Like a good educator, I’ll jump to the punchline: There is no resurgence of antisemitism, only the occasional unmasking of what already exists.
No social engineering, no shaming, nor even laws can erase the intrinsic propensity for us to distrust those with whom we have no empathetic relationship. This is not to suggest a laying down of arms against unjust judgment (for example, one would agree that murderers and rapists are justly judged), but that we would understand undue prejudice is exacerbated by allowing ourselves to live in echo chambers of propaganda, refusing to look in the mirror of self-reflection to find our own weaknesses. Humanity itself is the culprit, not the “other guy.”
Therefore, there is no real progress in our pursuit of social harmony without first discovering and owning our own faults. While human nature will always tend toward self-preservation, our ability to “get along” and even value others can be greatly assisted through two powerful forces:
Gratitude and Empathy
Without gratitude we quickly decay into cynicism, fear, anger, and hatred. Until we are thankful for even the smallest things, we will reflexively find fault with everything around us and blame it (or them) for our plight. In such circumstances we become blind to our own hypocrisy. For example (of which there are many), the Stop Big Oil folks clearly don’t realize that holding up traffic burns more carbon, and their safety vests are made from petroleum products. The Antifa folks clearly don’t comprehend that they employ fascist tactics in their fight against fascism.
And I routinely ask God to reveal my blindspots.
And without empathy, or at least the pursuit of it, it’s nearly impossible to realize harmony with others. What must it be like to wake up each morning knowing you will be looked at skeptically, derisively, or even hated? What’s it like to be lumped in with others simply because of your church attendance, political affiliation, or socio-economic status? Trying to understand the real-world experience of others, even if we disagree with them ideologically, can result in at least a modicum of civility.
Antisemitism and other forms of unjust judgment are wicked; not because they rise to prominence on occasion, but because they exist perpetually under the surface longing to be affirmed. Whey they do “rise” in our awareness we can either embrace a newfound motivation to step back and see things objectively, or reflexively step in only to find ourselves fueling the flames of discord.
Pondering 