This is part one of a three part blog article. Links to the other parts are listed at the end.
Shem is traditionally considered the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews (Israelites), Arabs, Assyrians, Arameans, Elamites, and others mainly in the Middle East.
Ham is the forefather of peoples in parts of Africa and the Near East, including Cushites, Egyptians (Mizraim), Canaanites, and others.
Japheth is associated with the ancestors of many peoples in Europe and parts of Asia, including Greeks, Romans, Persians, and others
Shem's descendants include:
- Elamites (from Elam, east of Mesopotamia)
- Assyrians (from Asshur)
- Arameans (from Aram, covering parts of Syria and Mesopotamia)
- Lud (often associated with the Lydians of Asia Minor)
- Arphaxad, from whom Abraham and thus the Israelites and Arabs descend
- Joktan, whose descendants are linked to varioxx̌, us Arabian tribes
- These groups broadly occupied West Asia, including regions of modern Israel, Syria, Mesopotamia, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Shem's descendants are often called Semites, a term derived from his name. Some overlap exists with descendants of Ham and Japheth in certain regions, but Shem's lineage is mainly tied to the Semitic peoples of the ancient Near East
If the "Shemites" includes all these other descendants, why does the term "Antisemitism" refer specifically to Jews?
There is much to be said about the hatred and discrimination that Jews have faced for thousands of years in many regions around the globe. Perhaps that is for another post.
In the late 19th century, before the term "antisemitism" was coined in Germany, Judenhass was the common expression for Jewish hatred, typically rooted in religious prejudice. Judenhass is a German term meaning "Jew-hatred." It traditionally refers to hostility or opposition to Jews, often based on religious grounds (anti-Judaism) or broader cultural, economic, political, or racial discrimination against Jews.
"Antisemitism" is a term that was coined by a German Journalist that stuck. It is technically inaccurate and correct at the same time. In other words, it is illogical just like antisemitism is.
Before proceeding, watch this brief video on "antisemitism."
Back to the explanation of the origin of the term antisemitism.
In 1879 a German journalist by the name Wilhelm Marr's wrote a pamphlet titled "The Way to Victory of Germanism over Judaism" (also known as The Victory of Judaism over Germanism), that argued that Jews had gained dominance in German society due to emancipation and liberalism, which he saw as a threat to German identity and culture. Marr framed this conflict as a racial struggle between the "Semitic" Jewish race and the Germanic people, claiming Jews possessed qualities like astuteness and realism that allowed them to outmaneuver the Germans, whom he described as clumsy and inferior in this racial contest.
In the pamphlet, Marr declared that the struggle could not be resolved by assimilation because it was rooted in racial differences, and he warned that a Jewish victory would mean the end of the German people ("finis Germaniae"). The pamphlet was filled with exaggerations and false claims about Jewish control over finance and politics, reflecting the racial "antisemitic" ideology Marr promoted.
Marr’s work marked a shift from religious to racial antisemitism and was foundational in popularizing the term "antisemitism."
Seeing Jews as a threat, Marr founded the League of Antisemites in 1879. It was the first political organization dedicated specifically to combating Jews as a racial group, popularizing the term and ideology. His concept laid the groundwork for modern racial antisemitism, which culminated in the Nazi era.
Marr chose "antisemitism" over the traditional term Judenhass ("Jew-hatred") because he wanted to emphasize racial conflict rather than religious prejudice, presenting his views as more "scientific" and secular.
In summary, "antisemitism" shifted hatred of "Jews" from a religious based hatred to a racial (genetic) based hatred. It didn't matter to Hitler whether or not you were a "practicing" Jew. What mattered is whether you had Jewish blood. Hitler and the Nazis defined Jews not by their religious beliefs or practices, but by their ancestry-specifically, whether a person had Jewish "blood."
Plot Twist -- Is it correct to call ourselves Jews?
Linguistically, the English word "Jew" entered the language in the late 12th century. The term "Jew" originates from the name Judah (Hebrew Yehudah), who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Bible. Judah became the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and later the name was used for the Kingdom of Judah, which included the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and parts of Levi.
The Hebrew word Yehudi (יְהוּדִי) originally meant a member of the tribe or kingdom of Judah. Over time, especially after the exile and the disappearance of the northern tribes, the term "Jew" came to refer to all people of Jewish ethnicity and religion, not just those from the tribe of Judah.
While DNA testing can suggest genetic links to ancient Judahite populations, definitive proof of belonging to the Tribe of Judah through DNA alone is not currently possible. These tests provide historical and genetic context rather than absolute tribal identification.
Should We (Jews) Really Call Ourselves Israelies?
An argument can be made for Jews all over the world calling ourselves Israelies. So I would be an Israeli American. (As I think about it, this is analogous to Blacks who prefer to be called African Americans.)
In this video, Moriel explains some of thè deep misunderstandings between Jews and Muslims, not to mention Christians.
By & large, Jews recognize that our Patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We accept that Jacob's name became Israel. The children of Israel became the Israelites of biblical fame who went out of Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus. The Hebrew name for Exodus is the Sefer Shemot" (סֵפֶר שְׁמוֹת), which literally means "Book of Names." This name comes from the opening words of the book, "Ve-eleh shemot" (וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת), meaning "And these are the names," referring to the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt.
The connection can be drawn to the Land that God promised the Children of Jacob, and thus a line can be drawn between Zionist and the Israelites. Thus also between antisemitism and anti-Zionist.
Conclusion
The bible doesn't begin at Parsha Noach (the portion about Noah). Man is created on the 6th day in Genesis 1.
Essentially, the concept of identity can be defined by genetics, which is our family lineage. If that's the case, we are all descended from the first man and woman. In effect, we are all related.
Have a listen.
Epilogue:
