Esther and Anti-Semitism: Why did Haman Hate the Jews?

One of the most striking features of Megillat Esther is the way it depicts anti-semitism in a fashion that is so familiar to us from the last century or two. This depiction can help us understand the deeply irrational nature of anti-semitism particularly when we explore Haman’s actions through a psychoanalytic lens. What becomes clear is that he sees Mordechai as an obstacle to his full enjoyment. If he could only get rid of Mordechai and all the Jews, he could enjoy fully. This same idea is then echoed in the thought of Hitler and the Nazis centuries later.