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The Definition Of Antisemitism: We Dare Not Let It Be Changed Or Stolen

Know the history, know the language, know the facts.

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In 1936 Germany, children’s books used antisemitic caricatures to promote Nazi racial ideology. The signs reads "Jews are not wanted here." (Image: encyclopedia.ushmm.org)

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Today’s topic is one that is incredibly pertinent and relevant right now – the definition of Antisemitism. 

Everywhere on social media, in the news, and in our own personal lives, there are instances of Antisemitism flooding our eyes, ears, and news feeds. It is impossible to avoid and often insidious in its presentation. For example, outrageously in mainstream media, recently CNN presented an article supporting a declaration and thus sporting a headline reading “Israel is no longer a democracy but an ‘apartheid regime’ devoted to cementing the supremacy of Jews over Palestinians”.

If this is not outright Anti-Jewish propaganda, then what is? 

Whether it be the Jordanians accusing Israel of “Judaizing” the Western Wall Plaza – making it too Jewish – or certain European cultures wearing yellow stars delineating who has and has not been vaccinated against the Covid-19 pandemic… the sad truth is that there is Antisemitism everywhere; it is rife, it is current, and it is out of control. 

Since Antisemitism is rampant right now (as it always has been), it is important that we know the proper term, the correct definitions, and we must own our own language. It is important to remember that language is an extremely powerful tool that has been used against the Jewish people for centuries, and it is still a weapon wielded against us. Our only defense against this weapon of stolen language is education and ownership of our language itself.  

Antisemitism is an important term with an important meaning. This cannot be stressed and highlighted enough. Antisemitism means Jew-hatred. Plain and simple. It means hostility, persecution, and hatred directed at the Jewish people.

To repeat, and to be clear, the term Antisemitism means Jew-hatred only. It does not mean hatred of Semitic people. When people attempt to manipulate the term to include all Semitic people, it is a form of nefarious Antisemitism in and of itself!

Antisemitism is a term that was coined by Wilhelm Marr in the 19th century. Marr was a German writer and himself a vile Antisemite. One need only look to some of his essays wherein he wrote about the needed success of Germandom over Judaism to see this. His works and his hatred of the Jews were revered during WWII, during the Holocaust, posthumously. Need we say more? In sum, Wilhelm Marr coined the term Antisemitism to mean Jew-hatred. 

Although we currently live in a society where leftist thought attempts to change term meanings on a day-to-day, second-to-second basis, this word – Antisemitism – has a definition, an important definition, and we cannot, we dare not,  let it be changed or stolen.  

It is unspeakably dangerous to us, as Jews when our enemies control the language surrounding our own Jewish persecution. For centuries, enemies have used language to harm the Jewish people and the Jewish cause.

An obvious example is the moment in history, April 24, 1950, when the occupying, colonizing, conquering Jordanians stole Judea/Samaria from the Jews and then renamed the land the “West Bank”. The Jordanians knew the efficacy of using language to harm the Jewish connection to the land. Take the “Judea” away, and remove the connection to “Jew” – simple and effective.

If we look at universities, colleges, and news media nowadays, people generally do not recognize the ancient connection of the Jews to Judea because of this name change. Regardless of the fact that Jews are, and always have been, indigenous to Judea, people generally do not acknowledge this nowadays. Yes, language is incredibly powerful and can be fatally dangerous.  

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Again, to reiterate, Antisemitism does not mean hatred towards Semitic people, as the following example will show and then we will belabour the point no more. Simply because there is a vegetable called an “eggplant”, does not mean that it is made out of egg! Thus, we do not accept when non-Jews claim that they suffer from Antisemitism too. In no uncertain terms… no they do not. The term Antisemitism means Anti-Jew. Period.

We need to be aware. The first step to eliminating an idea is eliminating the words that concretize that idea.

This means that if enemies of the Jews around the world want to eliminate the concept of Antisemitism and the Jewish experience of Jew-hatred, they would begin by taking the term “Antisemitism”, diluting it, bastardizing it, and applying it to things that do not pertain to Jews at all.  Remember – the manipulation of language is a powerful weapon and we must ensure that this weapon is not wielded against the Jewish people. 

Know the history, know the language, know the facts.

Stand up for being Jewish, and own our identity!

Am Yisrael Chai.  

Lauren Isaacs was the most prominent young Zionist in the country last year, as the Toronto Director of Herut Canada. She has offered to chronicle her experiences for TheJ.ca as she transitions to her new life in Israel. 

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Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.

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Happy reading!

Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.

We do news differently!

Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.

We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.

But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!

Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.

Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.

We thank you for your ongoing support.

Happy reading!

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