Prejudice against or hatred of Jews - known as antisemitism - has plagued the world for more than 2,000 years.
A woman sits on a park bench marked "Only for Jews." Austria, ca. March 1938.
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM #11195/Institute of Contemporary History and Wiener Library Limited
Antisemitism is a barometer for the general health of a society—when hatred of Jews flourishes, other human rights are in danger. Today, there are signs of increasing antisemitism across the world, including hate speech, violence targeting Jews and Jewish institutions, and denial of the Holocaust. Militant Islamic groups with political power use language suggestive of genocide regarding the State of Israel. The president of Iran declared the Holocaust a "myth" and said Israel should be "wiped off the map." Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization, pledges in its founding covenant to "obliterate" Israel.
In the aftermath of the moral failures that made the Holocaust possible, we must remain alert to antisemitism, hatred, and all forms of bigotry.
VOICES ON ANTISEMITISM
An audio series and podcast service that features a broad range of perspectives about antisemitism and hatred today. Join us every other week to hear a new program.
A Dangerous Lie: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion A Dangerous Lie: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion explores the continuing impact of the most widely distributed antisemitic publication of modern times. Despite countless exposures of the Protocols as a fraud, the myth of a Jewish world conspiracy has retained incredible power for Nazis and others who seek to spread hatred of Jews. Today, technology has made the Protocols available to anyone with Internet access, and it continues to be circulated by those who promote hatred, violence, and even genocide. Exhibition opens on April 21.
To learn more about the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, browse this timeline.
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Daniel Greene, curator of "A Dangerous Lie: Protocols of the Elders of Zion," talks about the new USHMM exhibition.
Antisemitism: How Deep are the Roots? The Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies is actively engaged in supporting scholarly research on antisemitism and in organizing programming to educate university faculty, students, and the general public about the nature, history, and consequences of antisemitism.
Online Exhibition Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race In the early 20th century, as science and technology were becoming more prevalent, the "science" of eugenics began to provide a basis for defining Jews as biologically inferior. Under the Nazis, racial eugenics gave "scientific" legitimacy to their effort to destroy the "inferior races" to purify their "master race."
The troubling resurgence of antisemitism in many parts of the world today is cause for concern, but also a reminder of the importance of understanding the history of this longstanding, complex phenomenon.
Fred S. Zeidman, Chairman, United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Testimony before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (June 16, 2004)
Let me begin today by thanking the chairman and the members of the commission for holding this hearing, and for inviting me to testify. As chair of the governing council of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, I pledge that we will continue to work side-by-side with the commission to fight antisemitism and to warn of the dangers it presents.
This listing of news stories and other articles is provided in order to promote discussion of antisemitism in history and the manifestations of antisemitism in our own day. The opinions expressed within these articles are solely those of the authors. Inclusion within the listing does not represent endorsement by the USHMM.
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