Anti-Semitism: Who and What?

Anti-Semitism: Who and What?

In the media and political world, anti-Semitism is surely the greatest of all sins. For other things like murder, rape and treason, people can be forgiven and some will demand leniency for them. But for those accused of anti-Semitism there is no mercy. Just what is this heinous crime?

A true anti-Semite hates Jews simply because they are Jews. He needs no other reason.
He hates all things Jewish. He despises their artistic works, he shuns their businesses, he opposes them on principle.
His hatred may or may not be based on the Jewish religion.
His mistake is to see only the poorest or worst examples of Jewish conduct and then generalized that all Jews are equally bad.
He refuses to consider or to acknowledge the many positive and beneficial contributions made to the human race by Jews.
He has no sympathy or concern when he sees one or all Jews suffer misfortune. In fact a true anti-Semitic might actually rejoice in their misfortune.
Generally he has had little or no personal contact with fellow-citizens who are Jewish. His conclusions are usually based on myths, rumors and legends which tend to be distorted if not false.
He would impose harm on Jews if it were within his power.
Not content to hate alone, the anti-Semite seeks to spread his poisonous view to others and win them over to his position.
He justifies his hatred by blaming contemporary Jews for the crime of their ancestors in rejecting and killing Jesus.
On the other hand, it is not anti-Semitism to:

Demand that Jewish criminals be held to the same standard as the rest of society.
To be angry when unjustly treated by a Jewish merchant, lawyer, etc.
To note the extensive influence of Jewish people in the arts and entertainment industry, in broadcast and print media.
To note the extensive holdings of Jews in the world of finance.
To note the large number of Jews in the legal profession and judiciary.
To not agree with every decision of the government of Israel.
To point out what we may judge to be mistaken or wrongful actions by the state of Israel.
To question the vast financial support our country gives to Israel.
To question the influence of the Jewish lobby on our elected officials in Washington.
To be concerned lest the actions of the Israeli government drag America into a war they have triggered.
To be unhappy with a Jewish business person who has been dishonest in dealing with you and resolve not to patronize his establishment.
To treat Jews and the state of Israel the same as we as we would treat other non-hostile people such as British, Dutch, etc. is not anti-Semitism.
To express ones disgust when some Jewish person has committed some revolting deed.
For the Christian to pray that Jews might be persuaded to embrace Christianity, or to try to talk with a Jewish neighbor about Christ is not anti-Semitism. Neither is it anti-Semitic to invite a Jewish neighbor to attend church with you.
To point out that the New Testament teaches that the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, therefore deserving no special treatment is not anti-Semitism.
To believe and teach that the leaders of the Jewish nation were primarily responsible for the death of Jesus and that numbers of the people of Jerusalem agreed with that decision or to believe and teach that the Jewish religious establishment persecuted the early church, punishing and killing some of them. These points are facts of history.
The duty of every Christian toward the Jewish people is summed up in these five passages:

"Love your neighbor as thyself" (Matt 22:39).
"All things therefore whatsover ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them" (Matt. 7:12).
"As we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).
"My heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them (Israel), that they may be saved" (Rom. 10:1).
"Go preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
The person who lives by these precepts will not be guilty of anti-Semitism nor will he encourage those who are.

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