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Thank you for joining us in this 8-day learning journey to build our community’s understanding of Jews and Judaism and increase awareness of the marked increase of Antisemitism (anti-Jewish hate) in the United States and around the world today.
Tonight is the 1st night of Chanukah (or Hanukkah), an 8-day Jewish holiday, known as the “Festival of Lights.” Chanukah commemorates the victory of a small group of Jews, the Maccabees, against their oppressors, the Seuclids (Syrian Greeks), who prohibited the Jews from practicing their religion around 200 BCE, and the miracle that followed. When the Jews returned to their Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they found the temple in shambles and only enough oil to light the menorah for one night. Miraculously, the candles stayed lit for eight days. The story of Chanukah reminds us that even one small light has the power to illuminate darkness and spark hope.
Antisemitism (or anti-Jewish hate) is the prejudice against or hatred of Jews and has existed for thousands of years. During that time, anti-Jewish hate has manifested in many forms, from discrimination and persecution to scapegoating and stereotyping to violence and attempted annihilation. Antisemitism is a like a virus that mutates over time often adapting to falsely link and blame Jews for whatever the societal ills of the era may be. The maltreatment of Jews in society is a warning sign to all as Jews have been compared to a “canary in a coalmine.”
To combat antisemitism, it is important to know who Jews are, the origins and beliefs of Judaism and what antisemitism is.
At sundown, Jews around the world will light the first candle on what most of us know as the menorah (it’s really called a chanukiah). Each night, a new candle is added, culminating in all candles on the menorah being lit on night 8.
Choose a video to watch or an article to read (or choose them all!)
WATCH: What is Chanukah? (3:51)??
WATCH: Hanukkah with Mayim Bialik (4:23)
READ: 12 Facts About Hanukkah You Probably Didn’t Know
READ: Hanukkah’s true meaning is about Jewish survival READ: Hanukkah 101
READ: JewBelong Hanukkah
In this inspiring video, the citizens of Billings, Montana found common ground against escalating white supremacist attacks against their African American, Native American and Jewish neighbors.? When a brick was thrown through the window of a 6 year-old boy after he placed his lit Chanukah menorah in his window, community members of all backgrounds moved to action to stand against hate.
WATCH: NOT IN OUR TOWN (PBS) (5:31)
MORE ON HANUKKAH
READ: Why Menorahs are Publicly Displayed
READ: I knew Hanukkah celebrated defeating the Greeks, then I moved to Athens
READ: Ruins of a Hellenistic fortress show ‘tangible evidence’ of Hanukkah story, Israeli archaeologists say
MORE ON ANTISEMITISM
READ: The American Jewish Committee recently released its findings based on two parallel surveys of American Jews and of the US general public. The survey of American Jews was conducted in September and October 2021. The link to the surveys, insight and analysis follows: The State of Antisemitism in America 2021.
READ: Antisemitism Defined. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, the only intergovernmental organization mandated to focus solely on Holocaust-related issues has determined that in order to begin to address the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what?antisemitism?is.?The IHRA working definition of antisemitism is embedded in the link above (Antisemitism Defined).
COURAGE & VALOR: STORIES THAT INSPIRE. The Simon Wiesenthal Center has created a series of short films, focusing on courageous individuals who have made a difference in the world, impacted upon others, and changed the lives of people around them for the better:
WATCH: Rabbi Jeffrey Meyers, Tree of Life Synagogue (13:26)
WATCH: Peter Bergman (13:18)
Today we have an ambitious agenda. We hope that you will select from the portions of our site that will help you to learn something new about Jews, Judaism and antisemitism. Our topics today explore:
For our Deep Dives we have included additional videos and articles on those topics.
Judaism is an ethno-religion, meaning an ethnicity and a religion, originating in Judea (Israel) almost three thousand years ago. Judaism is a monotheistic religion and follows the customs, traditions and laws of the Torah (Hebrew Bible).
WATCH: Introduction to Judaism (2:46)
Just like many other religions, there are a variety of ways Jews observe and practice Judaism. Some Jews strictly adhere to the Torah, Jewish laws and customs, while others are less traditional. Some Jews (by ethnicity) are atheist (with respect to religion). Some Jews were not born Jewish, but converted to and practice Judaism as a religion.
