2 May 2026

Recently, someone asked me why there was so much anti-semitism in our world. There has always been anti-semitism but it has become all the more newsworthy in the recent times. Anyway, the question  set me thinking. There are five things which are contributory factors.

Firstly, according to the Old Testament and God’s eternal plan, the Jews were specially chosen to fulfil a ministry which would bring all nations  back to God. They failed in this purpose but still retained the accolade of being God’s chosen people.

Secondly, there is evidence in the Gospels that the evangelists played down the involvement of the Romans in the crucifixion of Jesus. It may have been the case that they wanted to protect the nascent church from being persecuted. The Jews and, in particular, their leaders were culpable and became known as Christ killers.

Thirdly, the Roman Catholic liturgy for Passiontide contained anti-semitic sentiments. One of the Good Friday prayers talked about ‘perfidious Jews’.  These traces of anti-semitism were removed from the liturgy by the Second Vatican Council in 1965 but they were ingrained in liturgical worship for centuries.

Fourthly,  and historically, Christians were forbidden to lend money. Because of this, money-lending was a job which Jews could take up readily  when other occupations were denied  them. People who borrow money find it difficult to pay it back and those who lend set their own interest rates. It’s an easy  recipe for conflict.

Fifthly, there appears to be animosity between Jews and Muslims. In the Middle East, there is conflict between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli war machine has decimated Gaza. Women and children have suffered to an inordinate degree. The enmity which exists between these two peoples has spread across the globe threatening world peace!