How Antisemitism Adopts and Persists in Modern Society

Vesnyana Stecko
Oct 1, 2024
4 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Writer: Vesnyana

Editors: Olivia & Fernanda Pasapera Zegarra

**Translation to be updated soon

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Although antisemitism (hatred and discrimination against Jewish people) has a long-standing history spanning centuries, it persists in today’s society primarily evident on social media, in daily life, and in the political realm. In this article, we’re going to look into its origins, how it affects individuals and communities, and its broader implications.

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

The rise of antisemitic incidents in the 21st century has prompted us to examine the effectiveness of strategies to combat this phenomenon, considering how it has evolved over time and the implications of this discrimination for our society.

Due to people’s tendency to use ‘categorical thinking’ to divide individuals into groups based on specific factors (often in arbitrary ways, such as “in” and “out” groups), society tends to blame and express hatred towards these groups, especially when events are complex and difficult to understand. As a result, antisemitism is passed down to new generations, adapting its expression to align with current issues while the underlying stereotypes and conspiracy theories remain largely unchanged.

Let us clarify the definition first: antisemitism is hostility towards or prejudice against Jewish people[1]. It can manifest as hatred, violence, discrimination, and oppression. Incidents of antisemitism can range from anti-Jewish bullying in schools to organized nationalist ideologies and memes promoted by politicians, both in media and in-person.

Hence, the youth is particularly at risk of encountering antisemitic content via social media and gaming platforms. By being aware of the consequences of such discriminatory behavior and its forms, we better equip ourselves to identify antisemitism in modern society and react accordingly.

Historical background

Regrettably, prejudice against the people who practiced Judaism dates back many centuries, as it was the first religion to worship a single God in contrast to polytheistic beliefs that recognized multiple deities. Moreover, early Christians aimed to separate themselves from Judaism to establish a distinct identity and express their stance following conflicts between the authorities of both faiths.

Furthermore, there’s a radical approach to antisemitism – radicalized antisemitism[2] – which is rooted in the false premise that Jews constitute a distinct ‘race’ of people with inherent traits that render them inferior to white, Christian people.

This belief had major implications in Spain during the 15th century, where Jews were denied basic civil rights, such as access to universities, taking on public office, and the right to marry non-Jews, among others, regardless of whether they had been forced to convert to Christianity.[3]

What’s more, in the late 19th century – in 1879, to be precise – Wilhelm Matt, a German journalist, coined[4] the term antisemitism to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns in Central Europe and to rally support against the German government’s decision to grant broader civil rights to Jews. From his perspective, there was a distinct “Semitic race,” referring to a group of languages spoken in parts of East Africa and predominantly in the Middle East. It’s important to note that this is not a legitimate racial category whatsoever.

To this day, antisemitism endures, likely because many individuals are swayed by popular culture and lack sufficient education on the topic and its historical context. Over many centuries, without proper analysis, Jews have been unjustly blamed for numerous challenges. Moreover, misleading conspiracy theories perpetuate the idea that they control the government, media, banks – the list[5] goes on – and, what’s worse, that they even are falsely accused of being responsible for spreading diseases, such as COVID-19.[6]

Impact of growth of antisemitism on the society

The consequences of antisemitism today are prominent. First and foremost, it impacts individuals’ physiological well-being. Imagine witnessing various incidents of harassment, violence, and physical assaults targeted at your community and fearing that one day you might find yourself in that situation.

Imagine losing someone close to you due to such violent acts of discrimination and feeling too afraid to report due to a lack of trust in local authorities.

Antisemitism’s prevalence and growth lead to increased anxiety and higher levels of stress in daily life, especially for young Jews who face antisemitism in school settings. Importantly, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reported in a research conducted prior to 2023 that 37% of European Jews experienced some form of antisemitic harassment in the five previous years.[7].

Secondly, it contradicts the growth of another trend for multiculturalism and hinders societal progress regarding fundamental human rights which state the equality of all individuals. Amid current geopolitical tensions, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, the number of hate crimes against Jews (and Muslims as well) has increased compared to previous years.[7][8]

Thirdly, factors contributing to the ongoing distribution of antisemitic information include the accessibility of social media and digital platforms, where around 80% of such content gets published without moderation. The lack of supervision allows hate speech to proliferate uncensored and enables algorithms to deliver users similar discriminatory content based on engagement metrics. Alongside this, the rise of populism in various regions has led to populist leaders using rhetoric that targets minorities. Such a situation negatively impacts the normalization of hateful rhetoric and highlights the urgent need for greater moderation of discriminatory content, including conspiracy theories.

Message from Rights and Minds

Addressing the growth of antisemitism requires an approach to foster equality and inclusion for all communities, especially those historically affected by discrimination.

And what could each of us do, above all? Two words. Spread Awareness. Indeed, as we have emphasized already, irrational stereotypes are the main drivers of any sort of discrimination. Therefore, prioritize educating yourself and those around you to ensure solidarity among individuals from various backgrounds and communities.

Note:

At Rights and Minds, we contacted our writers in Israel to gather their insights on the alarming rise of antisemitism. This is what one of our writers has to say: "Antisemitic attacks are rising at nearly every university, the echoes of hate can be heard. Students are being attacked based on their religion.[...] it’s a reality that many Jewish students confront every day. Nazi symbols and extremist groups are allowed to thrive under the guise of ‘free speech,’ creating a toxic atmosphere. When is enough enough?".

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