Jedwabne Massacre Film Ignites Hatred

From my experience in England as Catholic kid who didn't speak English very well, kids (9 to 12 year olds) attitude can vary a lot, adults are the key there, kids tend to repeat what they hear and may gang up on "the outsider". Later when back in Italy we had a Polish girl in our class and she took a long time integrating, (BTW she was also convinced the Germans were responsible for the Katyn massacre and no amount of "western propaganda" would change her mind, as far as I recall nobody, including the one Jew we had in the class, ever raised the issue of Polish participation in the Holocaust during those five years).
Practically all Jews I've met are well integrated but as a group there are some points where they deliberately put themselves "outside" the mainstream and show a pride in being "separate", that can turn bad if exploited by a politician who adopts a hate/fear based political platform. Unfortunately humans are wired in such a way that it's a lot easier to gather consensus by pointing at an "outside enemy" than by doing things that better our lives (the second is of course much harder to do as well as it requires a lot more besides oratory skills and a well oiled propaganda machine).

 

The only specifically Jewish area I've been to in the UK was in Gateshead; clearly all orthodox from their dress, purpose-built synagogue, girl's school etc.

 

The origin of antisemitism began in Egypt around 270 B..C.E., because Jews did not honor and pray to idols. Their monotheistic belief separated them and legal and social laws were enacted which restricted them from normal societal practices, that resulted in further accentuating their differences. The Greeks then read the pagan Egyptian books, which contained negative references to Jews, and antisemitism was perpetuated. Rome of course copied many things from Greece, and then the Roman Emperor Tiberius was very prejudicial towards Jews, as he was against all religion, and outlawed all religion in Rome and sent all the Jews out of Rome. Then with the rise of Christianity came the belief that the Jews killed Jesus, which was reinforced by many Popes, and so it grew.....

In case you didn't know, the 'Wailing Wall' in Jerusalem is the remainder of what's called the Second Temple, built in approximately 516 BCE. Titus destroyed it in 70 CE after a Jewish revolt. If you go to Rome and to the Forum one of the main attractions is Titus' Arch. The Arch was built in honor of the Romans conquering the Jews and tearing down the 2nd Temple. The inscriptions and carvings that are on it tell that story- you can see menorahs carved on it (Jewish candle-holders), and other symbols of things they stole, and other carvings depict the story of their victory in Jerusalem.

 

Back to the topic please .

 

Man those Poles, something else. Eh Wot!

 

WOW! This is at best an totally ignorant and stupid post, as I said at best! One could as well call it revisionist and racist!

 

You could. Or you could actually examine the situation as it was, and as others have posted as well, and read the post in the manner in which it was intended.

The strictly orthodox can be frustrating to deal with:

"Although the Torah does not so specify, the Sages have forbidden drinking with heathens (idol-worshipers, polytheists) or eating their cooked food or bread. The purpose of this prohibition is to prevent social contact that might lead to intermarriage. If most of the people at a banquet are Jews, then it is permitted to drink even if heathens are also present. However, because of idol worship (polytheism), a Jew may not consume even his own food at a heathen wedding.

In places away from any city where there is no Jewish baker, the prohibition against heathen bread is applied with leniency and so buying bread from a heathen baker in such places is permitted. However, eating bread made by a heathen who is not employed as a baker is still forbidden so as to discourage dining together and intermarriage. Also, food cooked by heathens is permitted for eating if it is a type of food that is not served with bread at the king’s table. This is because people will only invite each other for meals together if they are serving such delicacies as would be found on the king’s table to be eaten with bread, and the purpose of the prohibition against heathen food is to prevent intermarriage.

It is only permitted to buy wine, meat, cheese or cuts of fish that cannot be identified from a Jew who is known to observe the dietary laws. Meat may be delivered by an Israelite or the slave of an Israelite but not by a heathen (idol-worshiper, polytheist) since the heathen may exchange the meat for other meat

- See more at: http://www.religiousrules.com/Judaismfood13idols.htm#_ftnref22



Being Ritually Pure was important:

"The only living people who can be ritually impure are Jews; living non-Jews, like cattle, cannot be impure. However, the Sages decreed that all non-Jews transfer impurity like a Jewish man with irregular genital flows, who is a Father of Impurity. Therefore, all non-Jews as well as their menstrual blood, blood resulting from childbirth, irregular genital flows, spittle, urine and objects they lie or ride upon as well as anyone who has had sexual intercourse with a female non-Jew are Fathers of Impurity and transmit impurity to other people and useful objects."

- See more at: http://www.religiousrules.com/Judaismpurity02general.htm#sthash.pW2gdY67.dpuf

This is not a justification for genocide, but a small part to understand as to how the phenomena of misunderstanding and hatred could spread.

There was much less tolerance and understanding globally 70 years and more ago than you'll find today. Yet even today, you can don't have to go very far to meet bigotry.

Not surprising, given the inability many people have of actually trying to take the time to understand what is said, before leaping in and insulting.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26067980