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From: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Escalating the Egg
Message-ID: <123@unc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 16:46:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.123
Posted: Tue Apr 30 16:46:42 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-May-85 04:39:46 EDT
Organization: CS Dept., U. of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lines: 52


From a Jewish perspective, I see two possible interpretations
of anti-semitism:

My interpretation:

	1)  Due to wicked forces, the world is unjust and arbitrary.

	Inference:  Anti-semitism has meaning.
	Result:	    This interpretation yields no insight on how to fight
		    anti-semitism, but at least acknowleges it as unjust.

Yitzchok's interpretation:

	2)  God is punishing the Jews for not being "better".

	Note:	   God does not similarly punish the gentiles.
	Inference: The gentiles are somehow "better" than we are.
	Result:	   This interpretation leads to Jewish self-hatred, etc.

From Yitzchok Samet:

>	Frank-
>	You didn't get it straight at all. I'm not a self hater, just
>	someone who is trying to view antisemitism in a broader perspective.
							^^^^^^^

So far, you've only tried to understand anti-semitism from one
unsatisfactory interpretation.  Instead of trying to rationalize it
as chastisement from God, perhaps we should try a really broader perspective.
						  ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^

Why not study anti-semitism from the perspective of the anti-semite?
At least the insight gained might suggest more effective ways to fight it.
In those cases where there is nothing we can do about it, we would
realize this early enough to leave with our lives and dignity.

The following flame has nothing to do with Yitzchok:

begin flame
	I have a sneaking suspicion that instead of seeking
	the most effective means for fighting anti-semitism,
	Jews have often accepted it as inevitable and used it
	as a tool for keeping our people together.

	People who cannot make a more compelling a argument
	for remaining Jewish than anti-semitism are making
	a pretty poor statement about the attractiveness
	of the Jewish way of life.
end flame.

	Frank Silbermann