Postings from the Jewish State

10th Posting

Words into Violence

Since the start of the war against Israel there has been a rise in antisemitism in the USA, Canada, Europe, and other places where Jews live outside Israel. These countries are democracies where attacks and discrimination against minority groups are against the law. Nevertheless, a good deal of antisemitism and discrimination is occurring in western countries, especially on university campuses. Although some of this behavior has included physical violence, much more has been psychological or discriminatory harassment.

A recent comprehensive study by the American Jewish Committee found that around a third “of American college students feel faculty members have promoted antisemitism or learning environments hostile to Jews.” This is an extremely damaging finding given the usual expectation at universities for treating all students fairly. It suggests a normalization of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish teaching practices.

There are few college courses that actually focus on Israel and it is telling that students report hostility to Jews in courses that have nothing to do with Israel or Judaism. Of course, if faculty promote negative views of Israel, students who have limited knowledge about Israel or the Jewish people have no reason to disagree with what they are told in class.

Although there is an obvious difference between the antisemitism of words and the antisemitism of physical attacks, in some cases these have merged on campus and elsewhere. Students have blocked other students from getting to their classes. Jewish students have been harassed and threatened by anti-Israel students. In some cases, the antisemitism of words has grown into the antisemitism of physical violence.

Faculty who have normalized the antisemitic terror of HAMAS, the Houthis, and Iran who conduct the war against Israel and threaten harm to the United States seem unconcerned about the real life impact on Jewish students. Students may not say so in class but many do not agree with the anti-Israel and anti-America values they are being taught in academic courses.

Outside the academic world antisemitism is also rising. This week saw a terrible example of this when the home of Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire. Luckily he and his family got out safely and the arsonist who set the fire has been arrested.

There is no mistaking the antisemitic intent against a Jewish governor and his family on the first night of Passover.