Jesus, victim of antisemitism

The three major denominations in Judaism—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform—agree that a person is Jewish if they are born to a Jewish mother or if they convert to Judaism through an Orthodox conversion. However, Conservative and Reform congregations broaden the criteria, often recognizing someone as Jewish if they are born to a Jewish father or if they undergo a Conservative or Reform conversion. For the purposes of this article, we will use the definition accepted by all denominations: Jewish identity is inherited through the mother or achieved through Orthodox conversion.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is widely acknowledged as Jewish by Catholic, Christian, and Jewish authorities. This establishes that Jesus of Nazareth was born Jewish, and it is said lived as Jewish.

On May 26, 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) plenary in Bucharest adopted a non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

In simpler terms, antisemitism refers to hatred toward Jews and anything associated with them.

Since October 7, 2023, a wave of antisemitism has surged and spread across many societies and cultures. In Europe, antisemitism often lies dormant for decades before resurfacing in overt and violent ways. Meanwhile, in places like American academia, it has recently emerged with unprecedented intensity. Today, antisemitism has disturbingly become normalized. Staying true to its warped origins, it continues to distort reality with one central aim: inciting global hatred against the 16 million Jews who inhabit the planet.

A particularly alarming manifestation of modern antisemitism is its intersection with the “cancel culture” movement, which seeks to erase or rewrite inconvenient truths. One such target has been the Jewish identity of Jesus. Antisemites argue, “Jesus was no Jew!” Instead, they promote the revisionist narrative that Jesus was Palestinian. Even Pope Francis has seemingly lent credence to this claim, as reflected in a recent Nativity display featuring a keffiyeh. This narrative strips Jesus of his Jewish heritage, reimagining him as a figure resembling today’s Palestinians.

Jesus was born Jewish and later became regarded by Christians as the Son of God and the Messiah. Denying his Jewish heritage serves no purpose other than advancing an antisemitic agenda. Such efforts to rewrite history and distort Christian theology to serve modern prejudices are deeply troubling. Altering the identity of Jesus to fit an antisemitic narrative not only falsifies history but also undermines the foundational truths of Christian belief.