The evolution of antisemitism

Antisemitism is often called the oldest hatred. Throughout history, it has taken on many different forms to suit the society of the time.

Religious antisemitism

For centuries, in a predominantly Christian world, Jews were seen as outsiders because they did not subscribe to the Church. They were alternately protected and persecuted, but always singled out because of their faith.

Political and social antisemitism

Between the 17th and the first half of the 19th centuries, as the power of the Church slowly declined, discrimination gradually moved into the political world.

• The radical label: During the Enlightenment and French Revolution, the idea of Jewish integration was linked to radical change. Consequently, those who opposed these revolutions often used antisemitism as a political weapon.

• Social envy: As emancipated Jews migrated to major cities and found success in fields like trade, banking, and the arts, it sparked resentment among others who were struggling with economic changes. This antisemitism of envy turned Jewish success into a reason for antagonism.

Racial antisemitism

This is the form of hatred that directly led to the Holocaust. In the 19th century, new (and false) scientific theories claimed that Jews were not just a religious group, but a distinct and inferior race. Unlike religious antisemitism, where a person could convert to escape persecution, racial antisemitism meant that a person was born guilty and could never change.

National antisemitism

As European nations began to form strong national identities, Jews were often painted as “disloyal” foreigners or outsiders who could never truly belong to the nation’s heritage, regardless of how long their families had lived there.