Antisemitism

THE RISE OF ➡️ ANTISEMITISM - How to Combat Prejudice Against Jewish People

Antisemitism is a form of prejudice, discrimination, and hatred of Jewish people based solely on their ethnicity, religion, or cultural background. It is an incredibly serious issue that simply must be addressed in our societies.

Jewish people have historically been persecuted, and the Holocaust is considered the worst and most extreme example of antisemitism in history. More than 6 million Jewish people were murdered in a systematic, state-sponsored campaign of genocide.

Even today, antisemitism is fuelling hatred and division in society, threatening the fundamental principles of equality and tolerance, and impacting the daily lives of Jewish people. In many cities, people of Jewish faith no longer feel safe and live in fear of harassment, discrimination, or physical attack.

The ongoing war in Israel and Gaza has caused global tensions to rise, resulting in even more attacks on Jews and Jewish places of worship. Global antisemitism incidents rose 107% in 2024. This is the most severe wave of antisemitism since the end of World War II, a phenomenon that demands urgent global attention.

"Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason." - Polish-American rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ Antisemitism

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Organisations Against Antisemitism
• Examples of Antisemitism
• Weaponisation of Antisemitism
• The Jewish Holocaust & Remembrance Day

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Why is Antisemitism on the Rise?

Antisemitism did not end with the Holocaust. The rapid rise of antisemitic incidents is part of a five-year unprecedented spike. Centuries-old myths about Jewish control or disloyalty are used to blame Jewish people for either a perceived or a real harm. In general, when unrest occurs, so do instances of antisemitism.

The U.S., the UK, and Europe in particular have seen shocking surges in incidents. In the U.S., since the start of the war in Gaza, antisemitic incidents skyrocketed by 361%. In February 2025, 33% of American Jews said they had been the personal target of antisemitism at least once over the past year.

Despite Jewish Americans making up just 2% of the U.S. population, 68% of all reported religion-based hate crimes were against members of the Jewish community. Verbal abuse, vandalism, and harassment are the most common forms, but targeted violent physical attacks have also been on the rise.

Social media has been fueling the spread of antisemitic attitudes. There are especially high rates amongst younger generations who are the majority of users on TikTok and Instagram. Experts say this could be due to the decline of historical knowledge regarding Judaism, the State of Israel, and the Holocaust, with people instead believing what they see on social platforms.

Intense criticism of Israel has now bled into anti-Jewish prejudice, and ignorance and lack of education are allowing this to happen. The rise of political extremism and increasing polarisation has also fed into the anti-Jewish rhetoric. Far-right extremism is guilty of preaching racism, white supremacy, and conspiracy theories.

Extreme Islamic movements such as ISIS and al-Qaeda use antisemitic propaganda to gather support, pit Jewish people as the enemy and a threat to Islam, and recruit new members.

We must not allow the normalisation of antisemitism, nor allow it to shift public discourse. Conspiracy theories and social media are planting the seeds for violence, hatred, and division. We must counter this with accurate historical facts and education on tolerance and religious understanding.

The Weaponisation of Antisemitism

The weaponisation of antisemitism is a dangerous distraction from addressing the issue, which is putting the lives of Jewish people around the world in danger and deeply affecting their lives. We must not confuse criticism of the actions of Israel with the hatred of Jews.

The Israeli war on Gaza has officially been declared a genocide by the United Nations. Meanwhile, Israel has accused the International Court of Justice of antisemitism in their pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people. Israel has a long history of using these claims to silence critics and pro-Palestine supporters, allowing them to commit crimes against humanity and act with international impunity.

Antisemitism is at risk of losing its meaning as the term is thrown around by Israeli politicians at the slightest criticism of their actions. Meanwhile, action on real antisemitism is urgently needed globally to prevent the rising cases of hate crime, violence, and threats to Jewish schools and synagogues.

The far right has also taken advantage of the crisis by using antisemitism to push racist, anti-immigration agendas. The result is a complex, misunderstood, and poorly interpreted take on the plight of the international Jewish community, which desperately needs unity, social cohesion, understanding, and international moral clarity.

Tip: Our guide on Islamophobia

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The hatred of Jews and any other religious group, race, ethnicity, minority, and people in general has absolutely no place in our communities. Religious tolerance, education, honesty, and open dialogue are essential in the fight against antisemitism.

This movement must be part of a broader effort to overcome prejudice and hatred in general and to create a more just and peaceful world. We must build a world based on the values of freedom, compassion, and humanity.

"Intolerance lies at the core of evil. Not the intolerance that results from any threat or danger. But intolerance of another being who dares to exist. Intolerance without cause. It is so deep within us, because every human being secretly desires the entire universe to himself. Our only way out is to learn compassion without cause. To care for each other simply because that 'other' exists"- Rabbi Menachem Mendel

Author: Maximilian Stark 04.11.23, (Edited and translated by Rachael Mellor) licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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