Growing Anti-Semitism Threatens Jews Everywhere

It’s no secret that anti-Semitism is on the rise in many parts of the world. From Europe to the United States, Jewish people are facing increasing levels of hatred and discrimination. This was highlighted recently when a tweet from an anonymous user proclaimed “I’m soooo Jewish. Like, Jewlots!” The post quickly went viral, and while some users responded positively, many others responded with hateful comments and even death threats. This incident is just one example of how pervasive anti-Semitism has become in recent years. In Europe, hate crimes against Jews have been steadily increasing since 2015. In Germany alone, there were over 1,500 reported incidents in 2018 – a 20% increase from 2017. Similarly, in the United States there has been a sharp rise in anti-Semitic attacks since 2016. Last year saw a 37% increase from 2017 figures with over 1,000 reported incidents nationwide. The situation is particularly worrying for younger generations of Jews who may not have experienced such levels of hostility before now. With social media playing an increasingly prominent role in our lives it can be difficult to escape the negative messages about Judaism that are being spread online every day. This can lead to feelings of isolation and fear among young people who may not feel safe expressing their faith or culture publicly for fear of reprisal or ridicule from their peers or strangers alike. In light of this growing trend it is more important than ever for governments around the world to take action against hate speech and bigotry wherever it occurs – both online and offline – and ensure that all citizens are able to practice their faith without fear or intimidation regardless of their religious beliefs or background.