Is Anti-Semitism Only Against Jews?

Menasha asks: "It is known that the word 'anti-Semitism' was defined at the end of the 19th century to describe hatred of Jews, as they believed we are an inferior race... The word 'anti-Semitism' means 'against the descendants of Shem' (Shem was the brother of Ham and Japheth). Here arises a question: if the Germans are descendants of Amalek, who was also a descendant of Esau, a descendant of Shem - as are all the 'Bnei Edom' Europeans. Arabs, too, are known to be descendants of Abraham our father, a descendant of Shem. So why do they call their hatred of us 'anti-Semitism'? They are Semites themselves!"

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Hello and blessings, Menasha, and thank you for your question.

The answer to this question lies in a great secret, revealing how Hashem manages the history of the Jewish people. For this, it is important to understand the true Jewish outlook.

Why was Abraham our father chosen by Hashem? The answer was not lineage or race, but Abraham's choice in Hashem.

As it is said in the Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 39:1): "And Hashem said to Abram, 'Go from your country...' Rabbi Yitzchak said: a parable of one who passed from place to place, and saw a castle (city) burning. He said: 'Could it be that this castle is without a leader?' The owner of the castle looked out and said to him: 'I am the owner of the castle.' So Abraham our father said: 'Could it be that this world is without a leader?' The Holy One, blessed be He, looked out upon him and said: 'I am the owner of the world.'"

Thus, Abraham is called Abraham the Hebrew: "Rabbi Yehuda said: the whole world was on one side, and Abraham was on the other side" (Genesis Rabbah 42), also said about the children of Israel: "It is a nation that will dwell alone, and will not be reckoned among the nations" (Numbers 23:9).

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived before the Torah was given, and yet we are called "Bnei Yisrael" (sons of Jacob). The reason is that the patriarchs followed the true path of Hashem, and the people of Israel walk in their footsteps, deserving the Torah thanks to their holy forefathers. The Torah actually teaches us how to continue in the ways of our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and thus we are named after them! As the sages said: "Every individual of Israel is required to say: 'When will my deeds match the deeds of my forefathers?'" (Tanna Devei Eliyahu, Chapter 25, Page 272).

Here is a fascinating case that illustrates this point: Shemaiah and Avtalion were great sages of their time, sons of converts who were highly respected for their Torah greatness. When the high priest attempted to denigrate them for their origins, Shemaiah and Avtalion replied: "Let the sons of the nations come to peace - those who do the deeds of Aaron, and let the son of Aaron not come to peace - who does not do the deeds of Aaron!" (Yoma 71b). The sages taught us that Hashem loves converts who do Hashem's will and walk in the ways of our forefathers, because Judaism is not measured by lineage. King David was known to be a descendant of Ruth the Moabitess, who was a convert; likewise, the great sages Rabbi Akiva and his disciple Rabbi Meir were descendants of converts. These sages and righteous individuals are pillars of all Judaism, and so the Messiah will be a descendant of King David.

The concept of conversion proves to us that historical belonging to our forefathers is not dependent on race, but on spirituality and a faithful connection to the ways of our forefathers. For this reason, the Gentiles are not worthy of being called "Bnei Abraham" or "Bnei Shem," while we, the children of Israel, are worthy of being called by the name of our forefathers for 3,300 years.

The idea of conversion illustrates this well: any person who earnestly searches for Hashem and chooses to devote their lives to Hashem can convert and become a child of Abraham our father, even if originally they were not from the sons of Abraham or descendants of the sons of Shem! This is an astounding fact, that any non-Jew in the world, whether African, Asian, Indian, European, or Ishmaelite, is capable of willingly converting and becoming a complete Jew in body and soul, considered a son of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with any children born from them being complete Jewish children who do not need conversion.

We see that Judaism is not based on race, but on our soul and deeds. The Torah presented the world with the divine purpose intended for all who follow the ways of our forefathers.

And here lies the Jewish answer to your question: we are called the sons of Abraham, whereas the sons of Esau are not called by the name sons of Abraham, because they do not walk in the way of Abraham our father!

Shem, the son of Noah, was a great sage who established the "Yeshivat Shem V'Ever" after the flood, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob studied. The Torah teaches us that the children of Israel are considered the continuers of Shem's path: "And to Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber" (Genesis 10:21).

What is surprising is that even the Gentiles chose to call us a name that testifies to our fidelity to the ways of the forefathers. We, the Jews, are called "Bnei Shem" (Semites), which indicates that we are the only nation that continues the sacred ways of the forefathers faithfully for thousands of years, not deviating into idol worship and foreign cultures.

We are "Semites" because we walk in the way of Shem, and for this reason, we are also called the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as we continue the original path of our forefathers and maintain the spiritual tradition they imparted to us. This is in contrast to the descendants of Esau, who turned to corrupt cultures and no longer continue the spiritual tradition of our forefathers, hence they are not attributed to them.

It is fascinating to observe how Hashem directs history so that even the nations of the world would call us "Semites," and define their hatred towards us as "anti-Semitism." In this bizarre and perplexing manner, all nations testify that they do not define themselves under the divine identity and do not feel fidelity to the ways of their forefathers. With this, Hashem reveals to us the behind-the-scenes dealings, reminding us of our uniqueness as Jews, the importance of our fidelity to the Torah, and narrating to us how He manages the entire world towards the revelation of the complete redemption.

Take note of the fact that the Gentiles' hatred of the people of Israel is not natural; it is done by Hashem to separate us from them, reminding us that we are not Gentiles and should not live as Gentiles. As long as the people of Israel cling to their God, everyone will live with them in peace, and even the greatest nations in the world will not succeed in harming them. But when the children of Israel forsake, God forbid, the faith in the Torah and try to assimilate to Gentiles in their deeds, then they are handed over to wicked Gentiles. Fidelity to the ways of our forefathers is what will bring, with Hashem's help, to our complete redemption soon (see Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, to learn how repentance will save our nation in the end of days).