HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-06 Human Relations Commission Agenda PacketHUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Special Meeting
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Embarcadero Room at the Rinconada Library (1213 Newell
Rd, Palo Alto) & Hybrid
6:00 PM
Human Relations Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to
attend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while still
maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participate
from home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the
meeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending in
p e r s o n . T h e m e e t i n g w i l l b e b r o a d c a s t l i v e o n
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and available to view after the meeting on
the Midpen Media Center website https://midpenmedia.org. Commissioner names, biographies,
and archived agendas and reports are available at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/City‐
Hall/Boards‐Commissions/Human‐Relations‐Commission.
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/91994548701)
Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone: 1(669)900‐6833
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an
amount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes
after the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to
HRC@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the
City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject
line.
PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only
by email to HRC@cityofpaloalto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the
Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong
cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not
accepted.
Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks,
posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not
create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when
displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or
passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT
Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda.
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
The Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1.Discussion and consideration of recommendations from the ad‐hoc subcommittees
reviewing community input from the Voices of Our Community Listening Sessions on
Local Experiences of Islamophobia/Anti‐Arab Hate and Anti‐Semitism. – Chair Eberle –
Action (120 minutes)
A. Presentation of the Memorandum
B. Questions from the Commission to the Ad‐Hoc Public Safety and Inclusion &
Belonging Subcommittees and Staff
C. Public Comment
D. Discussion and Consideration of Recommendations
E. HRC Recommendations
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS AND
AGENDAS
Members of the public may not speak to the item(s)
ADJOURNMENT
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email,
teleconference, or by phone.
1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to hrc@cityofpaloalto.org.
2. Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the
teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐
based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully.
You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using
your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 ,
Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in
older browsers including Internet Explorer.
You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you
identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you
that it is your turn to speak.
When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will
activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they
are called to speak.
When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be
shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.
3. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted through the
teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto
your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID
below. Please follow the instructions B‐E above.
4. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When
you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to
speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the
Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your
remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone:1‐669‐900‐6833
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public
programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with
disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary
aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at
(650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or
accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or
service.
1 Special Meeting March 06, 2024
Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Board after distribution of the agenda packet are
available for public inspection at www.CityofPaloAlto.org.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONSpecial MeetingWednesday, March 06, 2024Embarcadero Room at the Rinconada Library (1213 NewellRd, Palo Alto) & Hybrid6:00 PMHuman Relations Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option toattend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while stillmaintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participatefrom home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in themeeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending inp e r s o n . T h e m e e t i n g w i l l b e b r o a d c a s t l i v e o nYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and available to view after the meeting onthe Midpen Media Center website https://midpenmedia.org. Commissioner names, biographies,and archived agendas and reports are available at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/City‐Hall/Boards‐Commissions/Human‐Relations‐Commission. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/91994548701)Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSPublic comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or anamount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutesafter the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance toHRC@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on theCity’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subjectline.PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted onlyby email to HRC@cityofpaloalto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strongcybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are notaccepted.
Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks,
posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not
create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when
displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or
passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT
Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda.
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
The Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1.Discussion and consideration of recommendations from the ad‐hoc subcommittees
reviewing community input from the Voices of Our Community Listening Sessions on
Local Experiences of Islamophobia/Anti‐Arab Hate and Anti‐Semitism. – Chair Eberle –
Action (120 minutes)
A. Presentation of the Memorandum
B. Questions from the Commission to the Ad‐Hoc Public Safety and Inclusion &
Belonging Subcommittees and Staff
C. Public Comment
D. Discussion and Consideration of Recommendations
E. HRC Recommendations
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS AND
AGENDAS
Members of the public may not speak to the item(s)
ADJOURNMENT
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email,
teleconference, or by phone.
1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to hrc@cityofpaloalto.org.
2. Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the
teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐
based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully.
You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using
your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 ,
Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in
older browsers including Internet Explorer.
You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you
identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you
that it is your turn to speak.
When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will
activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they
are called to speak.
When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be
shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.
3. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted through the
teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto
your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID
below. Please follow the instructions B‐E above.
4. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When
you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to
speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the
Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your
remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone:1‐669‐900‐6833
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public
programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with
disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary
aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at
(650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or
accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or
service.
2 Special Meeting March 06, 2024
Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Board after distribution of the agenda packet are
available for public inspection at www.CityofPaloAlto.org.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONSpecial MeetingWednesday, March 06, 2024Embarcadero Room at the Rinconada Library (1213 NewellRd, Palo Alto) & Hybrid6:00 PMHuman Relations Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option toattend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while stillmaintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participatefrom home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in themeeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending inp e r s o n . T h e m e e t i n g w i l l b e b r o a d c a s t l i v e o nYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and available to view after the meeting onthe Midpen Media Center website https://midpenmedia.org. Commissioner names, biographies,and archived agendas and reports are available at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/City‐Hall/Boards‐Commissions/Human‐Relations‐Commission. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/91994548701)Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSPublic comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or anamount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutesafter the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance toHRC@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on theCity’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subjectline.PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted onlyby email to HRC@cityofpaloalto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strongcybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are notaccepted.Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks,posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do notcreate a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated whendisplaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view orpassage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALLPUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda.AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONSThe Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management.BUSINESS ITEMS1.Discussion and consideration of recommendations from the ad‐hoc subcommitteesreviewing community input from the Voices of Our Community Listening Sessions onLocal Experiences of Islamophobia/Anti‐Arab Hate and Anti‐Semitism. – Chair Eberle –Action (120 minutes)A. Presentation of the Memorandum B. Questions from the Commission to the Ad‐Hoc Public Safety and Inclusion &Belonging Subcommittees and Staff C. Public CommentD. Discussion and Consideration of RecommendationsE. HRC RecommendationsCOMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS ANDAGENDAS
Members of the public may not speak to the item(s)
ADJOURNMENT
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email,
teleconference, or by phone.
1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to hrc@cityofpaloalto.org.
2. Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the
teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐
based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully.
You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using
your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 ,
Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in
older browsers including Internet Explorer.
You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you
identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you
that it is your turn to speak.
When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will
activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they
are called to speak.
When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be
shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.
3. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted through the
teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto
your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID
below. Please follow the instructions B‐E above.
4. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When
you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to
speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the
Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your
remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone:1‐669‐900‐6833
Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public
programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with
disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary
aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at
(650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or
accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or
service.
3 Special Meeting March 06, 2024
Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Board after distribution of the agenda packet are
available for public inspection at www.CityofPaloAlto.org.