READ: The Jewish Denominations
Throughout history, Jews have been persecuted and many were forced to leave their ancestral homeland, dispersing to Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Spain and throughout the Middle East. In modern times, Jews fled from oppression and emigrated to the United States, Australia, Latin America, Western Europe and Canada. Jews living outside of Israel today are referred to as living in the “diaspora”. Despite the displacement of many Jews from their homeland, Jews have continuously remained living in Israel.
The initial dispersions of Jews from Israel led to distinct, regional, sub-ethnic groups depending on where each group of Jews settled, maintaining their Jewish identities while developing regional customs.
WATCH: Types of Jews: Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi and More (1:40)
READ: Sephardic, Ashkenazic, Mizrahi and Ethiopian Jews
READ: Diversity has long defined America’s Jewish community
Although their traditions, interpretations and practices may vary, Jews still share a unified sense of cultural and religious Jewish identity.
Globally: 15.2 million (just 0.2% of the world’s population)
- Israel: 6.9 million
- United States: 6 million (The most recent Pew Research study of Jewish Americans estimates that 2.4% of US adults are Jewish)
- Greater Omaha Metro: 8,000
Two-thirds of American Jews say they feel less safe than they did a decade ago — and the threat of physical violence has never felt more real. With antisemitism still a palpable threat across the globe, calling it out must be a fundamental part of living a Jewish life.
WATCH: When Being Jewish Feels Unsafe (6:36)
For additional videos on the topics of Jews and Judaism, we invite to you to watch the following:
WATCH: What makes a Jew? (11:56)
WATCH: History of Jewish Movements: Orthodox, Reform and Conservative (5:25)
WATCH: Ethiopian Jewry (9:23)READ: Subjected to anti-Semitism and racism, Jews of color feel ‘stuck in the middle’
Antisemitism (or anti-Jewish hate or Jew hatred) is the hostility to, prejudice towards and discrimination against Jews and manifests in many ways. One of the oldest and persistent forms of hate, antisemitism can manifest in words, rhetoric, slurs, myths and stereotypes, discrimination (ie. banning Jews), double standards, demonization, delegitimization, violence and ethnic cleansing (Spanish Inquisition, pogroms in Russian Empire, Holocaust).
WATCH: Antisemitism. Yad Vashem. (14:52)
READ: Antisemitism Uncovered: A Guide to Old Myths in a New Era Anti-Defamation League.
A comprehensive resource with historical context, fact-based descriptions of prevalent antisemitic myths, contemporary examples and calls-to-action for addressing this?hate.
Jews have been victims of widespread hatred for centuries, well before Hitler executed his plan for a “Final Solution” killing 6 million Jews, including 2 million children, and 5 million non-Jews (non- Arians) that were Roma, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals and people with disabilities. During the Holocaust, the Nazis labeled Jews an “inferior” race (Jews weren’t persecuted for their religion; they were persecuted for being Jews and having Jewish blood). Interestingly, in the United States today, Jews are often depicted as “white”, although this is a social construct through the lens of race and disregards the diversity of many Jews.
The Holocaust was the culmination of years of religious, scientific, cultural and political anti-Jewish sentiment. That still exists today. The basis for all of these sentiments is the inability to accept those who are different:
WATCH: Why is Antisemitism Still Around? Antisemitism Explained. Unpacked. (6:34)
While the Holocaust happened over 75 years ago, antisemitism is still very much alive. So, whose fault is antisemitism? And how do we address it?
WATCH: Whose Fault is Antisemitism? Unpacked. (8:15)
Anti-Jewish conspiracy theories still exist today, resulting in anti-Jewish beliefs and disproportionately high statistics of hate crimes against Jews.
WATCH: The Origins of Antisemitic Conspiracies. Unpacked. (5:18)
Antisemitism knows no bounds; antisemitic ideas, speech and actions come from all over the ideological spectrum. That’s why it is imperative to focus on the what – understanding and education — dispelling myths and misrepresentations — fighting antisemitic ideas; not on the who – those who traffic in hate, lies, misinformation and bigotry.
Read: Translate Hate Glossary
WATCH: State of the Union Part 2 – Fighting Antisemitism. Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (9:54). Hear from leading experts, Noa Tishby, Bari Weiss and Eve Barlow, who are on the frontlines (of social media) battle against antisemitism
WATCH: Intergenerational Trauma in Second and Third Generation Holocaust Survivors (59:49)
WATCH: ADL International Leadership Award Presented by Sacha Baron Cohen (24:43)
READ: How Anti-Semitism Rises on the Left and Right The New Yorker.
