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In light of the rising Anti-Semitism on our university campuses and cities passing ordinances, I thought it might be a good time for a history lesson on Anti-Semitism.
I previously shared a map with a timeline of the Jews’s presence in the Eastern Mediterranean area aka Israel. The Jews have a connection from the Days of Abraham through the Diaspora through the Holocaust and now.
Antisemitism “is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. This sentiment is a form of racism, and a person who harbors it is called an antisemite. “ Wikipedia.
The pathway to anti-Semitism can be broken into a 10-step progression to understanding the escalation of prejudice and violence against Jewish communities.
1. Misunderstanding: A lack of understanding or unfamiliarity with Jewish customs, traditions, and beliefs can lead to misconceptions and stereotypes.
2. Stigmatization: The process of viewing Jews as different or “other” based on these misunderstandings or deliberate misrepresentations.
3. Isolation: Both socially and physically isolating Jewish communities, as witnessed in the ghettoization in medieval Europe or exclusion from social organizations.
4. Rumors and Lies: Propagation of false stories, myths, or conspiracy theories about Jews, such as blood libels or economic conspiracies.
5. Discrimination: Enacting laws or practices that systematically disadvantage Jews in society, including restrictions in professions, education, or civic participation.
6. Dehumanization: Portraying Jews as sub-human, inferior, or even demonic, often via propaganda, literature, or art. This makes violence against them seem more justifiable.
7. Economic Exploitation: Confiscating property, levying special taxes, or other measures that target the economic well-being of Jewish individuals or communities.
8. Violence: Physical harm directed at Jews or their property, exemplified by pogroms, violent riots, or individual acts of violence.
9. Persecution: State-sponsored or socially sanctioned campaigns against Jews, leading to mass arrests, forced conversions, deportations, or forced exiles.
10. Extermination: Systematic efforts to eradicate the Jewish population, the most horrifying example being the Holocaust orchestrated by Nazi Germany.
These steps apply more or less to any marginalization of a minority from a mere misunderstanding to organized extermination/elimination/marginalization/ victimization underscoring the importance of early intervention and education in combating prejudice and promoting tolerance.
The Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal [not born but created]  that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
And our First Amendment –
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, …”

By Michael Stevens

About the Author – Michael Stevens Retired attorney. Military veteran. Bible trundler. Michael Stevens writes with the precision of a jurist and the conviction of a watchman. His work draws from decades of service, study, and Scripture — weaving together law, history, theology, and culture in a clear, Hemingway-style voice. Whether exploring the Gospel through the lens of classical philosophy, warning of soft totalitarianism, or unpacking the latest headlines with biblical discernment, he writes for readers who value truth over trends and legacy over likes. His devotionals and essays, often crafted for his son, aim to encourage, equip, and awaken. This is more than commentary. It’s a call to clarity in a noisy world.

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