Eternal Strangers: Critical Views of Jews and Judaism Through the Ages

It is common knowledge that Jews have been disliked or hated for centuries. But why? The standard reply is that anti-Semitism is a "disease" that, for some strange reason, has afflicted non-Jews for ages. But this makes little sense. Nor can it be an "irrational" reaction. Such things must have real, physical causal factors.

Our best hope for understanding this recurrent anti-Semitism is to study the history: to look at the actual words written by prominent critics of the Jews, in context, and with an eye to any common patterns that might emerge. Such a study reveals strikingly consistent observations: Jews are seen as pernicious, conniving, shifty liars; they harbor a deep-seated hatred of humanity; they are at once foolish and arrogant; they are socially disruptive and rebellious; they are ruthless exploiters and parasites; they are master criminals-the list goes on.

The persistence of such comments is remarkable. Evidently the cause lies in the Jews themselves-in their attitudes, values, ethnic traits, and beliefs. It seems that Jews are biologically, genetically inclined toward actions that trigger a revulsion in non-Jews. Jews have always been, and will always be, eternal strangers. Given this essential fact, the path forward is difficult indeed.

Eternal Strangers is a profoundly important book. It addresses the modern-day "Jewish Question" in all its depth-something which is arguably at the root of many of the world's social, political, and economic problems. It is a matter of the greatest urgency.