koda:
I think it’s like anything else, some do and some don’t. I live in Los Angeles and we have some Hasidic Jews. On of my Jewish friends said, referring to them “they don’t even like us” meaning other Jews who weren’t so strict. I’m suppossing that they think we are misled but wonder what they think about our relationship to God. Anybody know?
I lived amongst a group of Lubavitch Chassidim for about three months and found them to be extremely bright, extremely personable, extremely giving, loving, and caring people as a rule. I admit that I was really there to listen so as to learn and not to proselytize at all and while I did hear criticism of other Jews who did not live by the commandments of God, I never heard criticism of Christians (in one sense, perhaps, as we are gentiles we don’t ‘matter’ as much as those who are born as God’s Chosen).
If the very orthodox, such as the Chassidim, “hate” Christians I was never aware of it and I was a Christian in the midst of day-to-day life. I can understand to a degree, though, what your friend was saying - the very orthodox do hold other Jews to the same high standards to which they feel God is calling them to hold.
The only possible anti-Christian rhetoric that I can recall hearing from any single group of Jews might be on the other spectrum - those ‘secular Zionists’ who have a suspicion of why the evangelical right of America are such strong supporters of the Israeli state. In one aspect I do believe that they are grateful for the support of America, particularly during the current administration where we’ve not had a policy of trying to be peace brokers in the region but have continued and increased support on so many levels. But although they may have some distrust of American Christians I don’t think you’d hear the word ‘hate’ spoken aloud, at least.
And as we Christians have a fairly poor historical record, once having achieved some political dominance and so quickly moving distancing ourselves from our Jewish roots I’m rather surprised that there aren’t more factions of Judaism who are overtly anti-Christian and who might be more liable to issue statements in which hate for Christians is not a part of the agenda.
My personal baggage is hard to let go (and I’ll not even attempt a defense, here): anti-Zionist, pro-Islamic & Palestinian, pro-Jewish orthodoxy (most of whom began, and many remain, anti-Zionist), and personally an orthodox Catholic. I’ve yet to meet a Muslim or a Jew who genuinely hates Christians in the same manner that Christians have seemed to hate these two other common religions over the centuries. I am certain that I have been disliked, even hated, by some secular Jews because of my anti-Zionist beliefs, in addition to orthodox Jews because of my pro-Palestinian beliefs but never have I felt hated because of my Christianity. Not even when I’ve lost Jewish friends over the issues.
