Hatred of Jews is a spiritual problem

Last month, Fatima Mousa Mohammed delivered a commencement speech for the law school at the City University of New York. It was a vicious and incendiary attack against Jews consisting of lies, distortion and bigotry. This was just another (albeit outrageous) example of antisemitism: the hatred of Jews.

It is widely recognized that antisemtism is on the rise worldwide. A lot of work is being done to define and counter this phenomenon.

Last week the Biden administration published its U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. The White House reaffirmed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s definition of antisemitism as the “most prominent” definition of antisemitism – it is “is the non-legally binding ‘working definition’ of antisemitism adopted in 2016 by the 31-member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which the United States has embraced.”

As the strategy explains: “Jewish students and educators are targeted for derision and exclusion on college campuses, often because of their real or perceived views about the State of Israel.When Jews are targeted because of their beliefs or their identity, when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is antisemitism. And that is unacceptable”.

However, many have criticized the US administration for failing to back clearly the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

But according to Melanie Philips, the problem is not the definition. “The problem of antisemitism doesn’t lie with a hitherto unclear and contested definition. The problem lies with those who bait Jews and demonize Israel.” She continues: “The nexus between antisemitism and Islam is a powerful contributor to the West’s tsunami of Jew-hatred. Yet progressives refuse to acknowledge this.”

It is of course essential that we all fight against antisemitism, in all its forms and guises. But at the end of the day, it is unlikely that legal definitions and administrative measures will be effective to dimish – let alone eradicate – the deep-seated hatred of Jews.

Because antisemitism is not just hatred of Jews – it is hatred of the God of the Jewish people. And both Satan and the world refuse to acknowledge that He alone is God. The fight against antisemitism is a spiritual battle, that must be fought with spiritual weapons.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

The Editorial Team Israel & Christians Today

The Biden administration’s anti-antisemitism travesty
Melanie Philips writes: “The IHRA definition has led defenders of the Jewish people down a blind alley.”
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