A simple definition of antisemitism is hatred of Jews, wherever they live.
It has nothing to do whatsoever with Zionism or the State of Israel.
But it has plenty to do with some artistic creations, particularly in the theatre.
Take for example William Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’.
It was written around 1600 based on Shylock the Jew, the main character who was an avaricious Venetian moneylender, evil, deceptive and greedy.
The defeat of Shylock and his forced conversion to Christianity form the climax of the story.
How well did Shakespeare know a typical Shylock whom he so eloquently portrays?
The Edict of Expulsion
At the time Shakespeare wrote ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ there were no legally practicing Jews living in England.
They had been expelled in 1290 under The Edict of Expulsion formulated by King Edward the First and not allowed to return until late in the 16th and early 17th centuries at the time of Oliver Cromwell.
In addition to being an antisemite, Edward the First was an evil ruler noted for his vindictiveness, opportunism and untrustworthiness.
Hearsay, or Fact?
So how could Shakespeare have accurately portrayed Shylock if he had never met a legally practicing Jew?
In addition, although Shakespeare had toured Europe, there was no proof he ever visited Venice.
This is where artistic license can fashion the minds of society in perpetuity.
Did Shakespeare create ‘The Merchant of Venice’ on the basis of hearsay, or fact?
The play is one of Shakespeare’s finest works and still being staged today.
It festers antisemitism, like so many other artistic creations, many in literature and music, capturing the mind and attitude of people who either attend the theatre or just stand in the streets flashing disgusting placards promoting death to the Jews.
Some analysts have suggested Shakespeare believed Shylock’s forced conversion to Christianity and losing half his wealth into the bargain was intended to demonstrate mercy compared to the lack of religious grace.
This is a far-fetched interpretation, but does reflect religious bias and ignorance.
Over the years many companies have staged ‘The Merchant of Venice’, even one by the Habima Theatre in Israel, translated into Hebrew.
Depending on the Director of each production the role of Shylock has been portrayed in numerous ways, not all as a cunning and greedy moneylender.
However, Shylock will always be regarded as an evil Jew, highlighting yet a further example of how antisemitism is firmly rooted into the mind of ignorant and vindictive people.
The celebrated English author and poet George Eliot once wrote a very meaningful description of intellectual narrowness.
“Can anything be more disgusting than to hear people called ‘educated’ showing themselves empty by any real knowledge as to the relations of their own social and religious life to the history of the people they think themselves witty in insulting?
That is a sign of the intellectual narrowness, the stupidity which is still the average mark of our culture.”
Primo Levi, a survivor of the Holocaust was of the opinion that every age has its own Fascism.
“The critical point can be reached, not just through the terror of police intimidation, but by denying and detesting information, by undermining systems of justice, by paralyzing the education system and by spreading in a myriad of subtle ways nostalgia for a world where order reigned.”
An Eternal Challenge
The world today does not reflect a world where order reigns.
The instability in countries experiencing warfare, both internally and externally, more often than not reflects ineffective government coupled with poor leadership.
And as history has proven to us, the Jewish people are always the first to be blamed, wherever and for whatever reason.
Defeating antisemitism is a pipe dream and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
What is remarkable is the fact that in a world of nearly 8 billion people, the mere 16 million Jews are frequently blamed for wrongdoings and disasters all around the globe.
