I have many Jewish friends and have associated with even more during my many years of
working in Toronto, and I can say that all of them would be the first to attest to seeing
themselves as different from me, a Christian by birth.  They are proud of their heritage and
culture as they should be, as I am of mine.  I'm also of European background and I did not
feel that things were that much different there during my first 24 years of life on that 
continent.  There is however a much better understood understanding of the political
'war' fought between Israel and the Palestinians and there is no doubt a backlash today
against Jews in Europe because of this (something Saunders does not note).  These are not
such simple issues.  Anyone who is a minority in a majority society will find themselves
pointed out, seen or noted.  That's the price of being the different one.  It does not mean that
everybody who sees oneself as different finds the difference of negative value.