Firstly, this is not meant to be anti-semetic in any way, shape or form. I am just curious. I live in a predominantly Jewish dorm and it was brought up in conversation yesterday that Jews are hated in many places throughout the world. I claimed that that was fairly over dramatic but I did start to wonder why Judaism has been a popular source for hatred throughout history. After learning a little bit about Jewish culture in my dorm and doing some research on my own, it seems like maybe Judaism, as a race and religion, has brought some amount of hate upon itself. One of the first recorded events of anti-semetism was attributed to the "Jewish misanthropic outlook on life" and also their tendency to separate themselves from other cultures (Van Der Horst, Pieter Willem, 2003). Throughout history, they have had very strict laws with intermarriage and have considered themselves as the Chosen People. They also have "different classes within their society where they regard themselves as better people depending on what type of Jews they are": Cohen or Levite, Ashkenazic or Sephardic ( Jewish friends). It seems as though their claimed misanthropic and separatist views may have caused many different people to acquire a disinclination towards them.
Please correct me if I am wrong in any aspect as I am not an expert in any way. I am not claiming that this is the only reason, or even a predominant reason, for anti-Semitism but am wondering if there is any merit to this thought.
*source cross-referenced through wikipedia.
hi! direct responses to your specific questions are welcome, but meanwhile, this section of the FAQ can get you started
Jewish Stereotypes and Persecution Throughout History
*see the link on the sidebar or the wiki tab
I don't think you quite understand what "chosen people" means, but that's not particularly relevant. Also, Jews don't consider one to be "better" because they're a Cohen or a Levite or Ashkenazi or Sephardic.
I think you'll find that in European society, groups that were not part of the dominant group were frequently persecuted. This is true for the Jews & the Roma. Neither was part of the dominant culture and both were persecuted. You'll often find this for particular groups that were on the wrong side of a national border.
Look at the United States. While there has no doubt been antisemitism here, it's of a far more mild variety than the antisemitism of Europe. This is because the United States is home to many ethnic groups that immigrated here at the same time as Jews. Being a member of the dominant ethnic group was not important to being American.
it seems like maybe Judaism, as a race and religion, has brought some amount of hate upon itself.
It seems as though their claimed misanthropic and separatist views may have caused many different people to acquire a disinclination towards them.
I'm curious as how you arrived at the conclusion that the misanthropy was a(n) (in)conscious choice to "[bring] hate upon themselves", and not a result of hate directed towards them.
Do you have any point/reason/event you're basing your chicken vs. egg hypothesis* off of?