A Page on the World:
Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism
Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin look at the implications of anti-Semitism (paperback 2003, ISBN-10: 0743246209).
Reviewed by Nathan Albright
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. The museum, in chilling detail, demonstrates both the incredible will of some people to endure the most extreme suffering, as well as the capacity for other people to behave in the most destructive and despicable ways imaginable. After touring the museum I had the opportunity to purchase and read Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism by Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin.
Their purpose is to explain the origins, historical manifestations and implications of anti-Semitism. The authors identify four components of Judaism that have been under attack through history: The first is a set of beliefs that includes God, Torah, Israel and "chosenness." The second is ethical monotheism, which they define as the belief in the need of mankind to obey God and follow His law. The third is the longstanding Jewish mission to repair the world, challenge the superstitions and failings of the outside world and make moral demands on others. The fourth cause of anti-Semitism identified by the authors is the high quality of life that results from obedience to God's laws.
After identifying these causes, the authors then comment on some commonly held explanations for anti-Semitism today.
The book then details anti-Semitism in history as well as the modern world. Throughout history Jew hatred has been a consistent thread in ancient, polytheistic societies bothered by Jewish monotheism, in Christian and Muslim societies offended by Jewish commitment to their law and refusal to convert to the newer religions, as well as Enlightenment thought offended by Jewish commitment to their national identity and belief in God. The authors note that in modern society Jews are most disliked by those on the political left who dislike the Jewish commitment to their nation and by Muslim societies that deny the right of the Jewish people to a nation of their own that they call Israel.
