Judaism and Anti- Semitism Their effects on the outcome and occurrences of the Holocaust. by: Erin Suites Pablo Cuartas

What is Anti-Semitism? Anti-Semitism is hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious group or “race.” Semites include a broad range of nationalities and peoples from all over the middle east. Anti-Semitism however refers to Jews as the main targets. The Nazi German Swastika

Anti-Semitism The gruesome beginning Hostility to the Jews emerged because of religious differences, the situation worsened as a result of competition with Christianity. By the 4 th century, Christians saw Jews as an alien people who had been condemned to perpetual migration due to their beliefs. A photograph taken of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Judaism A Religion Prosecuted In 1819, riots broke out in Germany and Northern Europe in opposition to Jews. Similar persecutions against Jews have surfaced in history as far back as the Biblical times.

The lasting effects of an anti-Semitic society During WWII the Jewish people were persecuted on an international scale. The premier invasion by Nazi Germany on Poland was the start of the war. Before the war, Poland’s Jewish Population was very large. By the end of the war however, in 1945, around 6 million Jews had been murdered. Today, 65 out of every 1000 people are Jewish in Poland. This effect is seen throughout the world. A Holocaust victim’s grave is vandalized by Anti-Semites years after the war.

The Consequences of Turning the Other Way The Holocaust carried on much longer than it should have. The world saw it, denied it, and turned the other way. It has been said nothing like the Holocaust should ever happen again. Unfortunately, history is repeating itself as you are reading this in countries such as Darfur, Sudan, Rwanda, and other parts of Africa. The civil wars are destroying the lives of millions.

Judaism Today The Aftermath of Anti-Semitism Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, author, and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, talks about his views of the Holocaust and the its effects on young people today. He elaborates with his theme of “The Perils of Indifference.” Go to this link to listen useum/exhibit/focus/anti semitism/voices/transcri pt/?content=

The Projected Direction of Anti-Semitism Today, there are a number of societies and organizations working to stop Anti- Semitism and racism in general. Such groups include the Anti Defamation League, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Jewish Journal.

These organizations work with Holocaust Survivors to publish and produce works demoting Anti-Semitism. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has worked with Elie Wiesel, Janine Oberrotman, author Samuel L. Harris, and Felicia Graber. a poem by Janine Oberrotman, in August of 1942, can be found on the link below.

Southern Poverty Law Center In early 2009 the Southern Poverty Law Center released an annual report telling about all of the different hate groups active in the United States of America. This is the map they provided.