Updated: February 16, 2021
Originally Published: March 18, 2018
As a Jewish individual in America, I have experienced discrimination firsthand. While it may seem fortunate that I’ve only encountered anti-Semitic slurs a few times, each incident is etched deeply in my memory. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I am acutely aware that being a Jewish woman can make me a target for hatred and violence. However, never has this awareness been more pronounced than in the past year.
The atmosphere in our nation has become increasingly charged with extremism and intolerance, with white nationalism gaining traction like never before. Over the last six months, I have witnessed two alarming acts of anti-Semitism. One occurred at my son’s school, where a classmate asserted that Hitler “wasn’t so bad” and suggested that Jews deserved the horrors of the Holocaust. The other incident happened on the subway, where my 5-year-old, learning to read, stumbled upon an anti-Semitic term. I quickly moved my children to another seat, feeling a wave of nausea at the sheer horror of the moment.
I am not alone in my experiences. A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) revealed that anti-Semitic incidents surged nearly 60% in 2017, marking the highest annual increase since they began tracking these incidents in 1979. This spike left me feeling sickened and vulnerable.
In total, the ADL recorded 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, a staggering 57% rise from the previous year. These incidents encompassed physical assaults, harassment, threats against Jewish institutions, and vandalism. Notably, K-12 schools reported the highest number of incidents, with 457 cases—a 94% increase from 2016. ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt expressed deep concern over the rise in anti-Semitic incidents affecting students, noting that many cases remain unreported.
Harassment instances also saw a rise, totaling 1,015, which included a dramatic increase in bomb threats directed at Jewish institutions, including daycare centers. These threats alone surged by 101%. For the first time in a decade, incidents were reported in all 50 states, with areas having significant Jewish populations, such as New York and California, showing the largest increases.
It is crucial to underscore that these figures represent only those incidents reported to the ADL; many individuals are too fearful to come forward. The rise in anti-Semitic incidents is a reflection of the current climate of hatred that affects various minority groups, not just Jews.
Greenblatt remarked on the confluence of events in 2017 that fueled this rise—ranging from bomb threats and cemetery vandalism to the rallying of white supremacists in Charlottesville and bullying in schools. He highlighted the growing incivility and the empowerment of hate groups as factors contributing to these troubling developments.
What Can Be Done?
What can be done to address this situation? The ADL emphasizes the importance of reporting and exposing these hateful acts for what they are. Everyone, including educators, law enforcement, government officials, and everyday citizens, must strive to prevent such incidents from recurring. For more specific actions the ADL supports, you can refer to their press release.
It is imperative that we acknowledge the reality of these daily occurrences. This is not an exaggeration; it is the world we inhabit now. Hate and extremism are impacting all minorities, and the situation seems unlikely to improve soon.
Yet, I hold onto hope. In the words of Anne Frank, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” I envision a different world for my children—a world free from hatred. We can, must, and will strive for better.
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