As hate against Jews escalates, everyone feels the impact. Here's how you can stand up to it
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals a surge in antisemitic incidents in the United States following the Hamas attacks on October 7. The number of incidents has skyrocketed by more than 300% compared to the same period in 2024.
Colleges have seen an increase in antisemitic activities, such as threats against Jewish communities on campuses, forcing the Biden administration to take action.
The White House outlined the steps ministries of Homeland Security, Justice, and Education will take, in partnership with colleges, local law enforcement, and other relevant parties, to provide support and resources.
However, the United States is not the only nation grappling with this issue. The ADL reports a global increase in antisemitic incidents.
Vlad Khaykin, national director of the ADL's Anti-Semitism Project, highlights that hostility towards Jews tends to rise in times of uncertainty, like economic crises, wars, or epidemics. When fear prevails, some people turn to antisemitism as a way to address the unrest they perceive in the world.
With Jews making up less than 2% of the U.S. population, antisemitism impacts everyone, and everyone should be concerned.
Historically, pervasive and unfounded rumors against the Jewish people have reflected underlying societal issues and exacerbated them.
As Kagin noted, enduring and blatantly false allegations against the Jewish people throughout history have reflected fundamental flaws in society and have served to strengthen those flaws.
Kagin underscored that these persistent rumors foster conspiracy theories and distort our ability to make informed decisions, which is crucial for any democracy. "It's undemocratic. It's anti-intellectual. It leads to disregard for knowledge, learning, and expertise," he said.
Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, described it as "a canary in a coal mine."
Here are some actions you can take to combat antisemitism:
Educate Yourself and Be an Advocate
Regardless of where you live, you can make a difference. As Kagin emphasized, "you don't have to know Jews" to help make the world a better place.
The ADL offers various online education programs and resources, from anti-bias training to antisemitism awareness.
Advocate for Education and Protection
Contact schools and learning centers to expand programs and courses on the Holocaust and antisemitism. "Echoes and Reflections" is an online program that focuses on Holocaust education in the classroom. Despite some seeking to ban the Holocaust graphic novel "Maus," supporters argue that such books are essential tools for educating the younger generation[1].
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is another resource where people can learn not only about the Holocaust but also about contemporary antisemitism and its impacts.
Stop the Spread
This means speaking out against hate speech you hear and reporting what you see online. The pandemic has spawned numerous conspiracy theories, with some well-known personalities comparing mandatory vaccinations or mask-wearing to the Holocaust[2].
"It's really damaging to trivialize the horror and weight of the Holocaust by making light comparisons," Haykin said. "Genocide scholars have stated that the ultimate act of genocide is denying genocide."
While Germany has strict laws against hate speech and Holocaust denial, enforcement in the United States is challenging. Private companies like Facebook do have regulations in place, but they must be reported each time they are observed[2].
Public Outreach
Participate in community events and stay informed about what's happening in your community. In August 2018, the ADL, the LAPD, and the FBI organized a community outreach event to raise awareness about how they can collaborate in the fight against antisemitism. The ADL operates 25 regional offices across the country and works closely with law enforcement agencies[3].
If You or Someone You Know Has Experienced Antisemitism
Report it immediately. The ADL provides an online form where you can report any incidents of "antisemitism, extremism, bigotry, fanaticism, or hatred" targeted towards individuals based on their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or ability level. Reported activities can range from observing hate symbols on the street to cyberbullying or bullying in schools or on the internet[4].
You can upload videos and photos from your event, and someone will get in touch with you. The ADL tracks all reported incidents of antisemitism and hate crimes. "Antisemitism isn't just in our schools and workplaces. It's everywhere. It permeates every aspect of our civilization," Haykin said.
The only way to break the cycle of ignorance and hate is with knowledge and love.
Source:
Insights
- Incident Increase: The ADL has documented a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across Washington state, with a 400% increase in reported incidents since October 7, 2023. This trend is also observed globally, with a 340% increase in global antisemitic incidents, according to the ADL’s Global 100 study[1][3][4].
- Types of Incidents: The incidents include vandalism, harassment, and assault. In Spokane County, antisemitic incidents have tripled from 2023 to 2024. The most common form of antisemitism is vandalism, with 56 reported cases, followed by written or verbal harassment with 51 incidents[1].
- Global Trends: The ADL’s Global 100 study reveals that nearly half of all adults worldwide (approximately 2.2 billion people) harbor elevated levels of antisemitic attitudes. This trend is observed across various regions, including the Middle East, Asia, Europe, North and South America[4].
These insights offer deeper context to the rising tide of antisemitism globally and highlight the need for concerted efforts to combat its effects.
