‘The New Anti-Semitism’ Comes of Age a Decade Later

newanti-semitismTo order a copy of “The New Anti-Semitism,” click here.

As one holds a copy of Dr. Phyllis Chesler’s updated book “The New Anti-Semitism” in their hands, we can all breathe a collective sigh and exclaim “this tome hasn’t come a minute too soon.”  Thanks to the excellent research and prophetic analysis conducted by this acclaimed author, lecturer and activist, the reader is afforded the necessary context and perspective with which to understand the invidious phenomenon of contemporary Jew hatred.

Written over a decade ago in a compelling, easy to read and free flowing style, Dr. Chesler’s premise was and still is that classical anti-Semitism as espoused by such nihilists and evil madmen as Hitler and the scores that preceded him has now been deemed to be “politically correct” by the trendy denizens of the Western academy and the “intellectual” crowds.  Chesler was among the first to have seen and denounced the suicidal alliance between the Western intelligentsia and fundamental Islam. The anti-Semite needed a new and more acceptable veneer and the little place on the globe known as Israel would serve as the perfect subterfuge. Thus, Zionism does not equal racism but anti-Zionism does. In fact, it is part of what makes the new anti-Semitism “new.”

There is no doubt that the al Aqsa intifada and the traumatic events of 9/11 served as an impetus for Dr. Chesler to pen this book as she naturally drew a correlation between the kind of terrorism that had become endemic to the state of Israel and the Jihadic terrorism that was let loose upon the world.  “War and a new kind of anti-Semitism had been declared,” she writes.

In the decades prior to the 9/11 and the advent of al Qaeda, Chesler is acutely aware of the festering anti-Semitism that appears to be increasingly more ubiquitous with each passing moment.  She details major events  that she personally encountered during her years as part of the vanguard of the second wave feminist movement and the reader can easily connect the proverbial dots to see and feel the palpable resentment of those who championed the politically correct cause against Israel, now known as liberalism.

Always sensing a strong undercurrent of such bigotry in the various human rights movements that came to define her raison d’etre, Chesler is most disheartened when women’s conferences and forums such as Copenhagen and a pre-Durban one were hijacked by Jew hating agendas. She justifiably laments the fact that some important conferences are cancelled because of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel bias. “Women, you see, cannot be accused of racism – unless, of course, they are Jewish women,” she sardonically writes.

Because she is keenly aware that anti-Semitism may start with the Jews but never ends with the Jews, she makes the logical connection between the opprobrium that is harbored for both America and Israel by those who assign blame to all forms of human oppression in terms of colonialism, capitalism, and imperialism.  “The Palestinian uprising has increasingly been seen as the uprising of all oppressed peoples against their colonial oppressors, that is,  Jews, Zionists and Americans,” she ruefully observes. And, she notes, few understand that Muslim history is one of imperialism, colonialism, conversion by the sword, gender and religious apartheid, and slavery. Only the post enlightenment Judeo-Christian West are seen as mighty sinners.

Unlike other authors who have offered works of this genre, Chesler’s meticulous research is beyond impeccable as she explores the genesis of post 9/11 Islamic terrorism specifically directed against the West and their global interests. Israel, of course is viewed as the little Satan by the retinue of pro-Palestinian apologists and their Western lackeys and Chesler takes the Big Lies and bold propaganda to task by exposing their motives. Case in point: The unfortunate Muhammed Dura incident and the use of “fauxtography” are given more than an ample dose of good old fashioned sunlight as she reveals one of the most egregious anti-Israel hoaxes ever sold to the public; however deceptively.

While reading this book, one is in retrospective mode as we imbibe a seemingly endless litany of horrifying anti-Israel and anti-Jewish events at university campuses that took place in the first decade of the new century and compare them to how much worse they are today.  It should come as no surprise that the BDS movement and physical and verbal violence against pro-Israel Jewish students has gained a dangerous degree of momentum, power and economic viability in institutions of higher learning.

Chesler cites the palpable but surreal bellicosity that has become an endemic part of campus life for Jews who wish to express pro-Israel sentiments. Physical  attacks, heckling of speakers, academic boycotts, incendiary street theater predicated on distortions,  the lies being promulgated at the annual Jew roasting, better known as Israel apartheid week and the infinite amount of Orwellian rhetoric being circulated in every facet of academic life to just name a few. “The New McCarthyism on campus consists of the anti-Israeli  and pro-Palestinian point of view. No other view will be tolerated,” she writes.

Chesler is under no illusions and does not even attempt to sugarcoat the obvious. European anti-Semitism is at pre-World War II levels and the flames of destruction are being consistently fanned not only by the “usual suspects” but by the formidable fourth estate. The European press she writes “have continuously held Israel accountable for Palestinian terrorism, and justified human homicide bombing as a function of Palestinian “despair.”

