NCJ Number
179155
Editor(s)
Laura K. Egendorf
Date Published
1999
Length
109 pages
Annotation
Anti-Semitism is viewed as an international and psychologically damaging problem, one that is inextricably linked with the Holocaust.
Abstract
Throughout their history, Jewish people have frequently been targeted for persecution by the societies in which they live. While violent anti-Semitism has mostly disappeared over the years, many observers believe anti-Semitism persists in less virulent forms. Although this anti-Semitism is not based wholly on theological disputes, examining the role of non-Jewish religions in fomenting anti-Jewish attitudes can deepen one's understanding of the nature and the extent of modern anti-Semitism. One religion that has played a key role in the spread and subsequent decline of anti-Semitism is Catholicism. Despite the current goodwill of Catholicism toward Judaism, controversy has raged over the Catholic Church's actions during the Holocaust, particularly with respect to the Catholic Church's role in the development of Nazism. Anti-Semitism is still an international problem and has increased in the Middle East. In addition, the Christian Right in the United States is anti-Semitic, and black anti-Semitism is also a serious problem. Further, Israeli policies tend to exacerbate anti-Semitism. Contributors to the book consider the prevalence and impact of anti-Semitism throughout the United States and the rest of the world. References and notes