporary expressions? Understanding and confronting the many faces of antisemitism – in religious cultures and political parties, in Christian and Muslim countries, on the right and the left of the ideological spectrum – are nothing short of bewildering. This course takes a deep dive into the history of antisemitism in the western world and examines how it developed from an ancient prejudice to its many later forms: medieval demonization (such as the blood libel), modern conspiracy theories (like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion), racial hatred (made famous in Nazi Germany), claims of the Jewish invention or exaggeration of antisemitism (such as Holocaust denial), and political prejudice (anti-Zionism and BDS). We will reflect on the recent debates over how to define antisemitism and the challenges and opportunities confronting us today.
This reader was developed by Elisha Russ-Fishbane.
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Anti-Semitism: Then and Now