Mortimer Ostow

The provided text from Wikipedia details the historical and contemporary manifestations of antisemitic tropes, which are false allegations and stereotypes about Jewish people and Judaism. These tropes often accuse Jews of malicious actions, conspiracy, and undue control over global systems. Historically, they have been used to justify persecution and violence against Jewish communities, evolving from ancient accusations of guilt to medieval claims of ritualistic murder and epidemic causation. In modern times, these tropes have mutated into conspiracy theories about world domination, control of media and finance, and even the fabricated idea of 'white genocide.' The text highlights how these libels have persisted and adapted, often being spread by various extremist groups and individuals, and how they can be disguised as criticism or political commentary. The extract traces the evolution of these tropes, noting their connection to historical events and their continued impact on antisemitism.

Antisemitic tropes, also known as libels or canards, have a long history, dating back to at least the 2nd century. These malicious allegations frequently portray Jews as inherently guilty, cruel, powerful, or controlling. They often involve conspiracy theories or stereotypes, and sometimes deny or downplay historical atrocities committed against Jews. Emerging primarily in monotheistic societies, these tropes were shaped by religious narratives. For instance, 7th-century Quranic texts mentioned Jews being "visited with wrath from Allah." In medieval Europe, these tropes intensified, leading to mass persecutions and expulsions. Jews were particularly targeted with accusations of causing epidemics and engaging in ritualistic murder of Christian children.

By the 19th century, antisemitic tropes evolved to include allegations of Jews plotting "world domination" through control of mass media and global banking. These ideas mutated into modern conspiracy theories, such as Jews being behind liberalism, capitalism, and even communism. Adolf Hitler's worldview was significantly shaped by these tropes, contributing to World War II and the Holocaust. Since the 20th century, these tropes have been observed among various groups, including some identifying as "anti-Zionist." Contemporary tropes often involve the denial or trivialization of anti-Jewish atrocities, particularly the Holocaust, or falsely claim it was fabricated to benefit Jewish or Israeli interests.

The publication of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" in 1903 is considered a pivotal moment for contemporary conspiracy literature, embodying the trope of Jews nefariously plotting world domination. This idea is often depicted visually, such as in Nazi cartoons showing Jews as an octopus. The "Protocols" itself was revealed as a forgery plagiarized from a satire, yet it was popularized by the Russian imperial state to blame Jews for the revolution. The trope spread globally, adapting into concepts like "Judeopolonia" in Poland and "Zionist Occupation Government" (ZOG) in modern times, accusing Jews of controlling Western governments. Similar accusations have been made by figures like former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed and groups like the New Black Panther Party. Tropes about Jewish control over media and Hollywood are also prevalent, with individuals like Arthur Griffith and Réada Cronin propagating such ideas, despite studies showing Jewish Americans do not disproportionately prioritize Jewish concerns in media.

Antisemitic narratives frequently link Jews to economic control, particularly through banking. The myth of the Rothschild family dominating global finance, traceable to the historical prevalence of Jews in moneylending, is a documented trope. Medieval restrictions pushed Jews into occupations like moneylending, as Christians were prohibited by the Catholic Church from charging interest. This created natural tensions between Jewish creditors and gentile debtors, which fueled pre-existing anti-Jewish biases. More recently, the "white genocide" conspiracy theory, which gained traction around 2015, falsely accuses Jews of facilitating non-white immigration to undermine white-majority societies. This libel is often combined with older "Jewish power" myths and is associated with extremist groups and individuals, sometimes leading to violence. Elon Musk has faced accusations of endorsing this theory.

“Jews rule this world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them [...] They invented socialism, communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong [...] they have gained control of the most powerful countries.”

“So-called Jews in Israel in what's really Palestine...some player haters, some Zionists, some so-called Jews who the Book of Revelations [...] calls the Synagogue of Satan.”

“almost all Jew rags [...] Fifty other rags like those which have nothing behind them but the forty or fifty thousand Jewish usurers and pick-pockets in each country and which no decent Christian ever reads except holding his nose as a precaution against nausea.”

“Jewish power”

“Jewish electoral domination”