by Emily Kay
Antisemitism never goes out of style, and as incidents of hatred toward Jewish people surges nationwide, Massachusetts is not immune. The large rise in harassment, vandalism, and assault aimed at Jews is especially worth discussing as we gather to remember the six million who perished in the Holocaust during the Nazi’s reign of terror.
The Anti-Defamation League cataloged 3,697 antisemitic incidents throughout the U.S. last year — a 36% rise from 2021 and the highest number since the ADL began tracking such cases in 1979. It is also the third time in five years that the year-end total broke previous records.
In Massachusetts, the total number of antisemitic incidents rocketed from 108 in 2021 to 152 last year – with harassment up 38%, vandalism up 41%, and assault up 100%.
“Although a causal link between antisemitic attitudes and antisemitic activity has not been proven, it would not be surprising if some antisemites have become emboldened to act on their hatred in the current environment,” according to the ADL’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2022 report. “Jews remain the single most targeted religious minority in America.”
What is antisemitism?
Let’s get this out of the way: Benjamin Netanyahu — like his pal, the hateful, first ex-president ever to be indicted — is a criminal and an autocrat who seeks to destroy Israel’s democracy and rule the Jewish state with a dictatorial fist. All sane people loathe the extreme right-wing government that Netanyahu has installed since winning his third stint as prime minister last year.
Antisemitism has nothing to do with Israel — despite what bigots on the right and left espouse. One can object strongly to the policies of the government of Israel — as one would to other governments that operate in a similar way — without expressing hatred toward Jews. Targeting the state of Israel and/or rooting for its demise, however, is 100 percent antisemitic.
“Anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted earlier this year. “Denying Israel’s fundamental existence & singling out the Jewish state for condemnation while ignoring others goes beyond legitimate criticism of a government and its policies.”
Many people may believe that the Nazis originated antisemitism with the Holocaust, defined by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum as “the state-sponsored persecution and murder of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945.” The history of prejudice against and loathing of Jews dates back to ancient times, however.
Please go here for more on the history of antisemitism and the Holocaust.
We must remember the victims of the Holocaust.
Denying the existence of the Holocaust, or lying about the facts, is one of the most egregious acts of antisemitism. With this country teetering on the edge of White Nationalist authoritarianism — as Tennessee goes full-on fascist — recognizing the atrocities the Nazis committed against Jews and millions of others becomes increasingly critical.
We must honor those who lost their lives during the Holocaust – and those who survived. We must apply the lessons of those horrific years to our world today, to ensure that “Never Again” and “Never Forget” never become mere slogans.
The US Congress instituted the Days of Remembrance for our country, led by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, to commemorate the Holocaust. The April date recognizes the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in the Hebrew calendar.
All of us must fight antisemitism.
There is much we can do to battle antisemitism in our communities:
- Join CI for a Holocaust Remembrance Day Vigil on April 18, from 5-6 pm, in Monument Square. Bring candles and signs, and click here for updates and to RSVP.
- Sign ADL’s Pledge Against Antisemitism
- Urge public officials and civic leaders to act against antisemitism.
The ADL offers specific ways officials can:
- Condemn antisemitism
- Oppose hate and extremism driven by antisemitism
- Make communities safe from antisemitism
- Block antisemitism online
- Act against global antisemitism
- Teach about antisemitism
(Recommended actions are listed at the end of the report.)
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