Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Mosby

(16,366 posts)
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 10:15 AM Jul 2013

The Holy Anti-Semitic Month of Ramadan

From the days of my early childhood in Egypt, anti-Semitism was not only a common phenomenon, it has been a national characteristic of my country. From Alexandria to Aswan, in every city and small town along the Nile river, anti-Jewish propaganda can be easily found in mosques, bookstores, on the radio, in newspapers and on TV.

Learning to hate Jews starts in Egypt the first moment you learn about their existence and continues long into adulthood. I am so used to seeing Jews identified by the old traditional Middle Ages stereotype as mean, filthy, greedy dishonest conspirators out to cause global chaos and disharmony among the Egyptian people. Bit by bit I learned all the elements and causes of religious and secular hatred of Jews in Egyptian society. I still recall the time when, as a 13-year-old, I got to experience the broadcast of the Ramadan special: “A Horseless Knight,” a TV series watched widely across Egypt telling the story of the Jewish conspiracy to dominate humanity, as recorded in the “Elder’s Protocols.” The TV series spurred a large growth in sales of countless copies of the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” in Egypt.

Egyptians will be celebrating the holy month of Ramadan until August 7th this year. Little is known in the west about this Islamic festival other than that it is a holy month of fasting. Ramadan is the biggest and longest event in the Muslim world. The holiday is marked by 30 days of feasts and traditional celebrations, which vary depending on the cultural heritage of the country and are tangential to the religion. In some countries, schools and some businesses go on vacation for the entire month. In other countries, work is limited to only 4-6 hours a day.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-holy-anti-semitic-month-of-ramadan/

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Holy Anti-Semitic Month of Ramadan (Original Post) Mosby Jul 2013 OP
It doesn't follow that all Muslims are anti-semitic. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #1
he isn't saying that Mosby Jul 2013 #2
Well... WovenGems Jul 2013 #3
At the end of the article, look at the other stories written by LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #4
This is the first time I have read something that paints ramadan as an anti-semitic cbayer Jul 2013 #5
Oh, then you'll love the "month of jihad" rhetoric Igel Jul 2013 #7
Countering anti-Semitism in the month of Ramadan struggle4progress Jul 2013 #6

Mosby

(16,366 posts)
2. he isn't saying that
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 10:38 AM
Jul 2013

Last edited Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:25 PM - Edit history (1)

He's saying that antisemitism is a feature of every Ramadan.

Antisemitism is extremely high in the Arab and Muslim world, for example Israel's neighboring countries have polled in the range of 96-99% antisemitic sentiment in a recent Pew Global attitude study. It was done in 2007 or 2008.

LuvNewcastle

(16,858 posts)
4. At the end of the article, look at the other stories written by
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 10:49 AM
Jul 2013

the Times of Israel. Every one of them is about someone doing something anti-semitic. Do you think this news source fosters understanding between Jews and Christians or Muslims? It does nothing but encourage an us-against-them attitude for Jews against the rest of the world. This news source is just as dangerous for Jewish/Christian or Jewish/Muslim relations as any stupid tv show. And calling Ramadan a hatefest for Muslims to learn how to be anti-semitic is bigoted and insulting.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
5. This is the first time I have read something that paints ramadan as an anti-semitic
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:17 PM
Jul 2013

holiday...

and I wish I hadn't.

Igel

(35,359 posts)
7. Oh, then you'll love the "month of jihad" rhetoric
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 07:13 PM
Jul 2013

It's a standard on anti-Islamist/anti-Islam sites in English.

Thing is, it's also a standard on Islamist sites in English that purport to be Islam sites.

Sometimes you get the impression that they have the same writers. Alas, they don't.

All the wonderful battles that occurred in the month of Ramadan ... Motivation to go out and engage in some jihad of your own. There's usually an uptick against Shi'ites in Pakistan during this month (with another during the time when the Shi'ites have their processions, daring to display their religion in public). Gotta be hard to be an Islamist in Syria this Ramadan.

struggle4progress

(118,356 posts)
6. Countering anti-Semitism in the month of Ramadan
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:19 PM
Jul 2013

Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 5:00 pm
By Rashad Hussain

... The spirit of Ramadan, which lasts this year through Aug. 7, can serve as a positive force to bring people together and a powerful reminder of the common humanity that all people share. Muslim communities collect donations to aid those in need around the world. Campus groups at universities in the United States hold “fast-athons” in which students of all faiths fast together to raise money for charity.

In recent years, as Muslim communities have dealt with hateful depictions and inflammatory actions, American interfaith coalitions have come together to strongly reject such bigotry. It is this backdrop that makes the reported Ramadan release of the television drama “Khaiber” in some Muslim-majority countries particularly disturbing.

The new drama purports to provide a historical account of the Prophet Muhammad and the Arabian-Jewish town of Khaiber. But its producer has said that “the goal of the series is to expose the naked truth about the Jews and stress that they cannot be trusted.” The series also will reportedly focus “on the social, economic and religious characteristics of the Jews, including politics and conspiracies and how they dominate and control tribes.”

Rather than emphasizing Muhammad’s efforts to establish peaceful relations among religious communities, “Khaiber” does just the opposite ...


http://www.stljewishlight.com/opinion/commentaries/article_cb89b00a-f485-11e2-a1ee-001a4bcf887a.html

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»The Holy Anti-Semitic Mon...