If we want people to be our friends rather than enemies, we have to treat what they tell us as the words of friends. So what do Jews do? We respond as though anyone who criticizes us is our enemy. We should only treat people like enemies when they try to hurt our bodies or possessions. Otherwise, we need to consider their words, no matter how nasty or angry, as though they’re trying to give us valuable advice. It doesn't mean we have to believe or do what they tell us, only that we should be grateful they’ve taken the time and effort to tell us what they feel or believe. Remember that old saying: “When three people tell you you’re drunk, go lie down.”

Here’s the wrong way to REACT:

Anti-Semite: Hitler should have finished you all off!

Jew: How dare you say that!

Anti-Semite: It's true. You Jews are filth and ruin everything for everyone.

Jew: No we don't! It's bigots like you who ruin society.

Anti-Semite: I'm warning you! You’re asking for trouble!

Jew: Yeah? What kind of trouble?

Anti-Semite: I'll send you to hell where you belong!

Jew: I'm calling the police. You'll rot in jail, where you belong, for hate crimes.

Now this is the right way to RESPOND:

Anti-Semite: Hitler should have finished you all off!

Jew: You know, a lot of people feel just the way you do.

Anti-Semite: And for good reason!

Jew: What's that?

Anti-Semite: You're the bloodsuckers of the planet.

Jew: What do you mean by that?

Anti-Semite: You all cheat and suck up all the money so the rest of us have to live like dogs.

Jew: Your life is really that bad?

Anti-Semite: Yeah, it is! I have to live in a trailer park while all of you live in the ritzy part of town.

Jew: Yes, we do tend to live in the expensive neighborhoods. Do you believe it's the Jews' fault you live in a trailer park?

Anti-Semite: Of course! You take all the good jobs and we have to live on public assistance.

Jew: Would you like to have a good job?

Anti-Semite: Of course!

Jew: You could get one the same way we do.

Anti-Semite: How's that?

Jew: By getting a good education.

Anti-Semite: Who's got money for a good education?

Jew: I see what you mean. But the truth is if you try hard enough, you can get a good education even without having a lot of money.

Anti-Semite: What’re you talking about?

Jew: The government has lots of education programs for poor people. You just have to be motivated to work hard. If you want, I can try to help you find the right offices to go to.

Anti-Semite: Thanks. I'll think about it.

Of course, it might not turn out this nicely. But, as you can see, treating the anti–Semite as a friend has a much better outcome than treating him as an enemy.