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Archives of Business Research – Vol. 10, No. 2

Publication Date: February 25, 2022

DOI:10.14738/abr.102.11715. Gurevitz, M. (2022). Antisemitism – A Mirror to Primitive Brains. Archives of Business Research, 10(02). 15-16.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Antisemitism – A Mirror to Primitive Brains

Michael Gurevitz

Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Ecology

George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University

Ramat Aviv 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

Among a variety of animal urges that human-beings (a branch in the animal kingdom) still

maintain, are violence and cruelty that have not dissipated throughout the development of our

civilization. This is reflected upon daily killing events as well as by endless clashes between

nations over territories, resources and control. Many of these murderous acts involve illogical

ruthlessness, often termed mistakenly “animal behavior”. While such actions among animals

may have likely evolved to support survival (prey and defense), why have these tendencies

been maintained in the most developed mammalian species - homo-sapiens? If we consider the

cruelty urge a built-in default in all animals, its maintenance in humans is a remnant trait, and

so our astonishment of where did it come from may change to what could humans do to prevent

or at least restrain such acts. Astoundingly, not only that the developed brain of our species

does not prevent from planning and executing terrible crimes, it may inspire evil feelings and

acts, sometimes based on prejudice ideas. In questioning the basis to the development of

prejudice ideas and why are they so difficult to get rid of (Martin Buber: prejudices of youth),

there are no easy answers. It seems that prejudice ideas usually develop in the mind of people

as a result of misleading education, brain wash at various life stages, and naïve perception of

the reality, but often with no clear reasons, just being carried away by rumors and aggression

of the masses that might have developed deceptive ideas based on lies. Although in the 21st

century, most of the world population is composed of uneducated people who obey religious

orders and spiritual preachers, humanity also developed ethical rules and TABUs meant to

restrain if not prevent the development of evil acts. In many civilized populations these ethical

restrains, corroborated by worldwide comprehension that human life is our most precious

value, seem to function quite well and are enforced by rules and established justice systems.

Still, these progressive steps seem insufficient as long as people differentiate between races and

genders, declare superiority over others (e.g., ‘selected by God’), or carry prejudice ideas

against minorities (e.g., blood libels against Jews).

Antisemitism is a clear example of a prejudice idea based on primitive, often unexplained

hatred of humans of Semitic origin, but is mostly directed against Jews. The general essence of

this hatred is associated with religious convictions (blaming the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus

by the Romans) and on deceptive blood libels that incite the mob and lead to pogroms and

looting. Usually, weak minorities whose ethnic background, social values, and religious habits

differ, are the subject of such prejudice ideas, thus becoming easy targets for incited mob

searching for ways to release pressure and satisfy their murderous compulsions. In as much as

such a phenomenon is common among children that torture a weak or a different looking child,

or among animals unable to tolerate weak individuals in the herd, similar behavioral trends

may also appear among human adults, particularly of primitive background with a need to

release frustrations and cruel (built-in) urges. The target of an incited mob would always be

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Archives of Business Research (ABR) Vol. 10, Issue 2, February-2022

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

weak, unable to retaliate minorities that differ in religion, behavior, customs, dressing, color

and economical background, which in most cases were the Jews. Incite against minorities or

alleged enemies accused as the source of internal difficulties and economic decline has always

been a political way of rulers to manipulate the mind of the masses and remove responsibility

from their own shoulders. This strategy is often used nowadays by totalitarians while providing

another target to blame for their failures.

Although we might expect rejection of prejudice ideas by more educated or civilized people,

quite amazingly this is not necessarily correct, particularly when the twisted perspective was

acquired early within the family or neighborhood, as well as in response to persuasive efforts

by governments and religious authorities. For example, the deceptive indoctrination by the

Nazi regime against Gipsys and Jews was so powerful that a large portion of the German

population accepted that these minorities are subspecies of the human race and so their ethnic

cleansing is necessary to purify the genetic background of the German nation. When such

propaganda is led by the authorities, with pseudoscientific proof, most ignorant population

would accept and cooperate. Another example is those libels about the Jews accusing them in

using blood of Christian children to prepare ‘Matzot’ (the alternative to bread during the

Passover week), which incited pogroms and murderous acts by the masses (e.g., ‘The

Kristallnacht’). One more leading example is the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’, a document

composed more than a hundred years ago, picturing a secret plan of the Jews to take control

over the world economy. Despite numerous proofs indicating its fake source and evil objectives,

this document is still valid worldwide and is even being taught in Islamic schools. It seems

though that the development of a prejudice idea may occur at any time everywhere to serve the

evil needs and prevail human cruel urges. Importantly, prejudice ideas are not restricted to

hatred of minorities or different-looking individuals. One of the most powerful prejudice ideas

is the one that supports women oppression by men, relying on their smaller body size and

muscular abilities, smaller brain, and familial function in giving birth and raising the children.

Despite the immense progress during the last centuries mostly in the Western society, with

improvement in women rights (e.g., voting in the elections, competition on academic and

political positions, and even serve in the army as combat fighters and pilots), this oppression is

still firm and is supported by extreme religious rules, such as in the Shiite (Muslim) or orthodox

Jewish societies, as well as in primitive undeveloped populations.

Nowadays, the development of global networks has provided new powerful means for shaming,

contempt, fabrication and engraving prejudice ideas in the mind of youth. This new ‘fashion’

may lead to horrible consequences including suicidal attempts of young people unable to cope

with the rumors or their stigmatized personality. Hence, raising prejudice ideas is a powerful

means to destroy other humans, a strategy that was always used along our history, and rather

than dissipating and put under control using ethical restrictions, has even increased along

globalization and the easy access to networks. It seems that at least in this respect, the human

civilization is stepping on a bad future track.