During the week covered by this review, we received 6 articles on the following subjects:
Anti-Semitism / History
Anti-Semitism / Political Issues
Political Issues / Christian Organizations
Anti-Semitism / History
HaModia, July 21, 2021
The Anglican Church is expected to apologize for anti-Semitic laws legislated in 1222, during the Oxford Synod in England. The Synod adopted a series of laws that limited the rights of Jews to come into contact with Christians, leading eventually to the expulsion of English Jews in 1290. The Anglican Church was not yet in existence then, but the current institution decided nonetheless to take responsibility for Christian anti-Semitism that preceded its existence.
Anti-Semitism / Political Issues
Various Articles
A speech given in Jerusalem at the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism by alternate Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, has caused controversy. In his speech, Lapid said that anti-Semites are not only found in the Ghettos, but also amongst slave traders, perpetrators of massacres (such as the Hutus against the Tutsis), and extremist Muslims who have murdered 20 million of their fellow Muslims. Anti-Semites are those who persecute others not because of what others have done, but because of what they are, or who they were when they were born. In response to Lapid’s words, some commentators argued that anti-Semitism is not reducible to racism, but constitutes its own unique historical category that cannot be explained by way of other models. It was further argued that Lapid’s words give sanction to anti-Semites to continue being anti-Semitic. One writer said that Lapid had taken the most ancient form of hatred and had made it the common fare of all, which is harmful to future Jewish victims, and disrespectful to past victims. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Lapid flattened and minimized anti-Semitism. In response, Lapid wrote an article in “Haaretz”, arguing that he never denied anti-Semitism or its worrisome global rise in recent years, and that he sees it as central to his job to tackle the modern crisis of anti-Semitism. However, Lapid noted that experts debate over what exactly constitutes anti-Semitism, whether it is a unique phenomenon, or else a manifestation of a broader human tendency to hate the “other”. Was the Nazi murder of Jews fundamentally different from the Nazi murder of Gypsies? Lapid argues that the two perspectives are not mutually exclusive: Anti-Semitism is both a unique historical phenomenon, and a manifestation of the broader human story of racism. Israel, therefore, must both do what it can to defend itself from anti-Semitic attacks, but also be at the forefront of the fight against racism. Instead of being insulated in historical uniqueness, Israel should use its experience of persecution to oppose the “culture of blood and death” belonging to the world’s racists, and let Liberals know they cannot be Liberal and hate the Jews and Israel at the same time.
Political Issues / Christian Organizations
Haaretz, July 23, 2021
The 2021 Summit organized by Christians United for Israel (CUFI) was a smaller event than in past years, featuring Republican senator Ted Cruz and former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. Yair Lapid also sent a short video. The author noted that by featuring Yair Lapid, CUFI had made an important statement that even without Benjamin Netanyahu, the new Israeli government has the support of Evangelicals. CUFI intentionally distanced itself from a prominent Evangelical leader who was so upset Netanyahu lost he “put a curse” on the new government. Lapid offered words of reassurance to Evangelicals about the importance of the ongoing relationship between Israel and Evangelicals. The night before, however, Ted Cruz expressed skepticism that the new government could withstand the Biden administration’s policies on Iran. The author noted that the new government is committed, however, to staying out of intra-American politics, a stance likely to aggravate Cruz who will desire the support of the Israeli Prime Minister.