Historians who’ve researched the origins of antisemitism say it goes way back.

The roots of anti-Jewish sentiment can be traced back to ancient times. In Alexandria, there was a Jewish community that was often derogatorily referred to as lepers or exiles from Egypt, which caused tensions to escalate between the Greeks and Jews.

In antiquity, religious differences in polytheistic societies like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, such as dietary restrictions, Sabbath observance, and circumcision, contributed to the sense of otherness. During the first century in Alexandria, this tension erupted into violence as Greeks accused Jews of isolation and Romans labeled them as excessively clannish. The destruction of the Second Temple and the renaming of Judaea to Palaestina were deliberate attempts to erase Jewish identity.

Christianity’s early days called them “Christ killers.” New Testament included hostility.

Antisemitism evolved over time as a result of the gradual build-up of prejudice. The Jewish quest for independence was perceived as a threat by others, while their religious practices, which were exclusive, were offensive to followers of polytheistic religions. Empires throughout history viewed the Jewish community as a potential threat and used existing social tensions to fuel religious animosity towards them.

Outsiders in predominantly Christian or Muslim societies, they were banned from many trades and land ownership. Thus pushed into moneylending or commerce — those roles made them targets of resentment. These became pretexts for antisemitism in parts of the world — even when others of their belief elsewhere had no connection to the conflict.

The fourth century. Christianity became Rome’s dominant religion. Writers disdained Jewish customs. Seen as separate and unassimilable, they caused suspicion, hostility. Theological angers, they were developed.

Expelled from King Edward’s England in 1290, they were forbidden to return legally until the 1650s thanks to Oliver Cromwell. By Shakespeare’s time — late 1500s — England had few practicing that faith. Well-known still today, his “The Merchant of Venice” featured Jewish moneylender Shylock with his famous “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech. Literature portrayed them as greedy moneylenders and outsiders. Negative stereotypes then persisted in religious, literature and cultural societies.

Mouthing off

NOW, to get back to today’s otherworld society:

Dentistry harks to 2600 BC. Egypt’s Hesy-Ra. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about extractions and gums.

Middle Age dentistry was done by barbers. Want hair clipped? Your molar removed?! Same guy.

In 2025, Manhattan’s own mouth whisperer is East 61st’s Dr. Marc Lazare, a biometric specialist. He’s Michelangelo with a mirror.

I tell you this because Sunday every Tony candidate’s smile is brighter than Tiffany’s window and last minuters are asking who helped?! So me, little mother, I’m telling you.

B’way beefs up

AND for a snack afterward on the Upper East Side — since there’s no load of food at their so-called Tonys gala party after — do Dave Goodside’s Beach Café. Inhaling burgers there the other night was Nick Jonas and a hungry party of 15.

SO I asked one bankrupt debtor of an iffy show why he went bust. He answered: “Because I hate to owe money.”

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.