TO: Human Relations Commission
FROM: Minka van der Zwaag, Manager
Office of Human Services
DATE: March 4, 2024
SUBJECT: Discussion and Consideration of Recommendations from the Adhoc Human
Relations Commission Subcommittees Reviewing Community Input from the
Voices of our Community Listening Sessions on Local Experiences of
Islamophobia/Anti-Arab Hate and Anti-Semitism.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This memorandum transmits the proposed recommendations from the Human Relations
Commission (HRC) Adhoc Subcommittees reviewing Community Input from the Voices of our
Community Listening Sessions on Local Experiences of Islamophobia/Anti-Arab Hate and Anti-
Semitism. The Listening Sessions were hosted by the HRC in late 2023 and early 2024.
RECOMMENDED ACTION AT THIS MEETING
The Inclusion & Belonging and Public Safety Adhoc Subcommittees (subcommittee) of the
Human Relations Commission (HRC) are forwarding the following recommendations to the full
commission for its review, consideration and action.
Inclusion & Belonging:
1. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct staff to implement training regarding
religious tolerance/anti-discrimination as part of its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and
Belonging (DEIB) training for city employees, boards and commissions.
2. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct staff to create a YouTube video, and
implement a social media campaign on the “Palo Alto Way” highlighting the City’s Equity
Mission Statement. This video/campaign would highlight City’s resources such as the “Know
Your Neighbors” grants.
3. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct staff to add all major holidays, of all
faith communities, to the community calendars.
Community Services Department Memorandum
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Packet Pg. 4
4. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to look into the
legality of sponsoring religious holiday celebrations. This recommendation might be added
to the work that the City is already doing regarding the holiday framework the HRC
previously recommended.
Public Safety:
The subcommittee recommends that the HRC:
1. Implement, manage and participate in the formation of an ongoing interfaith
community advisory group to build bridges between the communities in everyday life,
the schools, and the libraries. This Group will meet immediately, hold ongoing monthly
and longer-term quarterly sessions.
2. Appoint a faith liaison to the Palo Alto Police Department with clarification of key
contacts within the department for the faith-based communities.
3. Convene a safety and security meeting in Spring 2024 with representatives of local,
regional and national law enforcement with city leadership with together with experts
in the field such as the Secure Community Network, the resource for the Jewish
Community in the US.
BACKGROUND
Recognizing the gravity of the increasing experiences of fear and bias faced by Jewish and
Muslim/Arab community members, the HRC hosted a series of community listening sessions in
late 2023/early 2024. These sessions were dedicated to understanding these groups' specific,
local experiences; reflecting the HRC’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive
community. To ensure a safe and respectful environment for all participants, the HRC decided
to conduct separate listening sessions for the Muslim/Arab and Jewish communities. This
approach aimed to provide a space where individuals could openly share their personal
experiences and perspectives without feeling the pressure of an adversarial setting.
The following Listening Sessions were held:
• Voices of Our Community (Listening Session): Local Muslim and Arab Experiences in the
face of rising Islamophobia and Anti-Arab hate – December 6, 2023
• Voices of Our Community (Listening Session): Local Jewish Experiences in the face of
rising Anti-Semitism – January 11, 2024
During each Listening Session, a panel of three individuals presented greater context to the local
issues and concerns of each community and presented recommendations for the City to address
the issues they are facing (see Attachment A & B). This was followed by the sharing of personal
experiences by individuals during public comment time. Some of the experiences shared
include:
• Being afraid to identify with their culture, religion or heritage, especially in public
settings
• Harassment experienced by local students based on their religion or heritage
• Hate incidences
• Feeling unsafe at one’s place of worship
• Feeling unsupported by the larger Palo Alto community
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Packet Pg. 5
• Graffiti/symbols of hate seen around town
At its February 8, 2024 meeting, the HRC discussed how best to address the concerns and
recommendations brought forward at the Listening Sessions. Since the Commission had
previously established adhoc subcommittees to address issues related to Inclusion & Belonging
and Public Safety, they assigned these two subcommittees to bring back recommendations to
the next HRC meeting.
Reports from Adhoc Subcommittees:
Inclusion & Belonging Subcommittee: (Chair Eberle, Commissioner Hsieh, Commissioner
Stimmler)
The subcommittee focused on the lived experiences of Palo Alto residents and the ways in
which the city could create a more inclusive experience for Jewish and Arab, Muslim, Middle
Eastern residents. The HRC began their process by listening to the Jewish, Arab, Muslim, and
Palestinian communities through listening sessions. All emails to the Chair by community
members were reviewed and meeting requests were acknowledged. The subcommittee then
compiled a list of all requested Commission and City actions that were made by speakers, public
comment, or were in materials shared with the Commission. The subcommittee committed to
the following principles in evaluating this list of actions:
• Inclusion. The intent of the subcommittee was to create actions that broadened a sense
of inclusion for Jewish and Arab, Muslim, and Middle Eastern residents during a time when
many felt excluded or devalued due to their religious and/or ethnic identities. The intent
was to build bridges and not create more division within our community.
• Locally focused. Many people in our community are concerned about the safety and
security of their community members abroad. However, the subcommittee focused on ways
of supporting these communities locally. As a city we are best able to help people with the
daily, local experiences where the city has jurisdiction. We asked ourselves how can the city
provide support to these communities.
• Legality. The subcommittee took seriously the need to keep separation between church
and state and therefore did not recommend any city support for religious activities. The
subcommittee also took into consideration the need to protect freedom of speech and
avoid censorship.
• Expediency. Members of the Jewish and Arab/Muslim/Middle Eastern communities
need the HRC to act quickly because of the immediate impact global events are having on
their experience. For this reason, the subcommittee focused on ways it could use existing
resources and channels, rather than creating new ones which would add significant
bureaucracy and delays.
• Complementarity. The subcommittee recognizes that there are numerous cultural and
religious institutions in Palo Alto who can and should continue to provide community
members with cultural events and other support to our community. We do not want to
duplicate or replace those efforts.
• Tangible impact. The subcommittee looked for actions that would have a real positive
impact, rather than “performative” actions in which words are prioritized over actions.
• Avoiding duplication. The subcommittee avoided actions that were unnecessary due to
existing programs or policies (e.g. existing anti-discrimination laws and hate crime laws).
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Packet Pg. 6
Recommendations for HRC Consideration:
1. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct staff to implement training
regarding religious tolerance/anti-discrimination as part of its Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) training for city employees, boards and
commissions.
2. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct staff to create a YouTube video,
and implement a social media campaign on the “Palo Alto Way” highlighting the
City’s Equity Mission Statement. This video/campaign would highlight City’s
resources such as the “Know Your Neighbors” grants.
3. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct staff to add all major holidays, of
all faith communities, to the community calendars.
4. The HRC recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to look into the
legality of sponsoring religious holiday celebrations. This recommendation might be
added to the work that the City is already doing regarding the holiday framework
the HRC previously recommended.
Public Safety Subcommittee: (Vice Chair Kraus, Commissioner Causey, Commissioner Savage)
The Public Safety Subcommittee carefully reviewed both listening sessions, all the materials
provided, and external sources of information. Both communities have been affected by the
post October 7th climate that has brought hate to their doorsteps in Palo Alto. This city has
always been a place of great diversity, tolerance and understanding – and hopefully can move
forward in Unity.
There has been an appalling escalation of hate incidents throughout the United States, and
particularly in the Bay area.
Antisemitism has grown 361% since October 7, 2023 (ADL)1 and has touched over 61% of Jews
in the Bay area (JWeekly)2.
Complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian discrimination and hate in the U.S. rose by about
180% in the three months after October 7…. (Reuters)3.
In response, the White House has issued guidelines and resources for the increase in Antisemitic
and Islamophobic Events at Schools and on College Campuses.
The President stated, “We can’t stand by and stand silent (in the wake of Antisemitic and
Islamophobic incidents). We must, without equivocation, denounce Antisemitism. We must
also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia.” (Fact Sheet, November 14, 2023)4.
1 https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/us-antisemitic-incidents-skyrocketed-360-aftermath-attack-israel-
according
2 https://jweekly.com/2023/12/21/most-bay-area-jews-are-more-fearful-since-oct-7-survey-finds/
3 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/anti-muslim-incidents-jump-us-amid-israel-gaza-war-2024-01-29/
4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/11/14/fact-sheet-biden-harris-
administration-takes-action-to-address-alarming-rise-of-reported-antisemitic-and-islamophobic-events-at-
schools-and-on-college-campuses/
1
Packet Pg. 7
The subcommittee hears the fear expressed by both groups, and acknowledge the dramatic rise
in Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and overall Hate since October 7 of last year.
As a result, the subcommittee recommends that the HRC:
1. Implement, manage and participate in the formation of an ongoing interfaith
community advisory group to build bridges between the communities in everyday life,
the schools, and the libraries. This Group will meet immediately, hold ongoing monthly
and longer-term quarterly sessions. (Taken from the Mayor’s Guide, Implementing the
US National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism jointly developed by The United States
Conference of Mayors and the American Jewish Community).
The purpose of this Group is to promote the return of religious and cultural tolerance within
the city; encourage continued conversation with cultural sharing; and develop a longer-term
plan to combat hate to keep Palo Alto secure and safe.
2. Appoint a faith liaison to the Palo Alto police department with clarification of key
contacts within the department for faith-based communities.
The premise is to encourage the reporting of incidents in both communities and lower the
more subtle micro aggressions experienced within both communities.
3. Convene a safety and security meeting in the Spring 2024 with representatives of local,
regional, and national law enforcement with city leadership together with experts in the
field such as the Secure Community Network – the resource for the Jewish community in the
US.
The purpose of such a meeting is to educate, train, and share information that fosters
knowledge on safety and security.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Voices of Our Community (Listening Session): Local Muslim and Arab
Experiences in the face of rising Islamophobia and Anti-Arab hate – December 6, 2023 (Full
meeting packet)
Attachment B: Voices of Our Community (Listening Session): Local Jewish Experiences in the
face of rising Anti-Semitism – January 11, 2024 (Full meeting packet)
1
Packet Pg. 8
Rising Islamophobia and
Anti-Arab hate. Let’s Talk
about Racism.
Challenging Stereotypes, Building Bridges: Addressing the Surge in
Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate
Attachment A
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Packet Pg. 9
Human Relations Commission Mission
“... promote the just and fair treatment of
all people in Palo Alto”
1
Packet Pg. 10
Bigotry against Palestinians and Islamophobia
- Recent Acts of Hate
Murder of a 6 year old boy, Wadea
Al-Fayoume
Three Palestinian college students shot
in Vermont
1
Packet Pg. 11
How Does this Affect us here in Palo Alto?
●Fear of Speaking Up
●Fear of advocating for Palestinian Human Rights
●Fear of being called “Terrorist”
○Our identities are unjustly conflated with terrorism
■PAUSD Resolution : “WHEREAS, Muslim and
MENA, and especially our Palestinian PAUSD
students and families, whose cultural
self-expression and very identity are routinely
conflated with terrorism, are feeling targeted,
and report experiencing hatred, silencing,
intimidation and exclusionary behaviors in our
elementary, middle and high schools;”
■Regular Board Meeting - November 14, 2023
●Afraid to identify with our culture, religion or heritage
●Fear of being doxxed, threatened, or harassed
The effects go beyond the Arab, Muslim, and
Palestinian communities. It affects ALL of us,
regardless of ethnic background, race, or
religion. When people fear being silenced,
called names, and fear for their own personal
safeties, it isolates communities and
dehumanizes them.
Silence from Community leader further
worsens this
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Mental Health Effects
●Over 60% of American Muslims have reported experiencing at
least one instance of religious discrimination
●Living through Islamophobia is associated with poorer mental
health outcomes in both Muslims and those perceived to be
Muslim.
●Discrimination due to Muslim identity is associated with a greater
number of depressive symptoms, fear and anxiety, lower
self-esteem, and overall psychological distress.
●56% of Muslim school-age respondents reported feeling unsafe at
school and 20% of them reported missing school due to these
feelings
Rania Awaad, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford
University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford
Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab
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Personal Story of being a Palo
Alto Muslim
●Previously, always felt included and
comfortable.
●Would read Ramadan story before
winter break at Walter Hays
●Truly felt Palo Alto was a utopia
●Different now - This is the most
fearful time since living in Palo Alto
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How can the HRC Help Us?
●Official Recognition of Ramadan and Eid Holidays
●Cultural and Literary Festivals
○Highlight Muslim and Arab authors
○Highlight prominent American Muslim figures past and
present (eg Muhammad Ali, Hasan Minhaj)
○Highlight Muslim artists and musicians
○Annual Palo Alto city sponsored community Iftar
(Ramadan) dinner
○Eid festivals
●Education
○On Islam, Ramadan, and Fasting
○Teach-ins for local teachers on Islamic and Arab History
●Safety
○Liaison with Police department
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How can the HRC Help Us?
