Age-Old Antisemitism Persists in Modern Times

Historians who’ve researched the origins of antisemitism say it goes way back.

Anti-Jewish sentiment dates back to ancient times. In Alexandria, there was a Jewish community that was disparagingly referred to as lepers or exiles originating from Egypt, which led to conflicts between Greeks and Jews.

During ancient times, in polytheistic societies like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, Jews faced religious exclusion due to distinct practices such as dietary laws, Sabbath observance, and circumcision, which set them apart. In the first century, these differences in Alexandria escalated into violence. The Greeks criticized Jews for their separation, and the Romans labeled them as insular. The destruction of the Second Temple and the renaming of Judaea to Palaestina was an effort to eradicate Jewish identity.

Christianity’s early days called them “Christ killers.” New Testament included hostility.

Antisemitism developed gradually as prejudices accumulated over time. The Jewish community’s desire for independence was perceived as a threat. Their religious exclusivity was offensive to polytheists, and what began as social tension in empires eventually evolved into religious hostility.

Outsiders in predominantly Christian or Muslim societies, they were banned from many trades and land ownership. Thus pushed into moneylending or commerce — those roles made them targets of resentment. These became pretexts for antisemitism in parts of the world — even when others of their belief elsewhere had no connection to the conflict.

The fourth century. Christianity became Rome’s dominant religion. Writers disdained Jewish customs. Seen as separate and unassimilable, they caused suspicion, hostility. Theological angers, they were developed.

Expelled from King Edward’s England in 1290, they were forbidden to return legally until the 1650s thanks to Oliver Cromwell. By Shakespeare’s time — late 1500s — England had few practicing that faith. Well-known still today, his “The Merchant of Venice” featured Jewish moneylender Shylock with his famous “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech. Literature portrayed them as greedy moneylenders and outsiders. Negative stereotypes then persisted in religious, literature and cultural societies.

Mouthing off

NOW, to get back to today’s otherworld society:

Dentistry harks to 2600 BC. Egypt’s Hesy-Ra. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about extractions and gums.

Middle Age dentistry was done by barbers. Want hair clipped? Your molar removed?! Same guy.

In 2025, Manhattan’s own mouth whisperer is East 61st’s Dr. Marc Lazare, a biometric specialist. He’s Michelangelo with a mirror.

I tell you this because Sunday every Tony candidate’s smile is brighter than Tiffany’s window and last minuters are asking who helped?! So me, little mother, I’m telling you.

B’way beefs up

AND for a snack afterward on the Upper East Side — since there’s no load of food at their so-called Tonys gala party after — do Dave Goodside’s Beach Café. Inhaling burgers there the other night was Nick Jonas and a hungry party of 15.

SO I asked one bankrupt debtor of an iffy show why he went bust. He answered: “Because I hate to owe money.”

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.