Terror in Washington DC. From Ancient Scapegoats to Modern Martyrs: The Unbroken Chain of Antisemitism

Far too often The Jewish People Have Mourned Victims of Radical Islamic Terrorists Extremism

"The only thing to fear is fear itself" (The Radical Islamic Terrorist Supporters want to instill fear. They want to exploit those who love life with their obsession with death and murder

Bruce News MA Ed

CEO / Writer

G-d (Hashem) said to Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7). Obedience to God's Word drives away fear. The Book Of Joshua (Prophets).

What does it take for a society to wake up to the poison of hate coursing through its veins? Is it the blood of innocents spilled on the steps of a museum, in the shadow of a nation’s capital? The murder of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, Israeli Embassy staff gunned down outside Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum, is not just a tragedy—it’s a reckoning. This was no isolated act of madness. It was the inevitable fruit of a world that has grown too comfortable with vilifying Jews and demonizing Israel.

Sarah and Yaron were not soldiers or politicians. They were diplomats, humanitarians, attending an event to foster aid for Gaza through collaboration across divides. They embodied hope, the kind that bridges chasms with courage and compassion. Yet, in a heartbeat, they were reduced to targets—symbols of a hate so venomous it blinds its bearers to reason. Their deaths scream a truth we’ve ignored for too long: when antisemitism is cloaked as “criticism” and anti-Zionism is wielded as a cudgel, violence follows.

For months, we’ve watched campuses erupt in chants that glorify destruction, streets fill with banners that erase Israel’s existence, and online spaces amplify conspiracies that paint Jews as the world’s eternal villains. Leaders have wavered, equivocated, or stayed silent, afraid to name this hatred for what it is. And now, here we are: two lives stolen, a community shattered, and a nation forced to confront the cost of its inaction.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center has long warned of this spiral. Antisemitism doesn’t vanish on its own—it festers, fueled by apathy and excuse-making. Sarah and Yaron’s murders are a clarion call. We cannot afford to look away. We must rededicate ourselves to rooting out this evil, defending Israel’s right to exist, and building a world where tolerance triumphs over terror.

Antisemitism, the prejudice against or hatred of Jews, has a long and complex history spanning over two millennia, rooted in religious, cultural, economic, and political factors. Below, I trace its evolution, focusing on key periods, causes, and manifestations, while keeping the response concise yet comprehensive.

Ancient and Early Origins (Pre-1st Century CE).

Antisemitism’s roots predate Christianity, emerging in the ancient world where Jews were often seen as distinct due to their monotheism and cultural practices. In Hellenistic Egypt, around the 3rd century BCE, writers like Manetho spread myths of Jews as outsiders, accusing them of disloyalty or malevolence. During the Seleucid period, tensions arose as Jews resisted assimilation, exemplified by the Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) against Hellenizing policies.

Early Christian Era (1st–5th Century CE)

The rise of Christianity significantly shaped antisemitism. Early Christian texts, like parts of the New Testament, portrayed Jews as responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion, fostering the “deicide” charge. This theological hostility, amplified by Church Fathers like John Chrysostom, depicted Jews as cursed or demonic. By the 4th century, as Christianity became Rome’s state religion, Jews faced legal restrictions, such as bans on holding public office.

Medieval Europe (5th–15th Century)

Medieval Europe was a crucible for antisemitism, blending religious zeal with economic and social scapegoating:

Religious Persecution:

The Church enforced anti-Jewish laws, barring Jews from owning land or entering many trades. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) mandated distinctive clothing for Jews, marking them as outsiders.Blood Libel and Myths: From the 12th century, false accusations like blood libel—claiming Jews killed Christians to use their blood in rituals—incited massacres, as in Norwich, England (1144).

Crusades and Pogroms:

The Crusades (1096–1291) unleashed waves of violence, with Jewish communities in the Rhineland slaughtered by mobs en route to the Holy Land.

Expulsions: Economic resentment, as Jews were often moneylenders (a role Christians were barred from), led to expulsions from England (1290), France (1306), and Spain (1492 after the Reconquista).

Early Modern Period (16th–18th Century)

The Reformation brought mixed outcomes. While some Protestant reformers like Martin Luther initially sought Jewish conversion, Luther’s later writings, such as On the Jews and Their Lies (1543), were virulently antisemitic, calling for synagogue burnings. In Catholic regions, ghettos—like Venice’s in 1516—confined Jews, reinforcing segregation. Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, Jews faced periodic pogroms, such as during the Khmelnytsky Uprising (1648–1657), which killed tens of thousands.

Enlightenment and Emancipation (18th–19th Century)

The Enlightenment promised Jewish emancipation but also birthed secular antisemitism:

Emancipation Struggles: As Jews gained legal rights in Western Europe (e.g., France in 1791), backlash grew. Critics argued Jews couldn’t assimilate, fueling nationalist prejudices.