READ: The Jews and the Boggart Ben M. Freeman
READ: The Legacy of Trauma American Psychological Association.
The rise of antisemitism is an early warning sign of threats to freedom and dignity for all. In a report released by the American Jewish Committee in October 2021, nearly one out of every four Jews in the US has been the subject of antisemitism within the past year. Out of fear of antisemitism, 39% of American Jews changed their behavior within the past year. Following the recent violence in Gaza, the Anti-Defamation League received reports of a nearly 50% increase in antisemitic violence in the United States. Nearly 90% of Jews believe antisemitism is a problem in the US.
Hatred of Jews is not solely a Jewish problem. Antisemitism is a sign of an intolerant society. By ignoring it, we grant society a broader license to hate. All individuals should care about antisemitism in order to build a society that is more compassionate, educated, and committed to the value of human dignity. Making hatred of Jews socially unacceptable requires Jewish allies to be invested in creating a more compassionate and caring community.
WATCH: Why Antisemitism Matters to Everyone (1:30)
WATCH: Is the Focus on Antisemitism Overblown? Unpacked (4:20)
READ: Antisemitism is a Symptom
VIEW: Index of Antisemitism
In 1930s Nazi Germany, antisemitism was rampant – Hitler instituted boycotts of Jewish businesses, Jewish civil servants were fired, Jewish books were destroyed, German businesses refused to serve Jews and the Nuremberg laws were passed, which only allowed Aryans to be full citizens of Germany. These discriminatory practices were primarily politically and socially punitive and non-violent. But, everything changed on the night of November 9, 1938 when the Nazis vandalized and set fire to Jewish businesses, homes, schools and synagogues:
WATCH: Kristallnacht: The Night of Broken Glass (1:15)
WATCH: Kristallnacht: Remembering The ‘Night of Broken Glass’ (2:46)
WATCH: One Short: Kristallnacht (3:22)
WATCH: The Echos of Kristallnacht (10:30)
WATCH: We were frightened for our lives (3:05)
Antisemitic sentiments led to actions and policies, ultimately leading to the Holocaust and culminating in war.
WATCH: State of the Union Part 3 – Advocating for the Jewish Community (9:52) Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center. Featuring guest speakers Noa Tishby, Bari Weiss and Eve Barlow.
WATCH: Oprah Winfrey and Elie Wiesel at Auschwitz (9:59)
WATCH: Ever Again, narrated by Kevin Costner, this film explores the resurgence of violent antisemitism in Europe (2:26:00)
LISTEN: We Share the Same Sky (podcast), produced for USC Shoah Foundation. Rachael Cerrotti traced her grandmother’s war story, as she traveled to Europe to find the people who saved her.
READ: Antisemitism Posts Rarely Removed By Social Media Companies National Public Radio
READ and LISTEN: Antisemitism now, Antisemitism then. The Ezra Klein Show, featuring Deborah Lipstadt. (1:32:31)
The impact of antisemitism on our youth (especially college students) cannot be underestimated. Children and teens are experiencing antisemitism in record numbers because of the reach of social media and the growth (and tolerance) of anti-Jewish sentiment on college campuses.
A recent survey by Alums for Campus Fairness found:
WATCH: Jewish college students are seeing a new face of anti-Semitism CNN (8:02)
READ: The hard facts about campus antisemitism—and what we can do to stop it e-Jewish philanthropy
READ: What Kids Should Know About Antisemitism Jewish Boston – June 14, 2021
The following sampling of articles detailing recent antisemitic activity at schools have been provided to illustrate that this activity is commonplace at universities as well as middle and high schools.
READ: Someone Desecrated a Torah at a George Washington University Fraternity National Public Radio – November 2, 2021
READ: Jewish Residents in Hays County Receive Antisemitic Letters After String of Austin-area Incidents Austin-American Statesman – November 4, 2021
READ: Antisemitic Graffiti Found at 2 Chula Vista Schools Day After Halloween San Diego Tribune – November 2, 2021
WATCH: Investigation into antisemitic symbols at AU ‘inconclusive,’ officials say The Washington Post – September 24, 2021.
Antisemitism on campus has mirrored the general trend with antisemitism as it has expanded beyond vandalism, graffiti and rhetoric from the far right and now includes rhetoric from the far left, manifesting in anti-Israel and anti-Zionism propaganda.
In short, Zionism is the belief that the Jewish people have a right to “self-determination” – to have their own democratic state – in their ancestral homeland. Being a Zionist, however, is separate from agreeing with the Israeli government’s policies. Zionism also does not mean being against Palestinian human rights.
