Anti-Semite and Jew: An Exploration of the Etiology of Hate (Revised)

Sartre's work is still a classic. His insights are provocative and pointed. I am especially impressed by his comments on what is now called universal human rights. Sartre is concerned that in stressing our common humanness we forget that there are important difference that should not be ignored.

There is an Anti- Semitic review in this page in which the following mistakes and errors are made. The writer of the review says that Sartre is Jewish. He is not and so far as I know none of his ancestors were Jewish. The Anti- Semitic reviewer says that the 'Torah teaches hatred of Gentiles' This is outrageous, and stupid. The Torah teaches that every human being is created in the image of God, and that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. The Torah teaches that every human being is of infinite value. As for the Sartre book Sartre does understand a great deal about the attitude of assimilated Jews. However he does not know or understand Jews whose Jewish identity is not formed by ' the other' but rather formed positively through belief in their own heritage. I too think that Anti- Semitism takes different forms at different times, and it is difficult to understand the present kind of radical fundamentalist Islamic anti- Semitism in the same terms as one understands the Anti-Semitism of the extreme left. But with all this there is the point that Sartre was fundamentally sympathetic to the Jewish people and to the sufferings caused by the evil of anti- Semitism.

To the question, "Why be an antisemite," Sartre answers: "Because it's fun!" Still, as this work shows, the thrill of destructive and irrational behavior has its consequences: no one is safe if Jews must fear for their lives. Perhaps the best part of the book is Sartre's characterization of antisemitic discourse. One might think that antisemitism is an opinion like any other. If it were, many antisemitic arguments would be logical, perhaps to explain why Jews are, as a people, just too different or too unhelpful to society at large, and explaining why something needs to be done about it. In addition, most antagonism to Jews would be the results of actual provocations. Sartre convincingly shows that the majority of antisemitic discourse is quite different, consisting instead of taunts and threats. "Never believe," cautions Sartre, "that the antisemites are unaware of the absurdity of their replies." It's all part of the fun, given that their adversaries are the ones who believe in words and thus oblige themselves to use words responsibly. This is a perceptive study and is well worth reading.

This great understanding of hatred is truly a universal theme not limited to the Jew.Sartre's key point is that hatred is a creation of the hater not rooted in fact but an imaginary fantasy that gives the hater a sense of superiority over that which he hates.As he writes if no Jew exists the anti semite would need to create one. It is this creation of false myth, real or in fantasy, to give power to the anti semite that leads to mass hatred death camps,ongoing hatred.Sartre further states that once you hate one man it becomes natural then to hate all Jews or mankind.Anti Semites have a preconceived notion of a Jew even before meeting one ie: Jews all have horns. This passion is anti democratic and racist and does not permit the "other" to freely choose however he wishes to define himself since in Sartre's philosophy one is born into a state of nothingness till he freely creates and chooses an identity from objects and phenomena existing in outside reality.This book is not a statement on Jewish "superiority" , since Judaism never claims to be superior but a distinct worldview recognizing a creator and different roles for different nations.Hostile anti semitism theological, political, racial, economic and so on is often based on the conflict between universalism and parochialism.The Jew's uniqueness and aloofness is often a choosen path of protection from universalism. Universalism like hatred can also destroy Jewish continuity.Jewish choice is rooted in freedom of will and respect for all living beings. It is the triumph of individualism and group identity in the face of what Sartre calls the mediocre conforming mass unthinking man. Why Jew's continue to live as Jews is the key question.Are the doors of acceptance truly open? must Jews change and if so why?Sartre wrote this in the late 40's and fully understood the Nazi horrors. These days the question becomes one of promoting individual thinking rooted in diversity and respect for lifestyles different from the confirmist's simple and homogeneous uncomplicated simple view of reality. Studies now show that people are indeed born with genetic predispositions which throws questions on Sartre's tabula rasa.

I have read this book at least three times and I believe it provides some of the greatest insight into the jewish condition that has ever been committed to print. Sartre's understanding of the position of the jew in modern society is unparalled,as are his observations of the mind of the anti-semite. This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the true nature of the phenomenon of psychological anti-semitism within the context of modern society.