Anti-semitism And Sartre :: essays research papers

In Sartres Anti-Semite and Jew, he makes reference to the notion that antisemitism arises not against individual Jews, but against the " idea of the Jew." That is to say that the Jew is recognized simply as a member of a group associated with fear and disgust, not as an individual capable of organism anything but the stereotype of the Jew. I agree with Sartres theory as I have seen first handwriting the disgust associated with being Jewish. The Jew is judged not by his action or voice communication but simply by the fact that he is a Jew, and the gestate idea of what this means. As discussed in class, Jews have been used as scapegoats throughout history. They have been blamed for countless economical and social problems simply because of the sensitivity towards anti-Semitism that most have. To understand this predisposition is easy. It has come from years of involuntariness to assimilate by the Jews. Because of this un ordainingness, the Jews have come to be recognized as dissimilar and therefore bad, because, as discussed in class, most identify easiest with what is different with the automatic surmise that it is bad. I think another reason for this assumption is the fact that it is easier to judge people than to understand them, as we can all the way see gentiles have done continuously throughout history to the Jews.Consequently, throughout history, the anti-Semite has come to adopt an "idea of the Jew", of his nature, and of his role in society. As Sartre explains, "the Jew whom the anti-Semite wishes to lay hands upon is not a schematic being defined solely by his function, as under administrative legal philosophy or by status or acts, as under the Code. He is a Jew, the son of a Jew, recognizable by his physique, by the glossary of his hair, by his clothing perhaps, and, so they say, by his character." To the anti-Semite, the Jews character is oily, tactless, intriguing, selfish and greedy. He believes that all Jews are th is way, and therefore treats them all the same, with hatred and repulsion. While a Jew might be a successful business man, a doctor, lawyer, or teacher etc. he is also a Jew, and that is all he is recognized for in the eyes of the anti-Semite.Furthermore, Sartre argues that "if the Jew did not exist, the Anti-Semite would invent him." This is self explanatory by the fact that Jews have been used as scapegoats and will continuously be used as such in the future.