●City Council Support
○Stronger condemnation of Islamophobia, Anti-Arab, and
Anti-Palestinian racism
○Palestinian Cultural Day Proclamation May 15, 2023
●Adoption of anti-racism and anti-hate definitions along with
community education
○Anti-Palestinian racism
■Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and
Manifestations by Arab Canadian Lawyers
Association
■Anti-Palestinian Racism
○Islamophobia
■A Working Definition of Islamophobia - Presented at
Human Rights Council
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Thank you
We appreciate that you have given
our community a voice.
1
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1
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Palo Alto:
The Jewish Experience and Recommendations
Palo Alto Human Relations Commission
Listening Session with the Jewish Community
January 11 , 2024
Speaker:
Rabbi David Booth
Attachment B 1
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Speaker:
Sarith Honigstein
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Los Altos ,
October 2023
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Los Altos ,
October 2023
Woodside ,
October 2023
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Israel Flag burned El Cerrito , January 2024
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El Cerrito , January 2024
Stanford , October 2023
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Palo Alto ,
December 2023
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Oakland , November 2023
Speaker:
Lori Meyers
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ANTISEMITISM NOWAntisemitism In the Community
Pennies thrown and “Hitler didn’t
finish the job”, 2012
“They are stupid Jews,” 2013
Pennies thrown, recent
Antisemitism
Antisemitism in the Library
Organization promoted on
Palo Alto Library website, May 2021 Author promoted by staff member on
Palo Alto Library website, Oct 2023
More Antisemitism
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26
Excerpts from “Handala’s Return,” TK -3rd
Grade lesson, “From Oakland to Gaza” Teac
In, 12/2023
Antisemitism In Our Lives
Antisemitic image 3rd-
5th Grade lesson, “From
Oakland to Gaza”
Teach -In, 12/2023
And More Antisemitism
Social media post, upcoming
“Teach -In”, 1/2024
The “Palo Alto” WayThe “Palo Alto” Way
City of Palo Alto Proclamation,
October 2023
Junior Museum and Zoo helping
Jewish children, October 2023
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28
Recommendation #1: Implement the
U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
U.S. National Strategy -Pillar 1
U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism:
Pillar 1
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30
U.S. National Strategy -Pillar 1
U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism:
Pillar 2
U.S. National Strategy -Pillar 1
U.S. National Strategy: Pillar 3
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32
U.S. National Strategy -Pillar 1
U.S. National Strategy: Pillar 4
Recommendation #2: Bring Us Together
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A Mayor’s Guide to Countering Antisemitism:
Implementing the U.S. National
Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
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The U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism outlines a whole-of-
society effort to address anti-Jewish hate. *The Strategy stands on four pillars,
each of which present opportunities for mayors who are often on the front line
of combating antisemitism, protecting Jewish communities, and supporting
American values. This guide provides suggestions for possible actions mayors
could take to implement the four pillars.
A Mayor’s Guide to Countering Antisemitism:
Implementing the U.S. National
Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
*In many ways, the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism mirrors AJC’s Call to Action Against Antisemitism in America1, a
guide for all sectors of society to understand, respond to, and prevent antisemitism, released in September 2022.
1AJC.org/CallToAction
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Pillar 1
Increase awareness
and understanding
of antisemitism,
including its
threat to America,
and broaden
appreciation of
Jewish American
heritage
The Strategy reaffirms the U.S. government's embrace of
the non-legally binding ‘working definition’ of antisemitism
adopted in 2016 by the 31-member states of the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
ADOPT OR ENDORSE the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
Working Definition of Antisemitism2, a proven,
flexible tool embraced by more than half of U.S.
states and dozens of local municipalities3.
UTILIZE THE IHRA WORKING DEFINITION OF
ANTISEMITISM to deepen awareness amongst
educators, members of law enforcement,
prosecutors, and others. The U.S. Departments
of Education and State have used the definition
for years. Here4 is information on how several
European agencies are using the definition5.
The Strategy calls on state and local governments to
utilize materials published by Jewish organizations
to help identify antisemitic tropes, words, and
symbols that can hide in plain sight.
SHARE AJC’S TRANSLATE HATE GLOSSARY
which helps identify and expose antisemitic tropes,
words, and symbols. Mayors and departments
of education can share Translate Hate6 on
their websites for educators and constituents.
Urge public libraries to offer copies.
The Strategy calls on state and local leaders to celebrate
the positive contributions Jewish Americans have made,
particularly by highlighting International Holocaust
Remembrance Day and Jewish American Heritage Month.
PLAN FOR JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH,
which occurs in May. AJC offers many resources
specifically designed to help mayors celebrate Jewish
American Heritage Month7, including talking points,
customizable social media posts, and template
press releases. AJC can also help plan community
events in partnership with elected officials.
ACKNOWLEDGE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST
REMEMBRANCE DAY, designated by the UN to
take place annually on January 27. Mayors can
issue public statements8, use the opportunity
to encourage Holocaust education, and hold
community events reaffirming the fundamental
guiding lesson of the Holocaust: never again.
2AJC.org/the-working-definition-of-antisemitism
3AJC.org/use-of-the-working-definition-in-the-us
4AJC.org/employing-the-working-definition
5AJC.org/employing-the-working-definition
6AJC.org/TranslateHate
7AJC.org/JewishAmericanHeritageMonth
8AJC.org/InternationalHolocastRememberanceDay
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The Strategy calls on states and localities to
offer trainings to help people understand Jewish
communities, antisemitism, and ways to counter
antisemitism in their neighborhoods.
PARTNER WITH AJC TO PLAN TRAININGS for
elected officials, law enforcement, corporations,
sports teams, higher education institutions, and
nonprofits to help them recognize antisemitism, raise
awareness, and address it using a variety of tools. To
schedule a training, contact antisemitism@ajc.org.
The Strategy calls on state and local governments to
strengthen education on Jewish history, antisemitism,
and the Holocaust, by encouraging studies to assess how
effectively school districts are teaching the Holocaust, and
creating councils on Holocaust and genocide education.
SEE HOW YOUR STATE COMPARES. Thirty-nine
states9 have some sort of Holocaust education and
yet most Millennials and Gen Z lack basic knowledge.
Short of mandatory Holocaust education, state
and local governments can urge formal or informal
educational opportunities. AJC’s resource on Holocaust
education highlights legislative guidelines and best
practices for teaching Holocaust education10.
The Strategy affirms that ethnic studies and history
curricula should include Jewish studies.
ENCOURAGE JEWISH REPRESENTATION IN
ETHNIC STUDIES CURRICULA. Lessons should
include Jewish religion and culture11,Jewish history,
and contributions to America12, Jewish diversity, and
contemporary antisemitism13. Because antisemitism
presents in unique forms, teachers should be
trained to teach about the topic accurately and
to be alert to its presence in the classroom.