Did you know that “Zion” is a Hebrew word for Jerusalem?
Not necessarily. Israel — like all countries (including the United States) — is, and should be, subject to political criticism over its government’s actions and policies. That is not antisemitic.
Israel is a democratic country (unlike all other countries in the Middle East), with freedom of speech and expression, and a free press. Criticism is welcome and even expected.
Criticism of Israel becomes antisemitic when double standards, delegitimization and demonization apply. For example, boycotting products made in Israel to protest perceived human rights abuses; but not boycotting any other country with human rights abuses; or delegitimization when Israel is accused of ethnic cleansing or being an apartheid state (more to come on Day 6).
READ: The New Antisemitism and the Three D’s Echoes and Reflections
READ: Fighting Campus Anti-Semitism Before it Explodes Inside Higher Ed
READ: “On the Frontlines of Progressive Anti-Semitism” The New York Times – November 14, 2019
WATCH: Is Criticizing Israel Antisemitic? Unpacked (9:04)
READ: What happened when antisemites attacked my teenage son on tiktok 11/18/21
READ: Social Media Platforms Fail to Address Antisemitism, According to New ADL Report 7/30/21
WATCH: Antisemitism on social media (3:51)
If you want to delve more into the issues of antisemitism impacting youth and college students, we offer the following:
READ: Anti-Defamation League-Hillel Campus Antisemitism Survey 2021
WATCH: State of the Union Part 4 – “Let’s Discuss the Issues” (7:38) Friends of Simon Wiesenthal, featuring guest speakers Noa Tishby, Bari Weiss and Eve Barlow
Social Media and Antisemitism:
WATCH: Quantifying Hate: A Year of Antisemitism on Twitter Anti-Defamation League (2:22)
WATCH: A New Model for Combating Antisemitism & Anti-Israel Activism on Campus (55:24) Prof. Gil Troy at McGill University and author of The Zionist Ideas: Visions for the Jewish Homeland – Then, Now, Tomorrow. Presentation concludes at (26:04) and is then followed by Questions & Answers
Hatred of Jews is not solely a Jewish problem. Antisemitism is based on conspiracies and false facts, creating an intolerant society, undermining democracy, civil rights and individual liberties that are fundamental to our society. By ignoring or tolerating antisemitism, hate is enabled. We must stand against antisemitism to protect freedom and dignity for all.
Jews can’t fight antisemitism alone. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks “ZL”, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom said:
We have to stand together to fight hate, not Jews alone, but every single person who cares for the sanctity of life and for a free and just and tolerant society. And we must never be left alone. We must gather allies because ultimately the hatred of Jews is hatred of difference, which is hatred of humanity. The enemies of Jews are the enemies of freedom, wherever it is. And that is why we must stand together to fight hate, in all its forms.
WATCH or READ: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Antisemitism. (3:21)
Watch and read these videos and articles to explore (at your own pace) how others have responded to antisemitism:
WATCH: Shine a Light on Antisemitism
WATCH: “Antisemitism and Jewish Discrimination.” What Would You Do? (8:53) Watch what happens when people are faced with blatant antisemitism.
WATCH: Why Anti-Semitism is an Issue for Everybody 13:58) In this TedEx talk, college student Jasper Vyda, discusses his personal experiences with antisemitism, detailing the data behind its contemporary increase, and what can be done to combat it. This talk examines the fundamental intersectionality of the current fight against Anti-Semitism in the United States, and why we all have a moral responsibility to join it to protect people of all affinities at large.
WATCH: Shared Legacies (3:28)READ: Why I went to Auschwitz by Ray Allen. The Players Tribune. August 2, 2017. Retired NBA player, Ray Allen discusses his trip to Auschwitz, his visit to the Holocaust Museum in 1998 with the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, why he took his teammates to the Museum when time permitted and the lessons he learned from meeting with the grandson of a man whose entire family was executed for hiding Jews in the cellar of their home in Poland.
READ: Hanukkah and anti-semitism requires a response. But we cannot fight hatred with more hatred NBC Think December 30, 2019
READ: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Where is the Outrage Over Anti-Semitism in Sports and Hollywood? The Hollywood Reporter July 14, 2020
READ: Antisemitism: 90 Ways to Respond Anti-Defamation League
On October 27, 2018, a white supremacist stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue with an AR-15 rifle, killing 11 Jews, wounding four police officers and two others in the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States in history. This was an attack on Jews as a people because his manifesto blamed Jews for undermining the white race for working to help refugees settle in the United States.
