Racism in Judaism

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Question

Is Judaism racist? Are there racist elements in the commandment to annihilate Amalek? Are there racist elements in the law of killing the seven nations? Is the view of a Jew as superior and having privileges over a non-Jew, who is considered inferior, racism? If so, what is good racism and when should it be avoided? Thank you.

Answer

Hello,
Judaism is not racist.
Racism is neither Jewish, wise, nor logical. However, to clarify your question, we must define racism.
Racism is the preference or punishment of a person because of their race. There is no such thing in Judaism.
Now let's detail your questions.
The superiority of Jews:
A Jew has advantages and rights by virtue of their role in the world. The Jewish people agreed to accept the exalted and holy role of bringing the world to its purpose as instructed by God. This role has many obligations and restrictions, as well as rights and an elevated status.
This role is imposed on the people of Israel as a 'people' and not as a race. Any person in the world, regardless of their race, can take upon themselves this role and become part of this obligated and preferred group. Conversely, any Jew who decides to consciously rebel against their role almost completely loses their rights.

Annihilation of Amalek:
The commandment to annihilate Amalek does not come from the preference of one race over another. [Amalek is actually a descendant of Isaac, so it is not at all a 'different' race].
Amalek chose for themselves a role in the world, that of waging war against God and Israel. Hatred that is not dependent on a war for land or another goal. Amalek came to fight against Israel's faith in God, and as long as there is a war against God, the world cannot reach its ultimate purpose — 'to repair the world under the kingdom of the Almighty'.
Incidentally, even an Amalekite who accepts Judaism will have a status equal to that of an original Jew. As stated in the Gemara (Gittin 57b, Sanhedrin 96b): Descendants of Haman studied Torah in Bnei Brak.

Annihilation of the seven nations:
The obligation of the people of Israel at the time of their entry into the Land of Israel to destroy the seven ancient nations that inhabited the land of Canaan is also not a war against this or that nation, nor does it come from racism. It is a war for preserving the people of Israel as a people serving God.
The people of Israel came to a land full of idol worshipers and other vile transgressions. And to prevent the people from learning their deeds, the Torah obligated not to leave any trace of them. As the Torah mentions many times (Exodus 23:33): They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me by serving their gods, for it will be a snare to you. (Leviticus 18:3)
And you shall not do as the deeds of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, and you shall not walk in their statutes. (Deuteronomy 7:2-5) And the Lord your God will deliver them before you, and you shall strike them down, utterly destroy them, make no covenant with them, and show them no mercy: and you shall not intermarry with them, you shall not give your daughter to his son, nor take his daughter for your son: for he will turn your son away from following Me, and they will serve other gods, and the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will quickly destroy you.
And as indeed happened to our sorrow, the people of Israel did not destroy the inhabitants of the land, learned from their deeds, sinned in idol worship, and followed the 'Baal' and 'Ashtaroth', which were accepted by the inhabitants of Canaan, until they were eventually exiled from their land, as warned by God.
As stated in the prophet (Judges 2:1-3): And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said: I brought you up from Egypt and brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers, and I said: I will never break My covenant with you: and you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land, you shall tear down their altars, but you have not obeyed My voice, what is this you have done? And I also said: I will not drive them out before you, and they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.
And as King David wrote in the book of Psalms (Psalm 106:34-41): They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord had commanded them: but they mingled with the nations and learned their works: and they served their idols, which became a snare to them: and they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons: and they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood: and they were defiled by their own works and went whoring with their own deeds: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against His people, and He abhorred His inheritance: and He gave them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
Another reason for the destruction of these nations was due to their evil nature.
It is known and revealed to God that the nations that lived in the land of Canaan would never accept the rule of the people of Israel. And if they remain in the world, they will do everything to harass and kill them. As the Torah says (Numbers 33:55): But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.
And the prophet testifies that this indeed happened (Judges 2:4): And I also said: I will not drive them out before you, and they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.
More details can be provided, but the principle is clear: Judaism recognizes the value of each individual and the role of each one.
He who does good will be rewarded. And the sinner will be punished.

Source

Exodus 23:33. Leviticus 18:3. Numbers 33:55, Judges 2:1-3. Judges 2:4. Psalms 106:34-41. Gittin 57b, Sanhedrin 96b.

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