Chesler presents a combination self-history and her analysis of the history of anti-semitism, the latter which is both exhaustive and exhausting. Exhaustive because it recites the history across the ages and exhausting because there seems to be no rational answer to the "Why?" the chronic anti-semitism. As a Christian at first supportive of Jews and Israel because the Lord says we must be, eventually through obedience I have become sincere in my support. What I have seen as "new" about the situation is that the current American president has openly disrespected and contended with Israel and its leadership contrary to the near, if not clear majority of Americans. I believe the Bible - bless Israel and be blessed; curse Israel and be cursed. Yet, like the president, there are are a growing number who are quite hostile in expressing their disdain while supporting the Palestinians. This is prophetic (Psalm 83).
Chesler contends the Jews did not kill Jesus, it was the Romans. According to the Old and New Testaments, the Jews rejected their Messiah but will come to the Truth. Jewish religious leaders conspired with Judas for thirty pieces of silver to turn Yeshua over to the Romans with a demand He be crucified. Yet, the New Testament reminds us that He came first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, and in due time, Israel will be saved.
There is no human or humane reason for one people who desire to live in peace and prosperity to seek to destroy another, unless they follow an evil intent, and where does an evil intent originate? But God is Good, and no plan or purpose can prevail against Him. "Those who pursue lying vanities forsake their own mercies."
I have lived among Muslims in three Arab countries, and found them more hospitable and polite to strangers than most American or Israeli Jews. I worked for years in Jewish law firms in California with attorneys foul-mouthed and brash. Even so, I will take the simple path by trusting in God's Word that He shall redeem His people, the Jews, whence all shall be right with the world at last. Meanwhile, I believe Chesler reports comprehensively what is, what has been but which shall not be forever. ( )

Being Jewish (and proud of it) and having spent a lot of time in Israel and others part of the Middle East, I was thrilled to receive an advance galley from the publisher through LibraryThing to review. But I was sorely disappointed.

I am turned off by works of nonfiction in which the author is so emotionally angry and biased. I too am often angered by how Israel and the Jews are treated. However, I remain calm and approach it with what I assume is a level-head. This book lashed out in all directions with little organization to it.

Some points the author made were valid but it gets lost in the venom. She is accurate in her accounts of Israelis living in danger day after day. But these facts again get lost in her emotional ranting. She is also quite repetitious. There is a claim that “North American streets are mainly safe but …not during Muslim prayer services which are sometimes conducted in the streets and which block pedestrians and traffic.” Where are the facts to back up that just because the mosques may be too small (which sometimes they are) it endangers the rest of us when the worshippers spill out onto the street. She also says “To be a Jew is to live dangerously…). I totally disagree as I openly live as a Jew.

I see nothing “new” about the anti-Semitism we are experiencing today. Yes, it exists and, yes, it is on the upswing. But it is the same anti-Semitism we have encountered through history. She claims that the “new” anti-Semitism is perpetrated in the name of anti-racism and anti-colonialism. Again, this view on anti-Semitism is really not different from the “old” anti-Semitism. It still comes down to Jews being the scapegoat.

Sorry, but I see this as the work of an angry, scared person lashing out. I do not consider it a valid analysis of the true situation. ( )

On the one hand, Ms. Chesler presents a view of an important issue: is antisemitism reviving in western civilization? Against the backdrop of the Middle East, one has to recognize that there is tremendous pressure against many nations to take some position on an issue that many people would like to let go of.

On the other hand, so much of Ms. Chesler's argument is really (a) a matter of histrionic over-exaggeration, and (b) simply false. I must admit that I feel awkward even being critical here, because - by Chesler's standards - it probably makes me antisemitic, while, if anything, I am totally sympathetic to the Jewish culture, and largely in agreement with many principles of Jewish faith.

It is by and large too easy to be anti-anything, now-a-days. People seek to focus their anxieties on something readily available, and Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Evangelicals, Satanists, and the French, are easy targets. One can hate them because by their nature they are fairly easy to identify and find something to dislike about them.

Are people more antisemitic now than in the recent past? Probably. And they're probably more anti-Muslim, anti-French, too. Global economies have been hit hard, people lose their jobs, their houses, find themselves trapped by debt, afraid of violence - so many things drive us to be afraid, so we find something to fight back against, or at the very least to blame for our troubles. That's humanity for you.

Ms. Chesler would do well to refocus her dyspepsia towards the real issues confronting all people, and spend less time railing about how her group is being hated by others. ( )

Ms. Chesler in her powerful and wonderfully written book talks of the not new or ever to go away concept that a new form of anti-Semitism has evolved and further developed in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, coming from at the same times from the political far-left, radical Islam, and the far-right, and rooted to the goal and messaging itself as opposition to Zionism and the State of Israel. The ideas put forth that much of what seems to be just criticism of just Israel by individuals and world bodies, is, actually a total and all-inclusive worldwide series of attacks on Jews and symbols. There’s an increased acceptance of anti-Semitic beliefs in any kind of public discussions.
In Ms. Chesler’s book The New Anti Semitism the concept of being or talking of anti-Zionism, anti-American or the total and all inclusive vilifying of Israel may and is linked to worldwide anti-Semitism, or as these groups try to disguise their anti-Semitism. Debate on this from the worldwide media is centered against anything Jewish or Israeli and from college campuses to cities around the globe Ms. Chesler brilliantly shows us the facts that too many of the world still chooses to ignore. The fight against Anti-Semitism is as old as the world and will never go away and must be confronted loudly and with firm resolve. To have anti Jewish, anti-Israel, anti-Zionist elements talk up the Palestinian cause but refuse to allow and discussion of a Jewish and or Israeli point is anti-Semitic no matter what you color it as. Please read Dr. Chesler’s book and keep talking of it to all even if the world puts its collective fingers in their ears. ( )

I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I found this book to be at times hard to follow as it seems to be somewhat disorganized. It was chock full of thought-provoking information about anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism and how prejudice and discrimination against the Jews and Israel has evolved into the present-day electronic world. Why spend time demonizing Israel and the Jews when there are so many other problems in the world that should be dealt with. I wish everyone could live in peace and harmony. In reality I don’t think this will ever happen, as many members of society seem to have a need to discriminate against anyone that’s different from them and in the minority. It seems to be about power and control. The author seems to feel that there is a trend to hold the Jews to a different standard than everyone else. I feel that this is an important book that should be read by everyone in order to gain a better understanding of the Israeli and Palestinian dynamics and prejudice and terrorism throughout the world. ( )