9AJC.org/NeverAgain
10AJC.org/NeverAgain
11AJC.org/Culture
12AJC.org/JAHMTalkingPoints
13AJC.org/Issues/Antisemitism
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Pillar 2
Improve safety
and security
for Jewish
communities
The Strategy calls for increased coordination among
local government, law enforcement, and the Jewish
community. It cites AJC’s 2022 State of Antisemitism in
America report14 that says 63% of American Jews believe
law enforcement is effective in responding to the Jewish
community’s needs, a sharp drop from 81% in 2019.
ENSURE COLLABORATION. Ask your city’s
police chief to designate an appropriate senior
official to be a central point of contact for local
Jewish communities on security needs.
INVEST IN JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY.
Encourage religiously affiliated institutions to
apply for nonprofit security grants15 from the
Department of Homeland Security to fund security
training and physical security enhancements.
The Strategy calls on mayors, governors, and municipal
leaders to convene diverse networks of community
partners, including law enforcement, to discuss
antisemitism and promote hate crime reporting. Year
after year, Jews are the largest target of all religiously
motivated hate crimes, despite accounting for just 2% of
the U.S. population. Making matters worse, many hate
crimes go unreported to law enforcement by victims.
APPOINT A LIAISON. Designate a central
coordinator for Jewish and other faith communities,
especially as security needs arise. Many elected
leaders have Jewish advisory groups or interfaith/
interethnic taskforces. Using the National Strategy
as a model, consider an action plan to outline a
comprehensive city-wide strategy on antisemitism.
ENCOURAGE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES TO
REPORT HATE CRIMES. Local governments can
leverage Department of Justice (DOJ) resources
for hate crimes bias training and hotlines.
ENCOURAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTING.
Year after year, fewer and fewer law enforcement
agencies share hate crimes data with the FBI. It is
impossible to address hate crimes when we do not
understand their extent. Elected leaders should work
to ensure that all law enforcement agencies submit
hate crimes data to the FBI for its annual report.
14AJC.org/AntisemitismReport2022
15www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/nonprofit-security
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Pillar 3
Reverse the
normalization
of antisemitism
and counter
antisemitic
discrimination
The Strategy calls on elected leaders at all
levels to speak out against antisemitism and to
recognize and celebrate those in their communities
who speak out against antisemitism.
ISSUE UNEQUIVOCAL CONDEMNATIONS. As with
all hate crimes, when an incident occurs, elected
officials should speak out loudly and clearly using their
broad reach, affirming that antisemitism is not just a
Jewish problem, but an assault on American values.
DEPOLITICIZE THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM.
Bipartisanship is critical to American success in
countering hatred of Jews in the U.S. and abroad.
Politicians must call out hatred within their party,
before pointing fingers across the aisle.
The Strategy calls on state and local leaders to work with
Jewish and other religious communities to ensure that
calendars for public schools and elections consider the
major holidays of religious groups of all faith communities
and that appropriate religious accommodations are made.
ENCOURAGE OFFICIAL CALENDARS (schools,
elections, etc.) to consider major Jewish holidays16.
The Strategy calls on states, cities, and school districts
to expand media literacy education to address online
misinformation and disinformation related to antisemitism.
ENCOURAGE MEDIA LITERACY. A number of attacks
against Jews originated on social media. State and local
governments should promote media and digital literacy
and critical thinking, especially among educators.
16AJC.org/Culture
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Pillar 4
Build cross-
community
solidarity and
collective action
to counter hate
The Strategy states it is imperative that non-Jewish and
Jewish communities work together and stand up for each
other in order to counter antisemitism and other forms
of hate. A diversity of voices and actors signals that
antisemitism is not just a problem for Jews, but for all.
ENGAGE LEADERS IN COMMUNITY COALITIONS.
Elected officials should join in and lift up exemplary
cross-community partnerships like AJC’s Muslim-
Jewish Advisory Council17, Latino Jewish Leadership
Council18, and Christian-Jewish, Black/Jewish and other
coalitions in solidarity and action against antisemitism.
CREATE PREVENTION NETWORKS. Consider
implementing a program like Tackle!, a customized
curriculum to empower public officials to develop local
prevention frameworks to protect their communities
from threats motivated by extremism or bigotry.
Funded in part by a U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) grant, Tackle! is a partnership
between Muflehun19, a resource center, and AJC.
17AJC.org/MJAC
18AJC.org/LJLC
19www.muflehun.org
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The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM)
is the official non-partisan organization of cities
with populations of 30,000 or more. There
are more than 1,400 such cities in the country
today. Each city is represented in the Conference
by its chief elected official, the mayor.
For decades, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has had
policy opposing antisemitism and all forms of hate and
bigotry in American cities. Mayors are on the frontlines
of the fight against antisemitism, serving as a leading
voice against hate crimes in their communities and
directing their local police departments to collect
and report all hate crimes. In 2021, USCM and AJC
established the Mayors United Against Antisemitism20
initiative to unite leaders across the country in the
fight against antisemitism. More than 500 mayors
joined this effort, signing a statement declaring
that antisemitism is incompatible with fundamental
democratic values. Recently the Conference
established a page dedicated to Combating
Antisemitism21 on its website. The U.S. Conference
of Mayors remains committed to combating
antisemitism and all forms of hate in America’s cities.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global
advocacy organization for the Jewish people.
With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across
the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as
partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations
worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-
being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to
advance human rights and democratic values
in the United States and around the world.
Following the historic unveiling of the U.S.
National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
by the White House, AJC CEO Ted Deutch
announced the creation of the AJC Task Force to
Implement the U.S. National Strategy to Counter
Antisemitism. AJC’s Task Force is designed to
ensure the execution of the National Strategy,
which includes dozens of AJC’s recommendations
closely resembling AJC’s Call to Action Against
Antisemitism in America, in a meaningful and
timely manner. For more information on AJC’s
Task Force visit AJC.org/NationalStrategyNews.
20AJC.org/mayors
21www.usmayors.org/programs/mayors-and-business-leaders-
center-for-compassionate-and-equitable-cities/combating-
antisemitism
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American Jewish Committee | The Translate Hate Glossary | October 2021 1
AJC's glossary of
antisemitic terms,
phrases, conspiracies,
cartoons, themes,
and memes.
