Only the root and branch reform of Jewish business ethics can stop anti-Semitism

What's the connection between media baron Robert Maxwell (born Jahn Ludvik Hyman Binyamin Hoch) who stole hundreds of millions of pounds from his workers' pension fund; Bernie Madoff who swindled investors out of 57 billion dollars and Dick Fuld the CEO of Lehman Brothers whose greed and dodgy dealings led to the collapse of his bank and who was largely responsible for the 2008 financial crisis from which we are still trying to recover? [1,2,3] The answer is they were all prominent businessmen who, by fair means or foul, ruthlessly amassed huge personal fortunes at the expense of others. Also, they all happen to be Jewish, although you might not guess that from their names or to look at them - Jewish businessmen rarely advertise their Hebrew heritage. Indeed, a recent survey of Jews living in Europe found that 68% avoid appearing identifiably Jewish in public. [4] Of course, there's a very good reason why a Jew might want to conceal his identity: whenever there is a major financial scandal it always seems to be a Jewish businessman that is responsible for the debacle. With this being the case, in respectable circles an openly Jewish businessman is about as popular as a ginger son-in-law and, consequently, they are often shunned. The Jews call this "anti-Semitism". There is nothing new about anti-Semitism though: Jews have been unpopular since Biblical times when they were driven from their ancestral homes in Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan (now Palestine). There they made themselves so unpopular they were driven into exile in Egypt. The Egyptians didn't like them very much either and soon sent them packing. Understandably, on returning to Palestine the Jews did not receive a warm welcome and that's why many left the Middle East and settled overseas. However, wherever Jews moved to they quickly gained a reputation for employing underhand and duplicitous business practices in order to extract money from their Gentile (non-Jewish) hosts. In Europe Jews were strongly associated with usury (the financial exploitation of desperate people by lending money at exorbitant rates of interest) even though the Torah (the Jewish scriptures) seems to forbid this: "If you lend money to any of My people, even to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shalt thou lay upon him interest" (Exodus 22:24). The Jewish Encyclopaedia explains this apparent breach of Jewish law as follows: "When an Israelite lends money to a Gentile or to an 'indwelling stranger' (a half-convert of foreign blood), he may and should charge him interest; and when he borrows from such a person he should allow him interest. It is the opinion of Maimonides that for Jews to charge Gentiles interest is a positive command of the written law. [5] In other words, a Jew is forbidden to make money out of the misery and suffering of a fellow Jew but its fine - actually the Jews' religious duty - to squeeze Gentiles for cash until their pips squeak. No wonder they have always been despised. As a result of the Jews' perceived laissez-faire approach to business ethics, anti-Semitism evolved independently in many different places at many different times in history. To illustrate this point, here is a list of notable anti-Semitic incidents: http://www.simpletoremember.com... Anti-Semitism is also reflected in European literature: In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shylock the Jew, says of Antonio: "He hates our sacred nation, and he rails, Even there where merchants most do congregate, On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him!" (1.3.38"42) Throughout the play, Shylock, and by extension, all Jews, are presented as greedy, conniving and cruel. Shylock the Jew, as he is called by everyone in the play is compared with a dog, a cur, and a demon, and is referred to as the very devil incarnation. Jewish usury was also likened to prostitution, Samuel Purchas, in Purchas His Pilgrimage (London, 1617), writes that the "beastly trade of courtesans and cruel trade of Jews is suffered for gain...in Italy; both...suck from the meanest to be squeezed by the greatest...So well is the rule of Paul observed...not to be a lover of filthy lucre, from filthy stews, from filthy Jews." [6] So we can see there is no doubt that, right throughout their history, the Jews have always earned a reputation for being greedy and dishonest. Jews today are no more liked than they have ever been with thirty-five percent of people agree with the statement "Jews have too much power in the business world" [7] while fifteen percent of young people "don't trust Jews" [8]. But what do the Jews themselves think is the cause of anti-Semitism? The chosen people theory perhaps? Well Japanese, Chinese and Native Americans to name but a few all consider themselves chosen people yet, according to Aish.com: the leading Jewish content website; these people "are not hated for having claimed superiority. A claim that one is chosen does not in and of itself cause hatred. If it did, then so many other nations would be the targets of the intense, universal hatred that is in fact unique to the Jews." The Scapegoat Theory then? Aish notes "the Scapegoat Theory is simply a barometer indicating the level of hatred that already exists against Jews in any given society. It reveals how much anti-Semitism is already present, waiting to be stirred up. The Scapegoat is obviously an excuse, not a reason." The Killers-of-Jesus Theory maybe? Aish says "If the killing of Jesus is the cause of Christian hatred, why have only the Jewish accomplices been categorically persecuted? Christians should hate Romans at least as much as they hate Jews! Obviously, Jesus' death is an excuse, not the reason for anti-Semitism." [9] In short, Jews do not understand why they have always been so widely disliked. Strange that they never consider the possibility that their dubious business practices are the cause of anti-Semitism In conclusion, only the root and branch reform of Jewish business ethics can stop anti-Semitism and only Jewish businessmen can do that. Thank you. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org... [2] http://en.wikipedia.org... [3] http://en.wikipedia.org... [4] http://www.israelnationalnews.com... [5] http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com... [6] http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au... [7] http://www.israelnationalnews.com... [8] http://www.algemeiner.com... [9] http://www.aish.com...