I am currently taking a Jewish history class and one of the largest topics covered is the historical persecution of people of Jewish descent. My question is simply "why?". What has made so many people and groups hate this tiny subset of people?

My first thought was that racism was a large factor, but most Jewish people (at least the ones that I know) could easily pass as a white person, so it doesn't really make sense for this to be the main element.

We learned in class that Jewish people have been expelled from something like 100 countries over the course of history, and more recently were targeted by Nazis. I just don't understand how and why they have been so hated.

Before, anyone asks, yes I did already ask my professor, but she didn't really give a solid answer, (she said people just have an ingrained antisemitism). So please someone help me out.