Compiled by Ryder Zufi and Aidan New
Public expressions of antisemitism had been rising for years before Oct. 7, 2023. But since Hamas started a war that day with its terrorist invasion into southern Israel, anti-Jewish signs, statements and images have exploded to the point that hatred of Jews has become normalized, from the streets of European capitals and the presidential palaces of Latin America to the college campuses of the United States and Canada.
The issue is not criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war, demands for protections for Gaza civilians or advocacy for Palestinian self-determination. Ostracizing Jewish students, boycotting Jewish-owned businesses and Jewish and Israeli academics, calling for the destruction of Israel, cheering on terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, comparing Jews to animals and garbage, and reviving classic antisemitic tropes are shocking steps toward delegitimization of Israel and dehumanization of Jews and echo some of humanity’s darkest moments from the past thousand years.
The struggle against spiking antisemitism has formed a global, sometimes violent front in the war Israel has fought since October 2023 against Hamas, Hezbollah, other Iranian proxies and Iran itself. Several episodes of our webinar series on the war focused on aspects of rising antisemitism, including July 3 on Latin America, June 19 and April 10 on Europe, May 29 on colleges, Jan. 10 and Feb. 28 on rabbinic views from specific communities, and March 20 on antisemitism in general. We have compiled insights from those and other webinars in the series to create videos running about 4 to 5 minutes on the following topics:
- Antisemitism in the United States.
- Antisemitism in Europe.
- Antisemitism in Latin America.
- Antisemitism in campus protests.
Antisemitism in the United States (4:09)
Jews in the United States have seen their sense of security and comfort shattered after the five worst years for antisemitic incidents on record, with the tone and open hatred since Oct. 7, 2023, creating fear of a return to the 1930s. Jews as individuals and Jewish institutions such as synagogues are being blamed for the actions of Israel and being marked by swastikas and other anti-Jewish, not just anti-Israel, imagery. Publishers are refusing to work with Jewish authors even if they don’t write or talk about Israel. Anti-discrimination policies and laws are not being enforced when Jews are the targets. Polls show that young Americans increasingly view Jews as oppressors as a group, and many Jews feel politically homeless. As a result, many Jews have turned inward for support.
Antisemitism in Europe (5:17)
European governments strongly backed Israel right after Oct. 7, but that support didn’t last as protesters took to the streets in cities such as London, Dublin and Madrid. Antisemitic incidents have increased, and Jews in many areas have retreated from public life and silenced themselves out of fear of the response.
Antisemitism in Latin America (3:47)
As in other areas, antisemitism in Latin America is the canary in the coal mine for cultural rot. It also marks a sharp change from the support Israel received at its founding in 1948 and a long history of successful Jewish integration into society. The large communities of Palestinian and Lebanese immigrants in several countries are one issue for the Jewish communities. Another is the influx of Iranians. And a third is the election of governmental leaders who don’t like Jews or Israel.
Antisemitism in Campus Protests (4:38)
Hatred of Jews on college campuses has exploded since the fall of 2023, but the hatred that flared up in the fall of 2023 traces back to 1975’s U.N. General Assembly Resolution 3379, which falsely equated Zionism with racism. The current movement draws funding and support from two radical national groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and American Muslims for Palestine, and most of the arrested protesters across the United States were not students. Universities were unprepared for what happened, despite warning signs over the years, and they failed to meet their duty to protect Jewish students under Title VI or to champion true academic freedom. The failure of leadership raises doubts about the future of Jews in American higher education.