This book is easy to read yet it is filled with a voluminous amount of facts and is definitely driven by concrete and verifiable data. What causes the words to leap off the pages, however, and to embed themselves in our collective psyches  are the nuanced and urbane analyses proffered both by Chesler and by an extensive array of  experts. Frightening as it may be, they provide us with the kind of perspective we need to tackle anti-Semitic diatribes.

Yes, Dr. Chesler cautions us to grant this matter the gravitas it deserves and not to dismiss it as mere blather.  In the expanded last chapters of the book she prodigiously confronts the Big Lies and blood libels as she challenges the sheer mendacity of pseudo and rather lethal Palestinian narratives in ways that are both comprehensible and thought provoking. On an uplifting note she provides us with ways in which each of us can support Israel and Judaism, either through economic empowerment against boycotts of Israeli made products and development of community and college based pro-Israel programs connecting with individual Israelis as part of our families.

In one of her final exhortations, Dr. Chesler has stumbled upon what may be the most important component in staying afloat as a people as we navigate the turbulent tide of anti-Semitism. She writes: “Dare I say it? I must. I implore Jews to stop fighting with each other. Even if we disagree, we must try to do so respectfully, soulfully….We are an eternal people engaged in an eternal struggle with evil.”

Definitely words to heed.

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  • http://gerardjackson.com/ gerard jackson

    What was it that Benjamin Franklin said about hanging separately?

  • Bert

    Another book describing the ‘problem’ but with little in the way of any solution. A radical suggestion: ‘When all else fails – READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!’ Deuteronomy Chapter 28 promises that if Jews would obey G-d’s law then He will fight for us. Conversely if Jews ignore the Law we will be abandoned to our enemies and suffer dire consequences. Naturally our corrupt Jewish leaders take pride in flouting the Law and thus lock us into endless suffering.

    • cree

      From my studies of OT scripture, I have gleaned the many instances theme you seem to be implying, that, if the Jews abandon God, God will abandon the Jews to enemies. (And as Christians who follow out of the transition from Judaism and who are dedicated to the same God would likewise assume the same fate from like circumstances, would you also agree with that?)

      To back up your claim or theory, can you be more specific as to how, when, why corrupt Jewish leaders have taken pride in flouting the Law and what and/or who is causing the suffering? And, would it be fair to say, God is using evil people to punish Jews (or any other people/religion) even though it is impossible for God to be evil? If God is anti-evil, can He be against any people but especially Jews and Christians for fighting against evil for any justice means to eradicate it at any opportunity (such as was done against Hitler)?

      My inquiry is as to a paradox: guilty for abandoning God (complacently, and/or in error with no apostasy) but at the same time being righteous for conscientious fighting against evil.

      • Bert

        I tried to make a complex point in very few words with is difficult. Chapter 28 is very explicit in both the blessings for obeying the Law and the consequences of disobeying. Today we see an Israeli government which violates the biblical instruction to NOT divide the land. The official policy of the Israeli government is to divide the land which G-d assigned to Israel by ceding the ‘West Bank’ to an implacable enemy. It is only the hostility of the Arabs that prevents Israel from doing it thus far. It was earlier offered to arch enemy Yasser Arafat under the Oslo Accords. The result of all this are the endless attacks and casualties that Israel is suffering with no end in sight.

        • cree

          Thanks and I agree they should not divide the land.

    • Nabukuduriuzhur

      Good point. Ever since King Solomon introduced his wives’ religions around 3000 B.C. most of Israel has been in rebellion against God.

      God makes very specific promises for protection if Israel does what is right and very specific promises of judgement if Israel does wrong.

      Leviticus predicts both exiles. That of Assyria/Babylon and the Diaspora.
      Ezekiel predicts Israel’s return, which was made official in 1948.

      It should be asked: with most of Israel in active rebellion against God for roughly 3000 years, shouldn’t Israel repent and follow God, rather than continuing in rebellion and reaping what they sow?

      There are certain promises God makes that are unconditional. Those are in effect even today, with four invasions of Israel miraculously stopped. But many of the promises God makes are conditional.

  • PAthena

    The situation is made worse when the President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, is anti-semitic and anti-Israel. He was a member of the church of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in Chicago, who is anti-semitic (as well as anti-white and ant-American).

  • Mack0

    Dr. Chesler is right on the money. What’s happening on college campuses today wouldn’t have happened when I was at University ten years ago. The left has adopted Muslims as one of their pet victims.

    It’s an odd choice considering Islamic doctrine isn’t what anyone would call liberal or progressive. It’s a marriage of convenience for Muslims. Aligning with the left as a member of the victim class gives Muslims some much needed cover from critics. Muslims are sure to pay lip service to the left until they no longer have to.

    By the way, I’m not Jewish or particularly religious but I do support Israel because it is a democracy and the only sanity in a region filled with madmen.