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Table of Contents
Introduction 3
B
blood libel 4
C
cabal 4
clannish 5
conspiracy theory 5
control 6
cosmopolitan elite 6
cowardice 7
creatures 7
D
deadly exchange 8
deicide 8
dual loyalty 9
E
(((echo))) 9
F
“From the River to the Sea” 10
G
globalist 10
“The Goyim Know” 11
greed 11
H
Holocough 12
Holocaust denial 13
I
Illuminati 14
J
Jewish capitalist 14
Jewish communist 15
Jew down 15
Jewish features 16
Jewish figures 16
Jewish lightning 17
Jewish lobby 17
Judas/30 pieces of silver 18
K
Khazars 18
Kike 19
kosher tax 19
N
New World Order 20
“not the real Jews” 20
P
poisoning the well 21
Protocols of the Elders of Zion 22
Q
QAnon 22
R
Rothschild 23
S
Satan 24
scapegoat 25
silencing 25
slavery / slave trade 26
smirking merchant 26
Soros 27
Z
“Zionism is racism” 27
Zionist / “Zio” 28
Zionist Occupied Government 29
Defining Antisemitism 30
How to Report Hate 32
Conclusion 33
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3
Introduction
Antisemitism is the hatred of Jews. But it is not only a
hatred and manifests itself in many different ways. It
includes medieval blood libel claims rooted in Christianity
and twentieth century conspiracy theories about Jewish
control of the world economy. It encompasses Holocaust
denial and distortion and virulent anti-Israel animus. It can
exist in places where Jews are prominent and visible and in
places where Jews themselves are entirely absent. It may
be present in physical encounters at work or on the street
or in the virtual world of the internet and social media. But
in order to combat antisemitism we must first understand
it. And that means we must define it in all its forms and
expressions, in ways both painfully evident and obscure.
In 2020, nine in ten American Jews believe that
antisemitism is a problem in the United States. Eight in
ten believe it has increased in the past five years. Their
concerns align with FBI data which show increased levels
of antisemitism in the U.S. However, non-Jews are largely
not aware of this increase. Only four in ten members
of the U.S. public believe antisemitism has increased in
the past five years. And maybe most startling, nearly
half (46%) of U.S. adults have not heard the term
antisemitism or have heard the term but do not know
what it means.
Translate Hate was created to explain antisemitism.
This glossary aims to improve media literacy on
antisemitism and hate, especially in the digital realm.
It offers a comprehensive list of terms and expressions
that will help you recognize antisemitism when you see
it. And once you recognize it, you can become part of
the global effort to fight it—and eliminate it.
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American Jewish Committee | The Translate Hate Glossary | October 2021 4
blood libel
noun \ 'bləd 'lī-bəl \
: perpetuated accusation that Jews have murdered non-Jews
(such as Christian children) in order to use their blood in rituals
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The blood libel charge—also known as the ritual murder
charge—has falsely accused Jews of killing and using the
blood of Christians for ritual purposes since the Middle Ages.
Blood libels were commonly spread before the Jewish holiday
of Passover, outrageously asserting that Jews “used the blood
of Christian children” as an ingredient in ritual breads—an
association linked to the ancient accusation that Jews are to
blame for the death of Jesus (see deicide).
In more contemporary times, blood libel charges evolved
into a widespread blame of Jews for unconnected murders
and other horrific crimes—including the modern rumors
of organ harvesting in Israel (see Figure B1) and Jews (or
Zionists) eating Palestinian children and drinking their blood
(see Figure B2).
As one of the longest-standing forms of antisemitism, blood
libels have led to horrific violence, destruction, persecution, and
massacres of Jewish people and communities—before, during,
and beyond the Nazi propaganda that used it to demonize
Jews. Despite its utter falsehood and its disavowal by Jews,
the Roman Catholic Church, and other nonreligious authorities,
blood libel remains an influential myth in the 21st century.
cabal
Noun \ kə'bäl \
: a small, powerful group that seeks to establish control
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Jews have long been accused of being part of a secret group
that controls the economic and political world order. The
term cabal originates from the word kabbalah, the Jewish
mystical interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. Often denoted as
“Jewish cabal” on social media, it is a dog whistle for Jewish
control (see control).
Several antisemitic publications and conspiracy theories
capitalize on this imagery of a conniving cohort, such as the
Protocols of the Elders of Zion or the New World Order theory
which is based on the idea that Jews have formed a power
structure in which they control the media, economy, and politics
(see Protocols of the Elders of Zion, New World Order).
B
C
Figure B2
An UNRWA teacher in Jordan
posted this cartoon on
Facebook showing a Jewish
person cutting up and eating a
Palestinian child while drinking
his blood, 2015.
Figure C1
A tweet shared in September
2020.
Figure B1
A headline from October 2018
referencing a blood libel charge
of Israel murdering Palestinian
children for their organs.
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American Jewish Committee | The Translate Hate Glossary | October 2021 5
clannish
theme \ 'klaniSH \
: of or relating to a clan; tending to associate only with a
select group of similar background or status
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Referring to Jews as clannish is an antisemitic stereotype
claiming that Jews only associate and do business with “their
own kind,” using their power to benefit other Jews and keep non-
Jews from having a fair chance. This accusation has been used to
label Jews as economically untrustworthy, aggressive, apathetic,
exclusive, and unaccepting of non-Jews and non-Jewish cultures.
Similarly, the conspiracy that global Jewish financial firms are
connected by family ties and work together in an unethical
manner is known as the “clannish” theory. This false claim
perpetuates the idea that Jews are “elitists” who work against
the interest of all non-Jews to gain wealth (see greed).
The nearly 200-year-old Rothschild conspiracy theory is an
example of how this “clannish” theme has fueled antisemitism
throughout history to the modern day. At its core, this theory
states that a secret clan of Jews under the leadership of the
Rothschild banking family has been manipulating currency and
global events for personal enrichment and world domination
(see Rothschild).
conspiracy theory
theme \ kən-'spir-ə-sē 'thē-ə-rē \
: a belief that some covert but influential organization is
responsible for a circumstance or event
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
From medieval times until the present day, conspiracy
theories have spread antisemitic beliefs that blame Jews for
the world’s worst tragedies. Jews were accused of poisoning
wells in 14th century Europe causing the Black Death and
in 21st century America, they were charged with being the
"hidden hand" responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Antisemitism, like all conspiracy theories, is irrational in nature—
unable to be explained by logic or sound reasoning. In his
1986 book Antisemitism in the Contemporary World, Michael
Curtis describes how no other group aside from Jews has been
blamed simultaneously for opposing phenomena: being an
insular yet cosmopolitan group; for being capitalists and behind
Communist revolutions; for being subhuman but also a chosen
people. To conspiracists, conspiracy theories are “self-sealing,”
meaning any attempt to dispel the theory with logic will serve
as evidence to the conspiracist of the theory’s existence.
