Why was anti-semitism focused more on Jews?

Question: Why was anti-semitism focused more on Jews!?

I don't understand why people had big beef over the jews throughout history!. It seems a little arbitrary to choose that one specific group to hate!. What is it because they introduced usury and they performed it when the Catholic church banned it!? But then again that seems a little irrational!. I'm very ignorant of world history, especially modern world history so please educate me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Well, by the very definition of the term anti-Semitism, one must consider the fact that Semitism refers to groups of people from a specific region and Semitic refers to a dialect/dialects from the same region!. For a reason that is nebulous to me, the Jews are the single Semitic group who are generally referred to whenever any derivative of the word Semitic is used, even though they aren't even the largest semitic group of peoples!. The largest Semitic group of peoples are the Arabs!. I, personally, am one who either likes or dislikes a person because of the person!. I don't generally hate masses of people because of race, religion, color, creed, whatever!. I have to speculate that there is so much hatred for Jews, as a whole, because there are many Jews who have been associated with things like the very usury that you mentioned!. There are a disproportionate number of Jewish people in finance, entertainment, government, etc!., etc!., etc!., when you compare their percentage of population to other groups of people!. They aren't the only group who does so, but they certainly look after themselves first and foremost and they (generalizing) don't always see others as being equals!. The very interesting part is that most Jews are not even Semitic, these days!. To be Semitic, one must originate from a specific region and speak a specific dialect!. Technicality!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Just to clear up a point that most answerers failed to clarify, to be Semitic, one must be a descendant of Shem, one of Noah's 3 sons!. of whom are the Jews, the Arabs and many other groups in the world, all larger than the Jews!. Antisemitism is a compound word that evolved around the Jews and distinguishes them from the other Semites!. As early as the 1st!. century a Roman official wrote to Caesar his own opinion, "the Jews hate all men and all men hate the Jews", so this was largely going on way before modern history existed!. Two thousand years before that, Ishmael and his Egyptian slave mother were expelled from Abraham's house by Sarah's demand, and there began the Arab vendetta!. That's at least 4 thousand years old!. The explanation given by many contributers about the Jewish ways is largely true, except that they feel compelled by their history (which was fraught with vulnerability and terror) and by their religion (which they perceive as the result of God drawing them out of the rest of the world) to behave that way!. It's difficult to find any other group in history that has undergone such abuse at the hands of one nation after another for so many thousands of years, so if they seem paranoid that may explain it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Anti-semitism is discrimination against Jews, so it will always be against Jews as that's the definition!.

Why have Jews had to contend with a lot of discrimination in their time!?

I would say it is due to the fact that they have often been foreigners in other people's lands!. That along with the fact that they tend to keep to and look after their own!. Throw in natural human nature an you conflict between the home grown population and the 'guest' Jewish people!. also the Jews are often successful commercially/financially as they make it a priority, leads to jealously from others!.

This isn't to say Jews are to blame, it's just how people work!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

anti-semitism is only Jews !.Personally i think all of the major groups in the world have anti-personal!. until Constantine, Christians were killed just for being Christian!. But Jews are the group that has lots of different rules that most cultures don't believe in!.(ex being kosher) The are a very unique religion that is easily hurt since either your Jews if or your not!. Christians have Catholics and Protestants and have variety!.

hopefully i have answered your question!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Christianity is one of the most populated religions on the planet!. Christians naturally follow the Holy Bible!. Of all of these people, you have people within Christianity who are sour and bitter about the fact that Jewish people killed our "savior!."

Aside from the religious aspect, I think people hate Jewish people because the state of Israel is political tied with the United States!. This is obviously a very powerful ally in the world!. Outsiders don't really understand why the U!.S!. would be allies with the US, but many don't realize that the U!.S!. is in fact run by Jewish people in the senate and in major institutions like Harvard University!.

I hope I cleared this up for youWww@QuestionHome@Com

people have already pointed out that antisemitism is the hatred of jewish people and it dated back to the early catholic church and the dark ages it is simply the that the jewish people have always been scapegoated by various kings potentates and pogroms through out history and as any minority it make it easy to hate what you don't understand or are not a part of!. as far as usury i doubt it was invented by the jews in many cases in early europe jews were band from trade and certain work and jobs in christan society and thus invented banking and loansWww@QuestionHome@Com

Jews were the only Semites of consequence, so they were the only ones discriminated on!. also, Jews were always a visible minority, so they became scapegoats, they segregated themselves from society, and in turn were segregated by society!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, I think it was because the Jews supposedly killed Jesus!.

I say supposedly because I'm not religious at all!. I went to a Catholic school and it was horrible!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I know that Hitler hated the Jews because his parents were Jews!. He hated his parents, so he hated all Jews as a result!.

I'm not sure why Muslims hate the Jews, but I think it has something to do with real estate!.

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If you want to get fewer stupid answers, ask instead, "Why have Jews been the victim of prejudice!?", or "Why does anti-Semitism exist!?"Www@QuestionHome@Com

Anti-semitism is prejudice against Jews so it couldn't focus on any other group!.Www@QuestionHome@Com