Antisemitism is a topic that has been in the news and is something important to explore and understand. From news stories about vandalism and hate crimes, to celebrities spewing frightening claims and vitriol about Jewish people, to the antisemitic tropes we see in our social media feeds — antisemitism is all around us.
What is Antisemitism?
Antisemitism is the marginalization and/or oppression of people who are Jewish based on the belief in stereotypes and myths about Jewish people, Judaism and Israel. Antisemitism is a system of bias. This means that antisemitism is part of, and embedded into, all elements of society. Being a system of bias means that antisemitism is present not only in recent times, but has also existed throughout history. Antisemitism can be seen in the rules, laws and institutions (e.g., education, workplace, the media, etc.) of our society. Systemic antisemitism means that Jewish people experience certain vulnerabilities (mistreatment, disrespect, harm) while those who aren’t Jewish aren’t as susceptible to those vulnerabilities and harms. Antisemitism can also show up and be seen in interpersonal communication and behavior (e.g., slurs, bullying, stereotypes, offensive language and “jokes") that maintains and supports these inequities and marginalization.
Antisemitism is a U.S. and global phenomenon and can take place in different ways, including: stereotypes and attitudes about Jewish people, scapegoating, name-calling and bullying, online expressions of bias and hate, swastikas and other hate symbols scrawled in public spaces, antisemitic words and language, vandalism in synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, workplace and school-based discrimination and disadvantages, hate crimes like the 2018 mass shooting and murders at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and other violent and deadly hate crimes.
Antisemitism is not only about demeaning and attacking the Jewish community. It is also a symptom of broader issues in society. Individuals who hold ideologies of hatred against the Jewish people will often hold harmful beliefs about other groups who are marginalized.
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