What is antisemitism?

The current working IRHA definition: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

• “The desire to eliminate, either the physical elimination or through the elimination of identity, Judaism, the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the collective political Jewish identity”

• “Prejudice, discrimination and oppression directed toward Jews as individuals, or as a group, because they are Jewish”

• “The belief that Jews epitomize whatever is perceived as the ultimate enemy and that Jews are the ‘consummate other’”

• “Antisemitism/Jew-Hatred is a warning for all communities (when Jew-Hatred emerges, democratic norms and liberal values erode, and a general license to hate emerges)”

How can I identify antisemitism?

If the comment hurts and seems to be religiously motivated, it is likely antisemitic. Consider where the comment/action came from and what the intent was. If the above definition applies, it is antisemitic.

Common instances of antisemitism

• Stereotypical comments/jokes

• Vandalism

• Holocaust denial

Case studies: https://www.facinghistory.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/Contemporary%20Antisemitism%20Case%20Studies.pdf

How can I respond to spoken antisemitism?

• Speak to the person who made the comment and ask what they meant by it

• Determine if it was out of ignorance or intentional

• Redirect the conversation - explain how the comment came off and why it hurts

• Assess the situation - if you are uncomfortable speaking to the person, reach out to administrators

• Speak to a Rabbi or Jewish leader to learn how to handle the situation if it comes up again in the future

• Contact us!

Anti-semitism vs. anti-Zionism: to what extent are they different?

• What is anti-Zionism?

• Zionism originates from the word “Zion”, which is what the biblical land of Israel was called. The term surfaced in the late 19th century as a political movement attempting to restore a Jewish state in Israel, the historical homeland of the Jewish People. Presently, Zionism signifies backing the enduring existence of Israel amid recurrent threats of its annihilation. Anti-Zionism opposes the idea of Jews having a state in their ancestral homeland, rejecting the Jewish people's right to self-determination.

• How is anti-Zionism antisemitic?

• The notions that the Jewish people lack the right to self-determination, or that their religious and historical ties to Israel are invalid, are fundamentally prejudiced. Anti-Zionism is often expressed in the form of acts of verbal or physical harassment against Jews or the desecration of Jewish institutions in response to actions by the State of Israel. This clearly constitutes antisemitism. Furthermore, criticisms of Israel become antisemitic when they incorporate stereotypes about Jewish power or greed, engage in Holocaust denial, or tap into long-standing xenophobic suspicions about the Jewish religion. Advocating for a Palestinian state while simultaneously calling for an end to Israel's existence is also highly antisemitic. 

• Is all criticism of Israel antisemitic?

• Not always. In the same way that people have the right to criticize the actions of the American government, people have the right to criticize the actions of Israel’s government. On the other hand, when criticism turns into calls for the end of Israel’s existence, it has morphed into antisemitism. Israel is the one place in the world that offers complete safety and security for Jews, so calling for its demolition in entirety is essentially denying Jews the right to such protection, and can therefore be considered anti-Semitic.