re: #152 Bob Levin

I think the battlefield for Antisemites has changed. It’s moved to the mind, the universe of belief. For instance, Israel doesn’t have to be physically obliterated, as was attempted in the 6 Day War. Although people still try. But they try harder to obliterate our history, the things that give us identity and purpose. It’s gotten to be quite sophisticated.

There are, and have always been, two kinds of Jew Hate (I really do not like the term “Anti-Semitism” which was invented by, a Jew Hater)

One kind is hatred of the Jews as a race, and the desire to exterminate them in a physical genocide like the nazis, or Haman in ancient times.

The other kind is hatred of the Jews as a unique people and faith, and the desire to force them to give up their religion and their national identity. This type of hatred is more widespread, and also takes the form of “Anti-Zionism” which is the denial of the national aspiration of the Jewish people. This form of Jew-hatred is what fueled the Greeks and Hellenizing Jews during the time of the Maccabees. The ancient Greeks also attempted to enforce a ban on circumcision, because it conflicted with their idea of the perfection of the human body.