The abhorrent attitude of antisemitism

On July 10, 1933, Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, was featured on the front cover of TIME Magazine.  The headline was unambiguous and inflammatory: “Say it in your dreams - THE JEWS ARE TO BLAME!”  As we are all painfully aware, in the years that followed, millions of Jews across Europe were terrorised, hunted and murdered by not only the Nazis, but those who collaborated with them.  Hatred of the Jews did not end there and it is an inescapable fact that the same antisemitism which drove hatred of the Jews in the 1930s is once again infecting the hearts of many people today.   

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently released the results of their Global 100 Survey and the findings are alarming to say the least.  The aim of the ADL Global 100 Survey is to gauge levels of antisemitic sentiments through an index comprised of 11 questions that measure general acceptance of various negative Jewish stereotypes.  The recent results were taken from over 58,000 adults in 103 countries and in terms of measuring the level of antisemitism, survey respondents who say at least 6 out of the 11 statements are “probably true” or “definitely true” are considered to harbour elevated levels of antisemitic attitudes.

So, let’s examine some of the concerning data:-

• 20% of respondents have not heard about the Holocaust.

• Only 48% of respondents recognise the Holocaust’s historical accuracy (falling to 39% among 18 to 34-year-olds). 

• 40% of those under age 35 say that “Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars”.

• 23% of respondents worldwide express favourable opinions toward the terror group Hamas, which increases to 29% among respondents younger than 35.

Overall, 46% of the world’s adult population – an estimated 2.2 billion people – harbour deeply entrenched antisemitic attitudes.  Concerningly, this is more than double compared to ADL’s first worldwide survey a decade ago and the highest level on record since ADL started tracking these trends globally.

In terms of where these negative attitudes are most prevalent, 76% of respondents in the Middle East and North Africa believe most of the 11 tropes to be true.  Around half of the respondents in Asia (51%), Eastern Europe (49%), and Sub-Saharan Africa (45%) harbour high levels of antisemitic attitudes. The Americas (24%), Western Europe (17%), and Oceania (20%) have relatively lower levels of antisemitic attitudes, yet still around one in five adults harbour these sentiments.  Breaking these percentages down into specific countries and territories, the highest and lowest index scores of those harbouring antisemitic attitudes are:-

• West Bank and Gaza (97%)

• Kuwait (97%)

• Indonesia (96%)

• Canada (8%)

• Netherlands (8%)

• Norway (8%)

• Sweden (5%)

Interestingly, even though there is a clear antisemitic attitude infecting the world, when asked about sentiments towards the nation of Israel, results were more favourable:-

• 67% do not want their country to boycott Israeli products and businesses.

• 71% believe their country should have diplomatic relationships with Israel.

• 75% welcome tourists from Israel.

The Anti-Defamation League has regularly conducted a comprehensive study of antisemitic attitudes since 1964.  If we just focus on the results of those studies from America, during that time they reliably discovered that antisemitism was stronger among older Americans and weaker among younger Americans.  However, the trend has now been reversed.  Based on the 11 different tropes used in the survey, Millennials now lead the way in habouring antisemitic attitudes with belief in 5.37 different tropes on average.  Closely behind them are members of Gen Z at 5.01, Gen X at 4.19 and Baby Boomers at 3.06.  What we conclude is that we are witnessing an alarming normalisation of antisemitism across society.

There are some who try to hide their antisemitism by claiming that they are simply anti-Zionist.  However, as Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League says: “Let’s be clear: anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Anti-Zionism doesn’t mean taking issue with an action or policy of Israel’s government. It doesn’t mean support for a Palestinian state. Anti-Zionism is a belief that Jews - alone among the peoples of the world - do not equally deserve freedom and self-determination in their homeland. It is an ideology of negation and a form of discrimination that treats Jews as a people much the same way that bigots treat individual Jews. For those who believe that Israel’s existence doesn’t matter, surely Jewish lives don’t either.”

Above all, we must remember that at the heart of antisemitism is a spiritual battle rooted in resistance against God and His promises – a battle which reaches all the way back to Genesis 3:15.  Therefore, the church has a proactive role to play in opposing antisemitism wherever it surfaces – whether in extremist groups, university campus movements, or even in streams of Christian theology.  Why?  Because loving the Jewish people should be one of the most natural things a Christian does.   

Elie Wiesel once said, “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference. The opposite of beauty is not ugliness; it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy; it’s indifference.”  As we continue to see antisemitism grow in our own countries, let’s resolve not to be indifferent.  The Jewish community needs believers to lovingly stand with them during this difficult time.  How?  Through prayer, moral clarity and a compassionate witness that reflects God’s enduring love for His chosen people.