Southern Poverty Law Center Releases Antisemitism Resource Guide

SPLC: Antisemitism is a set of dehumanizing and hostile beliefs and behaviors that target Jews, both as individuals and as a group, because of their Jewish identity. It takes on many forms, including overt acts of violence, discrimination, harassment and vandalism, as well as more subtle codes, tropes and assumptions. A central feature of antisemitism is its conspiratorial nature, where historical antisemitic conspiracies and myths offer a blueprint for future generations to draw on when blaming Jews for various world events. Seemingly disparate groups and individuals across the ideological spectrum use antisemitism to manufacture fear and divide society.

Antisemitism operates as an energizing force behind white supremacy, and it both directly and indirectly affects millions of Jews and non-Jews in the United States and around the world. Movements, organizations and individuals committed to a just and equitable society are often portrayed as tools manipulated by Jews to undermine or remake society. Most often, this involves attempts to racialize and vilify Jews as the manipulative puppet masters behind various economic, political and social schemes. Antisemitism does not occur in isolation. Any effort to dismantle white supremacy must work to combat antisemitism alongside and connected to other forms of hate and bias. The SPLC is committed to tracking and combating antisemitism as part of our efforts to build an inclusive, multiracial society.

Just as it is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government or its leaders, it is also wrong to assume any critique of Israel is an attack on the Jewish community. The Jewish community is incredibly diverse and cannot be treated as a monolith. Jews come from a range of different racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds, and while some practice Judaism, others consider themselves atheists. Jews differ from each other on a number of social and political issues, including Israel. 

Click here to review the complete resource guide.