Esau's tears: modern anti-semitism and the rise of the Jews
Contends that from the emergence of racial antisemitism in the 1870s up to the rise of the Nazi regime, antisemitism in Europe and in the U.S. was more ambiguous than is usually presented; it was less pervasive and central in the lives of both Jews and non-Jews, and did not indicate a rising hatred of Jews everywhere or a likelihood of mass murder. Surveys the history of antisemitism, with emphasis on Germany, Austria, France, Russia, Romania, Great Britain, and the U.S. States that there were real (as opposed to chimerical) factors promoting antisemitism wherever it arose. Tension between Jews and non-Jews promoted the rise of antisemitism and was exacerbated by the success of Jews in wealth, social position, and political power. "Such rapid changes typically produce tensions and problems for any group, and the Jews were no exception". Claims that the leading exponents of antisemitism in Germany in the late 19th century - Wilhelm Marr, Heinrich von Treitschke, and Adolf Stöcker - had legitimate reasons for disliking Jews, based on personal experiences with them.