Antisemitism – A threat to democracy
© Stefanie Loos
© Stefanie Loos
Antisemitism and antisemitic attacks are growing, both in Germany and throughout Europe. These developments were fueled by the coronavirus pandemic, with new conspiracy narratives emerging that supplemented centuries-old myths: Jews and those labeled as Jewish are subject to attacks online and at demonstrations, even being accused of being responsible for the outbreak of the pandemic. There has been an alarming increase in such attacks since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7.
Antisemitism or hostility towards Jews confronts our society with enormous challenges. A look at the statistics shows just how urgent the problem is: in 2023, German authorities recorded 5,164 antisemitic crimes – twice as many as in the previous year alone, with half of the crimes being recorded after October 7, 2023.
Shared by the EVZ Foundation and also Germany’s Federal Government, the definition of antisemitism according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) 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 (....). ”
Although the term antisemitism was not coined until the 19th century, the phenomenon dates back to antiquity. Certain periods of the Middle Ages and the early modern era witnessed anti-Jewish legislation and measures, expulsions and acts of violence such as pogroms – attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions. Antisemitism acquired a political component in the 19th century with the emergence of antisemitic parties and the rise of nationalism.
Under National Socialism, antisemitism became official state policy: starting with economic boycotts, anti-Jewish “race” laws and pogroms, the racist antisemitic ideology of the Nazis culminated in the systematic murder of European Jewry. It is estimated that six million Jews were killed by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
As a result of the terrorist attack by Hamas and other groups on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and more than 240 abducted hostages, and the subsequent military operation by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, public attention has once again become focused on the conflict in the Middle East. Soon after it occurred, the terrorist attack was celebrated by some groups as an act of liberation and legitimate resistance. Since then, Jews all over the world have been subjected to increasing antisemitic hostility, attacks, stigmatization and violence – as shown by the report published by the federal association RIAS e.V.:
For Jews, negotiating between visibility and security has taken on a new dimension since the watershed moment of October 7. Jewish life in Germany has been less visible since then. In their day-to-day lives, Jews are increasingly confronted with a lack of empathy and with antisemitism. They are also reporting a growing number of antisemitic incidents involving acquaintances and neighbors, at their workplace and at universities. The emotional impact of concrete antisemitic incidents is heightened by the shock and sorrow felt in the aftermath of October 7.
“As soon as things escalate in the Middle East, they escalate on our soccer pitches the following weekend. This is a plainly visible phenomenon,” says Alon Meyer, President of MAKKABI Germany (source: Sportschau report on YouTube).
Israeli civil society has been in urgent need of support since October 7, 2023. For this reason, the EVZ Foundation has joined forces with other institutions to initiate Netzwerk Israel, a network that sends out a signal of solidarity from German society to Israeli civil society, supporting democratic civil society actors in the country. Antisemitism has a profound impact on entire societies, undermining democratic values and human rights and posing a genuine threat to both Jews and non-Jews, as demonstrated by the terrorist attacks in Halle (2019) and Hanau (2020). The need to combat antisemitism makes joint efforts and engagement more essential than ever.
The safety of Jews is particularly at risk at universities. The occupation of lecture halls and calls to boycott Israeli academics now means that Jews are no longer free of worries as they go about their day-to-day academic lives. Many universities are overwhelmed by current developments and are responding inadequately to the conflict situation.
In the in the eighth episode of the series EVZ Conversations!, our panelists included historian Dan Diner and the President of the German Union of Jewish Students. See here for the whole event.
We need to see consequences for those who spread antisemitism on campus. Universities have to engage sincerely with antisemitic structures within their own institutions. Until that happens, issuing statements simply won't be enough.
In connection with the first call for proposals under the funding program Building Structures for Combating Antisemitism aimed at supporting universities in engaging with this problem, the EVZ Foundation is providing funding for Babelsberg Film University and the University of Würzburg to develop structures that are critical of antisemitism.
Established as early as 2011, the conference series Blickwinkel is a strategically oriented, cross-project forum for education and academic research that is critical of antisemitism and racism. Focusing on groundbreaking topics and the latest findings, the series offers a space in which to discuss innovative educational approaches and offer critical viewpoints that challenge prevailing assumptions, thereby promoting dialog between academic research and educational practice.
To mark the theme year 1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany in 2021, the Foundation supported the youth campaign #tsuzamen: this involved projects that enabled young people to engage with Jewish life in Germany, thereby helping to raise its visibility and dismantle the foundations of antisemitic stereotypes.
In addition, the EVZ Foundation has more recently pursued its Agenda for the Future – dedicated strategy aimed at combating antisemitism structurally and on a lasting basis. The Foundation is further expanding its funding commitment to combating and preventing antisemitism through the cluster Acting against antisemitism, antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and racism, which addresses manifestations of antisemitism in key areas of the state and society today, joining forces with partners to develop counter-strategies.
Alliances with Jewish communities and other groups targeted by discrimination also contribute effectively here. The EVZ Foundation establishes and promotes these alliances.
With this funding portfolio of
the EVZ Foundation encourages civil society throughout Europe to counter antisemitism by engaging in concrete activities – with the aim of promoting a pluralist and inclusive society in which Jewish life is naturally integrated, tangible and visible.
