Starting in the Hellenistic period, more than 2,000 years ago, the Talmudic verse “It is known that Esau hates Jacob” has been in force. Our tradition knows of earlier events of this kind under the rule of Pharaoh and in ancient Persia.

The verse we mentioned uses general language as if all non-Jews fit the description of Esau, which they do not: “Esau” is a matter of behavior and not of nationality. Within every nation there are different people, but the fact is that hatred of Israel exists in the hearts and actions of many. This does not eliminate the distinction between enemies and others.

Is this fate? Only partially: The Jewish-English Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli coined the phrase “the dislike of the unlike”: part of human nature is the repulsion of many people by those who are different from them. Anger that is inexplicable, but extreme in its intensity, often arises when people encounter people who are different from them in color and race, religion and nationality, level of education and economy,........

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