READ: After the Tree of Life massacre, an inspiring story of a community coming together. The Forward. September 30, 2021
READ: 3,000 unite in Rochester vigil for Pittsburgh
WATCH: Fighting Antisemitism on Social Media (1:03) January 2, 2020
READ: The Keys to Understanding American Antisemitism and Fighting Back Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Originally published in Jewish Telegraphic Agency
LISTEN: How to Combat Rising Antisemitism in America (55:49) with Dr. Rachel Fish JewishBoston
LISTEN: 87 Ways to combat antisemitism: Inside the EU’s Plan to Combat Jew Hatred (28:43) AJC November 21, 2021
Jews in the United States have a strong historic, spiritual and emotional bond to Israel, the birthplace of Judaism. The Pew Research Center Report on Jewish Americans in 2020 found a large majority of U.S. Jews (82%) say caring about Israel is either “essential” or “important” to what being Jewish means to them.
Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East and is comprised of Jews and non-Jews with a population of over 9.3 million people (74% Jews (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, Ethiopian); 21% Arab including Muslims (and Circassians), Arab Christians (including Armenians) and Druze; about 467,000 people are defined as others, including non-Arab Christians, members of other religions and those registered as having no religious classification in the population registry).
The vibrant society that makes up Israel is so different from the narrow view that much of the world understands. These videos introduce you to the diversity of Israel and provide a brief overview of the history of Israel (with links to a more in-depth series).
WATCH: Who are Israelis, Really? (7:38) Unpacked
WATCH: History of Israel Explained (4:24) Unpacked
In recent years, Israel and its people have been demonized politically, in the media and on college campuses, especially in the US and Europe, as Israel has been accused of “colonizing”, “ethnic cleansing” and apartheid – false narratives. On Day 5 we shared content on the meaning of Zionism and how it has been co-opted to mean something that it’s not.
As we discussed previously, criticizing the Israeli government’s policies isn’t necessarily antisemitic – just as we would criticize any government’s policies, including our own; but criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when double standards, deligitimization and demonization are used in an attempt to cloak antisemitism as something else.
While there is plenty of room for criticism of Israeli government policy, there should be no room for the exclusionary, reductionist and dehumanizing language in political discourse on the topic.
WATCH: Rabbi Sacks on the Connection between Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, Judaism and Israel (5:58)
READ: To My Fellow Progressives: Anti-Zionism is Antisemitism Oren Jacobson, The Detroit Jewish News – November 5, 2021
Since 2000 organized campaigns around the world have promoted the “boycott, divestment and sanctions” of Israel. Some supporters may believe that these efforts will encourage Israel to change its policies towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. However, the predominant drive of the BDS campaign and its leadership is not to criticize and change these policies, but to demonize and delegitimize Israel. The complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict has presented as the fault of only Israel. The BDS campaign does not support peace efforts and rejects a two-state solution and actually penalizes many Palestinians living and working in Israel and the West Bank.
WATCH or READ: Rabbi Sacks on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign (6:07)
READ: What is BDS? My Jewish Learning
READ: Ben and Jerry’s Boycott Hurts Palestinians The Times of Israel – July 21, 2021
READ: Miss Universe Says Pageant in Israel Shouldn’t be Politicized Amid Boycott Pressure Forbes – November 17, 2021
WATCH: The Mainstreaming of Antisemitism: How Should We Respond? (55:28) American Jewish Committee Virtual Global Forum with Bret Stephens, Bari Weiss and Simone Rodan-Benzaquen.
LISTEN: Combatting Rising Jew Hatred (55:49) In a recent Jewish Boston podcast, Dr. Rachel Fish, addresses the surge in anti-Israel actions and hate crimes against Jews.
A Jewish Call to Action: 10 Ways to Fight Back by David Harris, Times of Israel
Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah Lipstadt
Antisemitism: 90 Ways You Can Respond, Anti-Defamation League
Defining Antisemitism, IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism
How to Talk to Children About Antisemitism, PJ Library
Resources for Becoming a Strong Jewish Student Advocate, AJC Campus Library
Teaching About Antisemitism, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Translate Hate Glossary, AJC
10 Things You Can Do to Fight Antisemitism, StandWithUs
Tools for Dealing with Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Incidents on Campus, Anti-Defamation League
