For an antisemite, the only way to make sense of world history and the only way to make sense of contemporary politics is to understand “the Jews.” They are somehow pulling the strings behind the major events taking place on the globe, in particular the bad ones. “It’s those miserable Jews! They’re behind it all!” And so, whether it is world wars or world banks, whether it is the 9/11 terrorist attacks or ISIS, it is “the Jews” who are somehow controlling the outcome and directing the course of the world. It’s always “the Jews!” …

So, there is a world of difference between fair and honest criticism of Jewish individuals (or groups) and antisemitism, just as there is a world of difference between, say, fair and honest criticism of African American individuals (or groups) and anti-Black racism. So, when it comes to American Jews, it is fair to ask, “Why do so many American Jews support abortion and same-sex ‘marriage’ when the Torah is part of their heritage?” There is nothing antisemitic about that, any more than it is racist to ask, “Why do so many African American Christians vote Democrat, when the Democrats embrace so many anti-biblical values?” But it is antisemitic to say, “The Jews don’t care about biblical morality,” just as it would be racist to say, “African Americans don’t care about biblical morality.”

[I would add that anti-Semites like to frame their hatred in acceptable terms, ie, “I only oppose Zionism/Israeli policies!” As we have discovered, though, most of that on the Left (and even the fringes of the Right) has just been a cover for old-fashioned Jew-hatred. — Ed]