What is Antisemitism?

Contemporary Antisemitism- Finds sneaky ways to normalize Jew Hate

In 2016, member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), decided they needed a new “working definition” of antisemitism - “IHRA definition is the Gold Standard”- includes more contemporary examples of antisemitism such as denying the Holocaust or demonizing Israel, the Jewish state, and Israelis.  The standardized definition is meant to help foster international consensus on the issue and ensure a united approach.

 The general definition states: 

“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.” Full IHRA definition here

One of the significant organizations that utilize the IHRA definition is the US State Department. US State Dept definition

US Congress, many State and Local governments, and the US Department of Education - The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) uses the definition to investigate allegations of antisemitism.

Department of Education-Dear Colleague Letter OCR

Department of Education Shared Ancestry-OCR

Department of Education guidance

Contemporary Antisemitism- this isn’t the Jew hatred one thinks about say when one thinks of say, the Holocaust

Sadly, some organizations try to fight this IHRA definition of antisemitism- and try to negate the codification of the IHRA definition because they want antisemitism not to include slander of Israel, Israelis, Zionism, and Zion.  However, other groups and organizations do not get to define what is hateful to the Jewish identity.  If it seems hateful- where if you inserted the name of a different minority group, it would surely not be allowable- it is most definitely antisemitic.

For example, a horrible version of antisemitism heard at City Halls and Universities by protestors is:

From the River to the Sea- Palestine will be Free- this is actually a call to violence against Jews and Israelis but it confuses people as to what it means…

Imagine someone asking for California to be free of “fill in the blank people” from the Colorado to the Pacific. It would be totally unacceptable, right?  

Perhaps the trickiest part is that many of the new antisemitic tropes are using inversion propaganda. Terms like Genocide, Nazis and Holocaust are used to refer to what the Israelis are supposedly doing to the Palestinians makes it hard and uncomfortable to know how to react.  These are simply hate-filled tropes.  Remember to use the logic that stereotyping or generalizing other minority groups is frowned upon and considered hateful- so, too, should it be for the Jews.  As a reminder, Jews are .2% of the world’s population. We come in every color skin, speak a variety of languages and live all over the world. We are a minority religion and peoplehood. We are indigenous to the land of Israel. Jews comprise only 1.8% of the population in the U.S. but are targets of 60% of religious hate crimes. Still, in recent times, this inversion propaganda is trying to paint it otherwise.  

Learn your history, know your rights, and reach out to 108J for community support should you encounter any antisemitism you need assistance with.  

We are a community and here for each other- We are עֵר (awake)!

Learn more about antisemitism here:

https://www.jewbelong.com/resources/

https://www.ushmm.org/antisemitism/what-is-antisemitism

https://www.ajc.org/issues/antisemitism

Glossary of Antisemitic Terms- AJC

TO REPORT ANTISEMITISM- 

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