Sam Harris speaks with Bari Weiss, author of 'How to Fight anti-Semitism.' They discuss the three strands of anti-Semitism, the Tree of Life shooting, the difference between anti-Semitism and other racism, the populist response to globalization, criticisms of Israel, and the fate of Jews in Western Europe.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The podcast discusses the three main strands of anti-Semitism: right wing, left wing, and Islamic, exploring the different motivations and ideologies that drive each form.
White supremacist hatred towards Jews is unique, with white supremacists perceiving Jews as a linchpin in a larger conspiracy, tricking real white people while allegedly aiding black, brown, immigrant, and Muslim communities.
Deep dives
The Three Poles of Anti-Semitism
In this podcast episode, the host and guest discuss the three main strands of anti-Semitism: right wing, left wing, and Islamic. They explore the different motivations and ideologies that drive each form of anti-Semitism, highlighting the distinction between anti-Semitism and other forms of racism. The discussion delves into the great replacement theory, a key concept in right wing anti-Semitism, which posits that Jews are seen as a threat to white Christian America. They also touch upon the historical roots of anti-Semitism in the US, including figures like Charles Coughlin and the prevalence of attacks on synagogues.
The White Supremacist View of Jews
The conversation focuses on the unique nature of white supremacist hatred towards Jews. It is not simply another form of racism. Rather, white supremacists perceive Jews as a linchpin in a larger conspiracy, tricking real white people into thinking they are similar while allegedly aiding and abetting black, brown, immigrant, and Muslim communities. The association between Jews and civil rights movements, as well as the perception of Jews as outsiders to white nationalist ideologies, further fuels this hatred. The guest highlights the great replacement theory, a narrative that argues for the preservation of white culture against the perceived threat of demographic change.
Anti-Semitism's Historical Impact and Theological Roots
The episode also touches on the history of anti-Semitism in the US, including the rise of prominent anti-Semitic figures like Charles Coughlin and the deep-rooted connections between anti-Semitism and Christian theology. The guest sheds light on the use of biblical passages to justify anti-Semitic beliefs and the role played by Catholic and Protestant theologies in perpetuating hate. Despite a common belief that America is immune to anti-Semitism, the conversation reveals a history of attacks on synagogues and the persistent presence of anti-Semitic sentiment in the country.
Sam Harris speaks with Bari Weiss about her book “How to Fight anti-Semitism.” They discuss the three different strands of anti-Semitism (rightwing, leftwing, and Islamic), the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, the difference between anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, “Great Replacement Theory,” the populist response to globalization, the history of anti-Semitism in the U.S., criticisms of Israel, the fate of Jews in Western Europe, and other topics.
If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode