Self-hating Jew

The terms "self-hating Jew", "self-loathing Jew", and "auto-antisemite" (Hebrew: אוטואנטישמי, romanized: oto'antishémi, feminine: אוטואנטישמית, romanized: oto'antishémit) are pejorative terms used to describe Jews that oppose certain characteristics that the claimant considers core to Jewish identity.

Early claims of self-hate were used to describe Jews who had internalized anti-Semitic tropes, including prominent Zionists such as Theodor Herzl. Recognition of the concept gained widespread currency after German-Jewish philosopher Theodor Lessing published his 1930 book Der jüdische Selbsthaß (lit. 'Jewish Self-Hatred'), which sought to explain a perceived inclination among secular Jewish intellectuals towards inciting antisemitism by denouncing Judaism. The term was also used to describe Jewish people whose viewpoints, especially favoring Jewish assimilation, Jewish secularism, limousine liberalism, or anti-Judaism are perceived as reflecting self-hatred.

In modern times the term has been overwhelmingly used for political purposes as a form of weaponization of antisemitism – in particular to delegitimize anti-Zionist Jews or shield against criticism of the Israeli government. It is said to have become "something of a key term of opprobrium in and beyond Cold War-era debates about Zionism" with proponents claiming that some Jews may despise their entire identity due to their perception of the Arab–Israeli conflict.