Sterotype

[mjterry87]

I have a question for you guys. Why do people think that all Jews are rich, and greedy? I personally dont know any who are, but are most Jews rich? Kind of a stupid question but I have just always wondered why people hate Jews so much.

 

[ShirChadash]

I don't know of any Jews who are any more rich or greedy than any other typical person (though I only know a few). What I understand is that during the course of history, many times Jews were denied the right to own property and to farm in differing places/countries (and owning land usually afforded people more security and rights than not owning land did, at those times), etc., forced off their land and into cities, essentially leaving them little more than upper scale occupations and lending of monies for their livelihood.

Whatever -- the important thing people fail to realize by and large (are afraid to admit, maybe?) is that it is G-d who blesses His people, the Jews, and continues to bless them, prosper them, and love them no matter how people have hated them, tried to thwart them, destroy them.

And the funny thing is that all kinds and creeds of people in every country are infected with a drive for prosperity and wealth, working themselves to the bone for a few dollars more, etc... and for Jews to be singled out as being uncommonly wealthy and rich is... ridiculous IMO.

 

[Henaynei]

The wealth or poverty of the Jewish people runs the gamut of the rest of the population - there are some who are immensely wealthy, and others in crushing poverty - there are even quite a number living on the street in Israel as well as the rest of the world.

this fallacy is part of the twisted mythos that came out of European anti-semitism - it is part of the structure that the authorities used to agment the by-in of the gentile neighbors in focusing their frustrations and venting them on the Jews (instead of the ruling classes). It is the old tool of class envy......

 

[ShirChadash]

Yes, and isn't there something like a 50% tax rate in Israel? I've heard it is not an easy place to live, for anyone.

 

[Henaynei]

socialized medicine and education - the exchange rate is over 4 NIS to 1 USD..... tourism is nearly dead (the homocide bombers have killed the major "cash crop" for both the Israelis AND the arabs). Economically it is no land of milk and honey..... right now..... to live there is to sacrifice - a great number of Jews only can afford real meat on Shabbat.....

 

[mjterry87]

That is true, Jews have been persecuted so much and it is just easier for them to live in large cities, thus bringing them into the upscale lifestyle. Thanks.


Shalom

 

[P_G]

You know I have really worked at trying to get a warm fuzzy feeling about this thread
and I am just not able to.

Regardless I hate to see sterotypes even printed out because they are just that
stereotypes. And to breathe them gives them new life.


Blessings

PG

 

[ShirChadash]

I detest stereotypes. Of anyone.

But adressing stereotypes, hopefully to dispell them? That's a good thing, IMHO.

 

[mjterry87]

You know I have really worked at trying to get a warm fuzzy feeling about this thread
and I am just not able to.

Regardless I hate to see sterotypes even printed out because they are just that
stereotypes. And to breathe them gives them new life.


Blessings

PG

Well I was never trying to breath life into them. It is just that I have noticed the sterotype which I listed above and I was just wondering where it came from. It is not true as I have found out. And even before I posted this I knew that it was not true.