Demonization of Jews stems from their modern ambiguous social role, not medieval memories

Evidence

The representation of the Jew as the incarnation of evil is usually blamed on remnants and superstitious memories from the Middle Ages, but is actually closely connected with the more recent ambiguous role which Jews played in European society since their emancipation. — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 831

Categorization

• XREF: Directly feeds the Islamophobia toolkit’s account of how the constructed Other is demonized through modern social roles rather than ancient prejudice — parallels Said’s argument that Orientalism grows from colonial position, not timeless hostility. — connects to: Hatred of Jews became detached from any specific Jewish deeds; Social exclusion of Jews made abstract stereotypes replace personal knowledge. — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 531; Assimilated Jews mistook modern anti-Christian antisemitism for the old religious Jew-hatred (+3 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 831

Broader Connections

• Assimilated Jews mistook modern anti-Christian antisemitism for the old religious Jew-hatred #corroborates (0.85)
• Social exclusion of Jews made abstract stereotypes replace personal knowledge. #expands (0.80) — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 531
• Pre-modern caste structure made Jewish separation a normal rather than exceptional status #contradicts (0.80) — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 126
• Nazi racism was consonant with modern social-engineering worldviews rather than a medieval relapse #corroborates (0.80) — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 197
• Medieval Jewish ghettos were spatial isolation with protective and oppressive dual effects #contradicts (0.75)