While Jewish people I’m sure have a variety of opinions on the subject (as usual), I think it’s important to mention that at least some of us do not agree with your perspective that every comparison of the experience of Jews and Witchers is automatically antisemitic. If the “Witchers were at fault for their persecution” idea is part of it, then sure. But… the majority of headcanons I’ve seen aren’t about this at all? Personally it bothers me a lot more to see the blood libel being brought up every time someone mentions Jewish history of persecution (we can blame NotW for that bit of bullshit, I guess).
In relation to this post
In my opinion, there’s a distinct difference between "I, a Jewish person, relate to these things about Witchers and their experiences" and "In canon Witchers are an allegory for Jewish people"
The first statement is completely fine. In fact, I have a very extensive modern AU I’ve come up with a close friend where Geralt and his family are all Jewish. Most of that AU is built out of my own experiences.
The second phrase. "In canon Witchers are an allegory for Jewish people" has a lot of distinct antisemitic undertones to me that I cannot ignore and directly ties back to blood libel. Yes is it upsetting to see Blood Libel brought up whenever persecution of Jews is brought up. But I discussed it because believing in Blood Libel was the main reason for a lot of people’s persecution especially in relation to Pogroms. If you read the link on Blood Libel from the Holocaust Encyclopedia it directly discusses that fact.
Blood libel accusations often led to pogroms, violent riots launched against Jews and frequently encouraged by government authorities.
Basically antisemites would throw around accusations of Blood Libel as a reason why Jews should be killed. Then Jews were killed. If in canon Witchers were ever written as an allegory for Jewish people then it is basically stating that Jewish accusations of Blood Libel are true. That just as people believed Jews stole Christian children and used their blood for rituals Witchers also steal children and use them in rituals. It creates a level of justification for antisemitism and pogroms.
Therefore it has antisemitic undertones to assume that Witchers were meant to be an allegory for Jewish people.
Also to be very clear. I was exclusively talking about canon comparison. The original ask said:
And everything about what I answered was why they are not an allegory and assuming that is antisemitic.
So that’s great that the majority of headcanons you’ve seen aren’t like that because that’s genuinely not what I was talking about. I also never said that every comparison was antisemitic either. Just canon comparisons where we assume that Witcher are meant to be an allegory for Jews.
Like I said I actually have lots of headcanons where Geralt is Jewish.
What I am talking about is not headcanons, AUs, fanart, or what have you.
I am talking about canon and why we should not assume that Witchers were meant to be an allegory for Jewish people. Especially in the show when the intended Jewish allegory is the Elves.