Secular Stereotypes: Antisemitism shifted from religious to racial and economic grounds. Voltaire and other Enlightenment thinkers perpetuated stereotypes of Jews as greedy or disloyal. The Rothschild banking family became a lightning rod for conspiracy theories about Jewish power.

Pogroms in Russia: In the Russian Empire, where most Jews lived, state-sponsored pogroms (1881–1906) killed thousands, driven by economic envy and nationalist fervor. The fabricated Protocols of the Elders of Zion (1903) spread myths of global Jewish conspiracies.

Modern Antisemitism and the Holocaust (19th–20th Century)

The late 19th century saw antisemitism intensify as a political force:

Racial Antisemitism: Pseudoscientific race theories cast Jews as a biological threat. Wilhelm Marr coined “antisemitism” in 1879, framing Jews as a racial enemy. This underpinned the Dreyfus Affair (1894–1906) in France, where a Jewish officer’s false treason conviction exposed deep societal prejudice.

Nazi Germany and the Holocaust: The most catastrophic manifestation was the Holocaust (1933–1945). Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime, building on centuries of antisemitic tropes, scapegoated Jews for Germany’s woes. The Nuremberg Laws (1935) stripped Jews of rights, followed by Kristallnacht (1938) and the systematic genocide of six million Jews in death camps like Auschwitz. The Holocaust was enabled by widespread European antisemitism and collaboration.

Global Spread: Antisemitism wasn’t confined to Europe. In the U.S., figures like Henry Ford promoted The Protocols, and restrictive quotas limited Jewish immigration. In the Middle East, colonial powers’ policies and rising Arab nationalism sometimes fueled anti-Jewish sentiment, though Jewish communities had long coexisted with Muslim neighbors.

Post-World War II and Contemporary Antisemitism (1945–Present):

The Holocaust’s horror spurred efforts to combat antisemitism, but it persists in new forms:

Post-War Decline and Resurgence: While overt antisemitism waned in the West due to Holocaust awareness, it lingered in Soviet policies and resurfaced in Europe and the U.S. with far-right movements. The 1960s–1980s saw neo-Nazi groups emerge.

Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism: The Arab-Israeli conflict gave rise to anti-Zionism, which sometimes veers into antisemitism by denying Jewish self-determination or using classic tropes (e.g., equating Israel with Nazi Germany). The 2001 Durban Conference and BDS movement have been criticized for enabling such rhetoric.

Recent Trends:

Since the 2000s, antisemitic incidents have risen globally. In Europe, attacks on synagogues (e.g., Copenhagen, 2015) and Jewish schools reflect both far-right and Islamist influences. In the U.S., hate crimes like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting (2018) and Poway attack (2019) highlight white supremacist threats. Online platforms amplify conspiracies, from QAnon to COVID-19 myths blaming Jews.

Middle East Dynamics: In parts of the Middle East, state media and education systems have at times promoted antisemitic narratives, though peace agreements like the Abraham Accords (2020) signal shifts. Iran’s regime remains a vocal source of anti-Jewish rhetoric.

Causes and Patterns:

Antisemitism’s persistence stems from its adaptability:

Scapegoating: Jews have been blamed for societal ills—economic crises, plagues, or political instability—across contexts.

Dual Stereotypes: Jews are paradoxically depicted as both weak (parasitic, disloyal) and powerful (controlling banks, media, or governments).

Religious Roots:

Christian and, to a lesser extent, Islamic theological critiques of Judaism provided early frameworks, later secularized.

Political Utility: Antisemitism has served populist, nationalist, and totalitarian agendas, uniting disparate groups against a common “enemy.”

Current Context (2025):

Antisemitism remains a global challenge. The Anti-Defamation League reported a 140% surge in U.S. antisemitic incidents from 2020 to 2023, driven by both far-right and far-left rhetoric. In Europe, the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency notes rising fear among Jews, with 76% avoiding Jewish symbols in public. The interplay of anti-Zionism and antisemitism fuels debates, as seen in campus protests and social media trends. Organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Center continue advocating for education and legal measures to counter hate.

Conclusion:

Antisemitism’s history reveals a tragic cycle of prejudice, exclusion, and violence, evolving from religious dogma to racial pseudoscience to modern political ideologies. Its resilience demands vigilance, education, and unequivocal condemnation. Understanding this history is crucial to dismantling the myths and hatred that persist today.

Am Yisrael Chai - עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי The Nation of Israel Lives. The Jewish People have persevered for thousands of years. The pursuit of elimination the Jewish People and its sacred religion has failed every time. When will the world learn ? I say when the world does learn, the Messianic Era will begin and every good human being on earth will be filled with happiness and prosperity. There will be peace on earth. Those who love life will be rewarded with life those who embrace death will have it.

With that said. For me this is a time to bring myself closer in my study of the Torah (Bible) and try to perfect my ways in being a better person everyday. Its a good time for me to focus on my daily prayers.

May Sarah and Yaron’s memories be a blessing—and a charge to act.

Choose Life!

Pray, Vote and be Active --- Bruce

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