Antisemitism: An Ancient Hatred in Modern Forms
Antisemitism — prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed against Jewish people — is among the oldest and most persistent forms of hatred in human history. The Holocaust represents its most extreme and devastating expression, but antisemitism did not die in 1945. It adapted, mutated, and endured. Today, it operates across the political spectrum, appears in new digital spaces, and continues to result in harassment, vandalism, violence, and murder.
Understanding what antisemitism looks like in the 21st century — including its subtler forms — is essential for anyone committed to Holocaust remembrance and the prevention of future atrocities.
How Modern Antisemitism Manifests
Traditional Antisemitic Tropes
Many of the hateful stereotypes that fueled Nazi propaganda have not disappeared — they have simply found new vessels. Ancient conspiracy theories portraying Jews as secretly controlling governments, banks, media, or global events continue to circulate widely. These tropes predate the Holocaust by centuries, but their persistence shows how little the hatred has changed at its core.
Holocaust Denial and Distortion
Holocaust denial — the claim that the Holocaust did not happen, was exaggerated, or was justified — is a form of antisemitism in itself. It attempts to rehabilitate Nazi ideology by erasing its most condemning evidence. Distortion, a subtler and increasingly common variant, does not deny the Holocaust outright but minimizes it, misrepresents its causes, or uses it for inappropriate comparisons.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has identified Holocaust distortion as a growing and distinct threat, particularly in political discourse and social media.
Online Hate and Extremism
The internet has accelerated the spread of antisemitism dramatically. Extremist forums, encrypted messaging apps, and mainstream social media platforms have all been used to spread antisemitic content, recruit members, and organize. The anonymity of the internet emboldens those who might not express hatred publicly to do so online — and algorithms that reward engagement can amplify hateful content to large audiences rapidly.
Several mass-casualty antisemitic attacks in recent years — including at synagogues in Pittsburgh (2018) and Halle, Germany (2019) — were directly connected to perpetrators who were radicalized in online extremist communities.
Antisemitism Across the Political Spectrum
A common misconception is that antisemitism belongs solely to the far right. In reality, it appears across the political spectrum:
- Far-right antisemitism typically draws on racial and conspiracy-based tropes, often connected to white nationalist ideology.
- Far-left antisemitism may appear in the form of conspiracy theories about Jewish power or in the delegitimization of the Jewish state that crosses into antisemitic territory.
- Religious antisemitism exists in some communities globally, drawing on medieval theological arguments that have been repeatedly condemned by mainstream religious bodies.
None of these forms is less dangerous than another. Recognizing antisemitism regardless of its political packaging is critical.
The IHRA Working Definition
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has developed a widely adopted working definition of antisemitism, used by governments, educational institutions, and civil society organizations to identify and respond to antisemitic incidents. The definition states:
"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
The definition is accompanied by contemporary examples to assist in identifying antisemitism in practice, including some forms of criticism of the State of Israel that cross into antisemitism.
What Individuals Can Do
Combating modern antisemitism is not the responsibility of Jewish communities alone — it is a shared obligation for all who believe in human dignity. Practical steps include:
- Learn to recognize antisemitism in its various forms, including coded language and "ironic" uses of antisemitic tropes online.
- Speak up when you encounter antisemitic jokes, stereotypes, or conspiracy theories — in person and online.
- Report hate incidents to platforms, local authorities, and organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that track and respond to antisemitism.
- Support Jewish institutions and communities as targets of antisemitic harassment and violence — attend events, show solidarity, and build relationships.
- Educate yourself and others about the history and forms of antisemitism, and support Holocaust education in schools and communities.
- Challenge Holocaust denial and distortion with facts, primary sources, and confidence — denial thrives on silence.
Remembrance as Resistance
Every act of Holocaust remembrance — every testimony heard, every museum visited, every article read — is also an act of resistance against the forces that seek to erase that history or repeat it. The persistence of antisemitism makes Holocaust education not merely historical, but urgently contemporary. Vigilance is not paranoia — it is the lesson history demands we learn.