At its core, antisemitism is an ideology that views Jews as whatever is vile in the world. To save the world, “the Jew” must be exterminated. It is for this reason that Hannah Arendt wrote that, unlike many other forms of hatred, antisemitism is genocidal. Join Dr. Naya Lekht as she examines three distinct eras that birthed anti-Judaism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Zionism by looking at the dominant ideologies that fueled this ancient hatred.
Session 1: Approaches to the Study of Antisemitism
In this session, we will explore approaches to understanding antisemitism as a pervasive form of prejudice. Students will delve into the roots of antisemitism, examining how this age-old hatred has proliferated across various cultures and periods. Through a critical analysis of key historical events, ideologies, and societal structures, students will gain insights into the recurring patterns and impacts of antisemitism.
Session 2: In the Era of Anti-Judaism: The Origins of Blood Libel
In this session, we will explore the origins and development of antisemitism during the Christian era, focusing specifically on the era of anti-Judaism. Students will investigate how early Christian texts and teachings portrayed Jews and how these depictions contributed to the spread of anti-Jewish sentiment throughout Europe. We will examine the theological and social constructs that positioned Jews as villains within Christian society, such as the portrayal of Jews as Christ-killers and agents of evil. By analyzing these early Christian narratives, students will gain an understanding of how religious doctrines fueled prejudice, exclusion, and violence against Jewish communities.
Session 3: In the era of anti-Semitism: Jews and Power
In this session, we will examine the evolution of antisemitism in the modern era, particularly in post-Enlightenment Europe, where antisemitism shifted from religious-based prejudices to racial and pseudo-scientific ideologies. Students will explore how the Enlightenment’s ideals of reason and science paradoxically contributed to the development of racial theories that categorized Jews as a distinct and inferior race. We will likewise examine the rise of nationalism and the cultivation of the Jews as a powerful and conspiratorial figure.
Session 4: In the era of Anti-Zionism: Israel and Power
This session explores the evolution of antisemitism in the modern era, focusing on how traditional hatred of Jews has increasingly shifted towards Israel and Zionism. Students will examine the origins of anti-Zionist propaganda, tracing its roots back to the Soviet Union’s ideological campaigns, which framed Zionism as a form of imperialism and racism. We will investigate how these narratives have been perpetuated and transformed in contemporary times, where criticism of Israel often crosses into demonization and delegitimization, echoing classic antisemitic tropes.
Spring 2025
Online
4
March 17, March 24, March 31, April 7, 2025
Mondays, 6:00PM-7:00PM EST
Dr. Naya Lekht is a scholar of contemporary antisemitism and works with the Jewish community to foster pride in the history of the Jewish people and create robust education on the history of antisemitism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the history of the Jewish people. She was born in the former Soviet Union and came with her parents to the United States of America in 1989. Naya received her PhD in Russian Literature from UCLA, where she wrote her dissertation on Holocaust literature in the Soviet Union. She has additional expertise in Soviet history, the Holocaust, and curriculum development. Naya is a Research Fellow at ISGAP and teaches on the history of antisemitism at the collegiate and high school level. Dr. Lekht writes extensively on the Arab-Israeli conflict and antisemitism in both K-12 and higher education. Her most recent project is an educational series called Don’t Know Much About.
