Origins of Dehumanization and Original Sin in Early Rabbinic Texts

Early rabbinic texts dating back to 200 BC propagated the belief that non-Jews, seen as impure or inferior, were tainted by sin originating from the serpent copulating with Eve. This impurity was believed to be cleansed only for Jews who stood at the mountainside, while non-Jews remained perpetually impure due to their lineage from the serpent. This interpretation mirrors the Christian idea of original sin but differs in emphasizing the perpetual filthiness of non-Jews compared to purification for Jews. Dehumanization and the concept of original sin were deeply ingrained in some rabbinic traditions, denoting non-Jews as inferior and inherently impure while exempting Jews from the categories of purity and impurity.