Antisemitism isn't a modern phenomenon—it's a 3,000-year-old pattern revealing profound truths about human psychology and social instability. In this riveting conversation, Rabbi Steve guides us through the intellectual history of anti-Jewish sentiment, starting with its earliest recorded instance in Exodus when Pharaoh feared Jews would side with Egypt's enemies.
The most illuminating insight emerges through a powerful metaphor: Jews function as a "blank screen" onto which societies project their deepest anxieties. Like a movie theater screen that remains unchanged while different films play across it, Jewish communities have stayed relatively consistent while antisemitism transforms to reflect whatever fears dominate each era. During medieval times when religious anxieties peaked, Jews were linked to Satan; during the Red Scare, they were associated with communism; today, they're painted as either "colonialists" by the left or "globalists" by the right.
Rabbi Steve traces how Jewish identity evolved through interactions with empires—from Greeks to Romans—and reveals fascinating historical details, such as how the term "Jews" originated from Roman references to people from Judea after destroying the Second Temple in 70 CE. We explore theological antisemitism (which targeted Jewish religious identity but allowed redemption through conversion) and racial antisemitism (stemming from 19th-century pseudoscientific theories).
Most profound is the observation that antisemitism serves as "the canary in the coal mine" for societal health. When a society begins mapping its anxieties onto Jews or other outsider groups, it signals broader sickness—not because Jews are causing problems, but because society has reached a point where it needs scapegoats to explain its discomfort with change.
Understanding antisemitism's historical patterns helps us recognize that today's rise in anti-Jewish sentiment reflects America's anxiety about the pace and direction of social transformation. What lessons can we learn from this pattern to build a healthier society that doesn't require scapegoats? Join us to discover how history illuminates our present moment.

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