Why do I use the word antisemitism instead of simply saying Jew-hatred?
Many people say that "Jew-hatred" is clearer and more straightforward, but there's a reason I choose antisemitism instead.
The term antisemitism was popularized in the 19th century and later embraced by the Nazis because it sounded academic and allowed hatred to pass itself off as science.
I use the term antisemitism because it reminds me that Jew-hatred rarely appears honestly; it uses coded language, conspiracy theories, and the cover of "critique" or "debate."
The word antisemitism contains a warning that Jew hatred takes on the appearance of virtue and social justice of its day and we must learn to recognize it even when it changes its name.