Many conspiracy theories are rooted in the antisemitic myth
that Jews are the “hidden hand,” plotting to take over and
Figure C3
An antisemitic conspiracy
involving the 9/11 terrorist
attack was spray-painted on
a landmark rock at the
University of Tennessee in
September 2019.
Referencing rumor of
celebrations following 9/11
Figure C2
A tweet shared in July 2011.
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American Jewish Committee | The Translate Hate Glossary | October 2021 6
control the world (see control). This trope was central in the
rise of Nazism and is still present today.
Other conspiracies allege Jews are behind their own hate
crimes, such as the “false flag” theories, and even go as far
as to say the Holocaust was a hoax created by Jews to gain
sympathy (see Holocaust denial).
control
theme \ kən'trōl \
: power or authority to guide or manage
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
False reports that claim Jews control the media, banks,
and governments are part of a longstanding conspiracy of
secret Jewish power. This antisemitic trope is rooted in the
discredited publication, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,
which was published in Russian tsarist times and accused
Jews of trying to control the world (see Protocols of the
Elders of Zion).
These myths of control portray Jews as secret puppet
masters ruling over others and manipulating the world’s
economies and governments (see Figure C4). For centuries,
Jews were blamed for leading “blind” world leaders into wars
and into debt to enrich themselves and further their own
hidden agenda (see Figure C5).
Antisemitic propaganda continues to spread the idea that rich
or influential Jews are behind the scenes furthering their plans
of world domination.
cosmopolitan elite
Noun \ ,kazmə'palit(ə)n ‘i'lit \
: a phrase combining “cosmopolitan,” or representing many
cultures, with “elite,” referring to the upper class of society
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“Cosmopolitan” and “elite” are terms that have separately
incited antisemites across the political spectrum. Based on
stereotypes of Jewish wealth and insularity, Jews have been
accused of being part of an elite class for centuries. In the
Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, for instance, Jews were
charged with being “rootless cosmopolitans” and fell victim to
Stalin’s anti-cosmopolitan campaign where they were arrested
and tortured. Today, “cosmopolitan elite” is a code word used
by the far-right to accuse Jews and liberals of controlling
America and/or being disloyal and unpatriotic by favoring
internationalism over isolationism. Figure C6
A tweet shared in September 2020.
Figure C4
An antisemitic meme posted
by the former head of the
Philadelphia NAACP to
Facebook in July 2020.
Figure C5
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu as a dog leading
a blind U.S. President Donald
Trump published in The New
York Times, April 25, 2019.
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American Jewish Committee | The Translate Hate Glossary | October 2021 7
Figure C7
An antisemitic Facebook threat
received in December 2015 by
a victim of the San Bernardino
shooting one day prior.
Figure C8
An antisemitic cartoon shared
on Instagram in July 2018.
Antisemitic caricatures mocking
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and Likud lawmakers
cowardice
noun \ 'kau(-ə)r-dəs \
: lack of bravery
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Evolving from the erroneous accusation that Jews lacked
patriotism (see dual loyalty), in the aftermath of World
War I, Jews were portrayed as cowardly and weak people
who actively evaded military service. According to this
trope, Jews’ inherent cowardice and disloyalty made them
responsible for national defeats. The apparent Jewish
meekness in the face of the Holocaust (ignoring the many
acts of bravery against overwhelming odds) even allowed
antisemites to claim that Jews contributed to their own
genocide (see Holocaust denial).
creatures
theme \ 'krē-chərs \
: animals, as distinct from human beings; fictional or
imaginary beings
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
A common form of coded antisemitism includes illustrations
and images that depict Jews as vermin, tentacled creatures,
reptilian men, and other “subhuman” monsters.
Antisemitic rhetoric that dehumanizes Jews laid the foundation
for the Holocaust, used as rationale by the Nazis to treat them
as creatures that needed to be exterminated. It appeared in
Nazi literature and other propaganda to spread antisemitic
tropes—including Jews as the overlords of global affairs, Jews
controlling minds, Jews’ quest for world domination, and Jews
as superior or elite masterminds (see New World Order).
More recently, antisemites such as Nation of Islam leader Louis
Farrakhan have referred to Jews as “termites” likening them to
unwanted pests who multiply rapidly, take over, and destroy
everything they touch.
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deadly exchange
theme \ 'dedli/ /iks'CHānj \
: suggesting Israel is responsible for American police brutality
due to training programs between U.S. and Israeli police forces
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The deadly exchange trope directly compares U.S. police
actions against Black Americans with the Israeli Defense
Forces’ (IDF) treatment of Palestinians. Believers in the
“deadly exchange” allege “worst practices” are shared
[between U.S. and Israeli armed forces] to promote and
extend discriminatory and repressive policing practices that
already exist in both countries, including racial profiling,
massive spying and surveillance, deportation and detention,
and attacks on human rights defenders.”
Users of this trope argue Israeli and U.S. law enforcement
exchange security practices and ideologies to purposely
target people of color. This false equivalence appeared in
demonstrations in the summer of 2020 when protesters
chanted “Israel, we know you, you murder children, too" (see
blood libel). This is categorically false. Accusing Israel or
Zionists (see Zionists) of complicity in the murder of Black
people is malicious, perpetuates antisemitism, and blames
Jews for societal ills (see scapegoat).
deicide
noun \ 'di ə,said \
: the killing of a god
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Deicide is the charge that Jews bear eternal responsibility
for the death of Jesus Christ. This claim is based on Matthew
27:24-25, “His blood be on us, and on our children,” also known
as the blood curse. This verse (25) has led to more Jewish
suffering than any other passage in the Christian Bible.
This source of antisemitism among Christians was only
refuted by the Catholic Church in 1965, with Nostra Aetate,
the landmark document that rejected collective Jewish
responsibility for this crime. Protestant churches have also
repudiated the deicide charge. Nevertheless, antisemites
continue to use the charge that Jews killed Jesus to justify
their anti-Jewish hatred. Additionally, the same wrongful
accusation and imagery connected with Jews as Christ-killers
has been recycled in the Middle East, often in the form of
Jesus representing Palestinians who are “crucified” by the
Israeli Defense Forces or the Israeli Government.
Recycled deicide charge
Figure D3
Boukhari, Arabia.com. April 7,
2002.
D
Implying Israel is responsible
for claims of American police
brutality and racism
Figure D2
A headline from March 2016
reporting on an antisemitic
chant that broke out during a
high school basketball game.
Figure D1
A cartoon shared on the official
Fatah Facebook page, May 2020.
