The authors of the Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide – 2022, presented on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023 by the Anti-Defamation League, point to a disturbing trend of the “normalization of crazy conspirations” in public discourse in the United States.
The 22nd annual Antisemitism Worldwide Report, released by the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), has shed light on a disturbing trend. The report reveals that Haredi Jews, who are easily identifiable due to their religious attire, are the primary targets of antisemitic attacks in the Western world.
The report was released on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023 and highlights the prevalence of violent assaults against visibly identifiable Jews, including physical beatings, spitting, and objects being hurled at them. This troubling trend highlights the ongoing struggle against antisemitism in the Western world and the need for greater awareness and action to combat this hatred.
The report delves into numerous incidents of assaults reported in several cities, including New York, which has recorded the highest number of assaults in the United States, and London, which has seen the largest number of attacks in Europe. The study compares the occurrences of physical attacks on Jews, revealing that they tend to happen in specific areas in major urban centers, predominantly on the street or public transportation, rather than near or within synagogues or Jewish establishments. Most of these attacks appear to be unplanned.
The Report identifies Haredi Jews as the primary targets of antisemitic assaults due to their distinctive religious attire that makes them easily recognizable as Jews. In addition, they are often viewed as vulnerable and unlikely to retaliate, which makes them easier targets for perpetrators of hate crimes.
Although the assaults detailed in the Report are classified as antisemitic hate crimes, determining the exact motivations of the attackers is complex. The perpetrators may be driven by deeply rooted antisemitism, animosity towards Israel, a tendency towards bullying, or even a combination of these factors. The exact motivation behind each attack may not be clear, but the impact of such violence is significant and underlines the ongoing battle against hate crimes targeting Jews.
The analysis shows “that effective policing, indictments, and educational campaigns in a small number of urban areas in various Western countries can lead to a significant reduction in the number of violent antisemitic attacks. The fight against antisemitism must include more practical, measurable, and transparent objectives and fewer declarations and cries of ‘Gevald!’,” remarks Prof. Uriya Shavit, Head of the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University.
According to Dr. Carl Yonker, Senior Researcher at the Center who spearheaded the study on the nature of antisemitic attacks, it was disconcerting to uncover that certain members of the Haredi community view antisemitism as an inevitable occurrence for Jews in the diaspora. In some cases, they even attribute blame to their fellow community members for their predicament.
During fieldwork conducted in London, Dr. Yonker found this perception among some members of the Haredi community, highlighting the complexity of addressing the issue of antisemitism within the Jewish community itself. Such attitudes underscore the need for greater education and awareness-raising efforts to combat the normalization of hate and intolerance, according to the expert.
“The data contained in this survey is very troubling,” comments Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
“It is alarming to see the significant increase in antisemitic incidents and trends across the US and in several other countries. Equally concerning is that, unlike in 2021, there were no specific events which can be linked to a rise in antisemitism, which speaks to the deeply-seated nature of Jew Hatred around the world.”
The Annual Report on antisemitism worldwide reveals a stark contrast in the number of antisemitic incidents in different countries in 2022. While some countries experienced a decline in such incidents, others saw a sharp rise in cases.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the United States recorded a staggering 3,697 incidents of antisemitism in 2022, compared to 2,717 in the previous year, which was also a record year for hate crimes. The NYPD registered 261 hate crimes against Jews, marking an increase from 214 incidents in 2021, while the LAPD recorded 86 incidents in 2022, compared to 79 in 2021. The Chicago Police also reported an increase in hate crimes against Jews, with 38 incidents in 2022, compared to just 8 in the previous year.
The authors of the Report have drawn attention to a troubling trend of the “normalization of crazy conspirations” in public discourse in the United States. According to the report, the dissemination of antisemitic propaganda by white supremacists in the US has increased significantly, with a total of 852 incidents recorded in 2022 – almost triple the number reported in the previous year.
The Report also reveals a rise in the number of recorded antisemitic incidents in several Western countries, including Belgium, Hungary, Italy, and Australia, in comparison to the previous year. In Belgium, for instance, 17 antisemitic attacks were reported in 2022, a significant increase from just 3 in 2021 – the highest number recorded since 2016 when seven attacks were reported.
In contrast, some other countries, including Germany, Austria, France, the UK, Canada, and Argentina, witnessed a decrease in the number of antisemitic incidents in 2022 compared to the previous year. In Germany, for example, 2,649 “political crimes with an antisemitic background” were documented, lower than the record high of 3,028 in 2021 but still considerably higher than the figures for 2020 and 2019. Similarly, France recorded 436 incidents in 2022, down from 589 in 2021, 339 in 2020, and 687 in 2019.
Prof. Shavit and Dr. Yonker have suggested that the high numbers of antisemitic incidents recorded in 2021 were partly linked to the social tensions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the reactions to Israel’s military operation in Gaza, “Guardian of the Walls.” However, the alarming data for 2022 indicates that the roots of the current wave of antisemitism may run deeper, particularly in the United States.
According to the authors, three factors intertwine to fuel this trend: intensified social and cultural tensions, the rise of radicalism from both right- and left-wing perspectives, and the proliferation of “echo chambers” on social media. In such spaces, conspiracy theories can quickly spread and be treated as undeniable truths, exacerbating the spread of hate and misinformation.
“A reality in which big companies make big money by spreading big lies must be rectified,” adds Prof. Shavit.
The Report reviews the situation in Russia and raises concerns about troubling antisemitic comments made by officials and intellectuals close to the Putin administration. It also notes the regime’s cynical distortion of the memory of the Holocaust, which is a cause for alarm.
The authors of the Report warn that such actions raise concerns that Russian Jews may become scapegoats for the regime’s military setbacks in Ukraine.
“Fascists are never reliable allies for religious minorities or in the fight for human rights,” points out the Report.
The Report contains two in-depth essays that examine the extreme antisemitic propaganda promoted by the Houthis in Yemen and two small antisemitic parties that secured seats in the upper house of the Japanese Parliament.
“In 2022 it was demonstrated once again that antisemitism does not require any real Jewish presence or direct rivalry with Israel in order to find supporters,” adds the Report.
“Soul-searching is required in Israel as well. In recent months, several Jewish Members of Knesset have made chilling racist remarks that would have immediately terminated their careers in any other Western democracy,” adds Prof. Uriya Shavit.
“It is sad that this needs to be said on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, but Jewish racism is no better than any other kind of racism. It must be condemned, banned, and eradicated.”
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