Anti-Semitism
Subtitle: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: December 1, 2002
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9780312165611
Subjects: History of specific racial & ethnic groups; Jewish studies; Racism & racial discrimination; Religion - Judaism; Psychology; Anthropology - Cultural; Europe - General; History / Europe / General; Emotions; Anti-Jewish propaganda; Antisemitism; Blood accusation; Christianity and antisemitism; History
First sentence: CHRISTIANITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF ITS ORIGINS centers on the New Testament, particularly the poetic rendering in the gospels of the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus, which is traditionally known as the Passion.
Description: "In this provocative book, historians Marvin Perry and Frederick M. Schweitzer analyze the lies, misperceptions, and myths about Jews and Judaism that antisemites have propagated throughout the centuries. Beginning with antiquity, and continuing into the present day, the authors explore the irrational fabrications that have led to numerous acts of violence and hatred against Jews.

The book examines ancient and medieval myths central to the history of antisemitism: Jews as "Christ-killers," instruments of Satan, and ritual murderers of Christian children. It also explores the scapegoating of Jews in the modern world as conspirators bent on world domination; extortionists who manufactured the Holocaust as a hoax designed to gain reparation payments from Germany; and the leaders of the slave trade that put Africa in chains. No other book has focused its attention exclusively on a thematic discussion of historic and contemporary antisemitic myths, covering such an expansive scope of time, and allowing for such a painstaking level of exemplification.

Antisemitism is an essential book that will serve as a corrective to bigotry, stereotype, and historical distortion."--BOOK JACKET.