Antisemitism is on the rise. Statistics demonstrate how European countries such as France and Germany show a rise in offences and violent attacks against Jews. The UK had one of the highest number of antisemitic incidents in 2018, since 1984. Explaining the growth of international antisemitism is important, but also understanding the history of the definition of antisemitism can help in combating modern-day prejudice.
The word ‘antisemitism’ itself was initially popularized by Wilhelm Marr, a German journalist who viewed the Jewish race as ‘dangerous.’ Antisemitism has long introduced Jews as the ‘other’ within evolving society – whether the ‘other’ relates to the political, social or cultural system. Historically, it was fused with stereotypes and malicious categorizations to portray conspiratorial and supernatural images of a Jewish person. A Jew was not only a societal scapegoat but also a canvass to misconstrue Jewish ethnic identity.
Click here to read the full article in The Times of Israel.
Contributed by 2018-2019 University College London CAMERA Fellow Kelly Leibovich.