Antisemitism in America Today

Menorah Lighting prayer on the first night of Hanukkah

By Anastasia Harris 

JRN 100 Staff Writer

In a recent study from The Pew Research Center, six in ten Jews reported experiencing an indirect or personal experience with antisemitism in the past year such as vandalism and online harassment.

In the study “American Jews in 2020” the Pew Research Center collected data from Jews who said they have experienced acts of antisemitism in the past 12 months, the antisemitic incidents were categorized as experiencing or being exposed to physical threats or attacks; graffiti or vandalism; unwelcome behavior; offensive names and online harassment.

Pew Research Center (2020).

Ari M. Gordon of the American Jewish Committee said he believes that the rise in rates of antisemitism is partially due to the rise of social media usage allowing those holding the same beliefs to more easily connect with people whose beliefs match up with theirs.

Gordon is the director of Muslim_Jewish relations for the American Jewish Committee. He works closely with Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC), which is a bipartisan and national coalition of leaders from both communities who act in the areas of shared concern in the United States.

He said the issues behind rising rates of antisemitism is not just related to one political party, or one administration but more of a systemic issue. There are many factors he believes that play a role in the rise of antisemitism including political polarization, more use of social media use and changes in the demographics of America.

The Pew Research Center surveyed 4,171 adults who identified as Jewish. Their different identities included Jews by religion, Jews of non-religion (which the Pew Research Center defines as those who don’t identify with the religion but consider themselves Jewish), U.S. Jews, and Jewish Americans.

The section of the Pew Research Center’s study discussing why there is a rise of antisemitism. The data shows that Jewish Americans who identify with the Republican party responded that it is both, people holding more views and feel freer to express their feelings towards Jewish Americans. Jews who identify with the Democratic party believe that people now feel more encouraged to express their feelings of antisemitism. Rachel M. Friedberg is one of the people who agrees that those with antisemitic viewpoints feel more inclined to express them due to the Trump administration.

Rachel M. Friedberg is a Jewish woman living in Providence, Rhode Island. She is an economics professor at Brown. She is involved in the Jewish community in Providence in more than one way; she is a current member of the Emanuel synagogue in Providence. She is also on the board of trustees and holds the treasurer position at the Jewish Community Day School. Although she has no personal experiences of antisemitic acts, she has heard of people being subjected to verbal harassment more than any other form of antisemitism.

“Upsetting, scary, but not all together surprising,” Friedberg said. She grew up in the state of Illinois, where she was one of the only Jewish kids in her class and in her town. She referred to the experience as feeling lonely. She later moved to the East Coast for graduate school and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she found a community of Jewish students which, was unheard of back in her hometown.

Friedberg has stayed connected to her religion her whole life. Growing up with a father who survived the Holocaust has had a major impact in her life. She has always been aware of antisemitic incidents throughout the country. She does see correlations between the Trump administration’s reaction to the recent incidents as an opening for people to voice and act on their feelings about their Jewish neighbors.

Friedberg said non-Jewish allies need to educate themselves as well as others so they can stand up when they see and or hear things.

The Pew Research Center looked at why there may be an increase in antisemitic incidents within the last five years. Respondents were asked “Why is there more antisemitism?” to which they were given options stating it was caused by an increase in antisemitic views or those who already are considered antisemitic feel freer to express themselves or both.

The Pew Research Center asked respondents their opinions of president Trump and whether or not they are positive or negative. Their views on Trump may or may not relate to their beliefs on why the rise of antisemitism.

25 percent of those who participated in the study think the rise in antisemitism is due to people feeling that they now possess the ability to be more self-expressive, especially when it comes to antisemitic opinions. When compared to the other 45 percent, resonances find Trump to be unfriendly to Jewish people.

Gordon said education is one of the major ways that non-Jewish allies can combat acts of antisemitism, whether that be within academic settings or outside them. People should learn what antisemitism is as well as some common phrases associated with antisemitism.

He said speaking out can be very hard especially when speaking out within our own groups. Ironically that can have the biggest impact. Gordon said.

Gordon said research such as that done by the Pew Research Center can help advocacy programs target where to establish different programs to help with education as well as locating where ‘blind spots’ may be.

“It may be helpful to look at the relations of people and human interactions to move closer towards finding solutions,” said Gordon. To look for a relational solution instead of an objective solution.