the Escalation of Antisemitism
The Escalation of Antisemitism Amidst the Israeli-Hamas Conflict
By Colette A. M. Phillips
Exclusive for Shalom Magazine
As a Black, Jewish progressive woman, I am appalled and sickened by the Jewish hate and vile commentary coming from some corners of the progressive community in the US and other democracies across the world. I now have a glimpse into what Nazi Germany must have felt like for Jews in the 1930’s. The underlying anti-Israel and Jewish bias is evident in the fact that these progressives are calling on Israel to de-escalate but not for Hamas to return the hostages.
The horrific barbaric attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas in October has ignited a disturbing rise of antisemitism, in America on college campuses in particular. A recent poll conducted by The Jewish Federation of North America has shed light on the sentiments and concerns of the American Jewish community in the aftermath of October 7, with 70 % of American Jews saying they feel unsafe in America.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has shone a spotlight on how deeply embedded antisemitism is within both America and the world. Within the first 24 hours, while Israel and Jewish people around the world were still grappling with the shock and horror of the slaughter, rape, burning, beheading and kidnapping of innocent Israeli civilians including infants, the elderly, young people and families, in America and around the world, pro-Palestinian rallies were already taking place.
One troubling manifestation of the surge in antisemitism is the rallying cry “from the river to the sea,” which has gained traction in protests and social media campaigns. While some argue that the slogan represents a call for a single unified state with equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians, its historic connotation traced back to calls for the annihilation of Israel all together. The use of such a slogan, coupled with the alarming frequency of calls for Israel’s destruction, has contributed to an atmosphere, where antisemitism thrives.
The impact of this surge in antisemitism extends beyond the virtual realm, infiltrating real world spaces and putting all Jews at risk, and in particular Jewish students on college campuses. Jewish students report feeling unsafe, isolated and fearful for their lives. They have been the victims of harassment, physical and verbal assault and death threats including chants calling for the genocide of Jews. But beyond this, what has been even more disturbing is the failure and lack of action by college presidents and their administrations to protect their Jewish students. It’s a fact that if these students were Black, Latino, Asian or members of the LGBTQ community that the institutions would have taken instant action to protect them.
Educational institutions play a critical role in fostering, understanding, inclusion and acceptance. They are also a place where free expression should take place, but “hate speech” is not “free speech” and just like you cannot call out fire in a theater, there should be zero tolerance for hate speech on campuses. Universities and colleges must take action immediately to implement robust policies to ensure the safety of Jewish students, by addressing and preventing antisemitism, harassment and discrimination. Jewish students must have safe spaces to discuss their beliefs, celebrate their culture as well as promote peaceful discussions surrounding Jewish identity, including Zionism. I urge all Institutions of Higher Education to adhere to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism (a requirement to receive Title VI federal funding).
By fostering open dialogue, promoting education and strongly condemning acts of discrimination and antisemitism, we can work towards a future where differences are embraced rather than used as a catalyst for hate. It is only through a collective effort that we can hope to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate bigotry and prejudice and build a world where all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds can coexist in peace.
Colette A.M. Phillips is a member of the American Jewish Committee leadership board and author of The Includers: The 7 Traits of Culturally Savvy, Anti-Racist Leaders. She is President and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications, Inc.