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dual loyalty
noun \ 'd(y)oōəl 'loiəltē \
: loyalty to two separate interests that potentially conflict
with each other, leading to a conflict of interest
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Dual loyalty is a bigoted trope used to cast Jews as the
“other.” For example, it becomes antisemitic when an
American Jew’s connection to Israel is scrutinized to the
point of questioning his or her trustworthiness or loyalty to
the United States (see Figure D4). Dual loyalty accusations
also occur on U.S. college campuses when Jewish students
are asked to denounce the actions of the Israeli government
in order to participate in progressive activities.
By accusing Jews of being disloyal citizens whose true allegiance
is to Israel or a hidden Jewish agenda (see globalist), antisemites
sow distrust and spread harmful ideas—like the belief that Jews
are a traitorous “fifth column,” meaning they are undermining
their country from within. The allegation of dual loyalty can
also be aimed at non-Jews for what antisemites see as being
“excessively loyal to Israel,” a criticism rarely leveled against
friends and supporters of other countries (see Figure D5).
For centuries, these antisemitic accusations of disloyalty
have led to the harassment, marginalization, oppression, and
murder of Jewish people.
(((echo)))
symbol \ 'e-(,)kō \
: an antisemitic symbol used to highlight the names of Jewish
individuals or organizations owned by Jews
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The (((echo))) is part of the coded antisemitism that occurs
online (see Figure E1). Used by antisemites, neo-Nazis, and
white nationalists, the triple parentheses are applied to Jewish
names or topics to identify, mock, and harass Jews in a way that
is difficult to find in search engines, yet hiding in plain sight.
While it originated on an antisemitic blog, the (((echo))) went
mainstream with the creation of a now-removed Chrome
extension—called "Coincidence Detector"—that placed three
sets of parentheses around the names of Jewish individuals,
of which there were over 8,000 listed.
This symbol has opened yet another avenue for Jews to be
targeted with antisemitic messages and even death threats—
but it’s also given some Twitter users a chance to fight back
by placing parentheses around their names in an act of
solidarity spearheaded by Yair Rosenberg (see Figure E2).
Figure E2
A tweet shared by Yair
Rosenberg in June 2016.
Figure D5
A tweet shared in February 2019.
Blaming Jews for all tragedies
Figure E1
A tweet shared in September
2016.
Referring to Jewish
victims of the Holocaust
E
Figure D4
Antisemitic flyer posted in Long
Branch, New Jersey, June 2018.
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“From the River to the Sea”
noun \‘fruhm ‘thə ‘RIVər ‘too ‘thə ‘si\
: the catch-all phrase symbolizing Palestinian control over the
entire territory of Israel’s borders, from the Jordan River to
the Mediterranean Sea
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” is a
common call-to-arms for pro-Palestinian activists. It calls for
the establishment of a State of Palestine from the Jordan
River to the Mediterranean Sea, erasing the State of Israel
and its people. It is also a rallying cry for terrorist groups and
their sympathizers, from the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine (PFLP) to Hamas, which called for Israel’s
destruction in its original governing charter in 1988.
Sometimes the Palestinian flag emoji is used as shorthand
for this phrase to spam social media posts related to Jews,
whether having to do with Israel or not. There is of course
nothing antisemitic about advocating for Palestinians to have
their own state. However, calling for the elimination of the
Jewish state, or suggesting that the Jews alone do not have
the right to self-determination, is antisemitic.
globalist
noun \ 'glōbəlist \
: a person who advocates the interpretation or planning
of economic and foreign policy in relation to events and
developments throughout the world
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Much like dual loyalty, globalist is used to promote the
antisemitic conspiracy that Jewish people do not have
allegiance to their countries of origin, like the United States,
but to some worldwide order—like a global economy or
international political system—that will enhance their control
over the world’s banks, governments, and media (see control).
The idea of a Jewish globalist was embedded in the
core ideology of Nazism. Hitler often portrayed Jews as
“international elements” who “conduct their business
everywhere,” posing a threat to all people who are “bounded
to their soil, to the Fatherland.”
Today, globalist is a coded word for Jews who are seen
as international elites conspiring to weaken or dismantle
“Western” society using their international connections and
Figure G1
A tweet shared in March 2018.
AntiSemitic Term
G
F
Figure F1
A poster from the Popular
Front for the Liberation of
Palestine terrorist group.
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control over big corporations (see New World Order)—all
echoing the destructive theory that Jews hold greed and tribe
above country.
“The Goyim Know”
meme \ t'hə 'g'i-əm 'nō \
: a catchphrase used to impersonate and mock Jews and the
antisemitic conspiracy theories connected to them
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“The Goyim Know,” sometimes followed by “Shut It Down,”
is a popular antisemitic meme based on conspiracy theories
of manipulative Jews with plans of world domination and in
control of the media, economy, and governments.
Typically paired with offensive images of a stereotypical Jew
talking on a phone or holding a shocked expression (see Figure
G2), this meme is widely used by white supremacists and other
antisemites—on sites like 4chan and 8kun (formerly 8chan)—to
mock a panicked Jew whose secret plot or manipulations have
been revealed by non-Jewish people, or goyim.
While “goyim” is a term used by some Jews to refer to non-
Jews, antisemites and white supremacists have weaponized
the word to mock and accuse Jews of promoting a prejudiced
support for their own clan.
As it spread online, “The Goyim Know” also made its way
offline through an antisemitic song parody by the same name,
as well as the phrase appearing on signs during the “Unite the
Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Other manifestations
of the far-right using “Goyim” to mock Jews are the Goyim
Defense League (GDL) and GoyimTV.com (see Figure G4).
greed
theme \ 'grēd \
: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as
money) than is needed
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
As a foundation for the most constant antisemitic
falsehoods, the association of Jews with greed has fueled
antisemitism throughout history and still affects Jews today.
In the Middle Ages—when Christians were forbidden by the
Church to lend money for interest—money-lending, trade,
and commerce were the few professions Jews were allowed
to have. Jews were blamed for usury, or the act of charging
high rates of interest, and this association led to stereotypes
about Jewish greed and wealth. These accusations were
among the reasons listed by John Earnest, the white
Figure G2
An example of the popular
“The Goyim Know. Shut It
Down.” meme.
Figure G3
An example of the popular
“The Goyim Know” meme.
Figure G4
A sign with the phrase "The
Jews Want A Race War” was
hung from the heavily trafficked
Los Angeles interstate 405
highway overpass.
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supremacist who murdered a Jewish woman and injured
others in Poway, CA in 2019. From Shakespeare’s sinister
Jewish caricature in The Merchant of Venice to Rothschild
schemes of world domination (see Rothschild) to Nazi
propaganda on Jewish economic control, the antisemitic
trope of greed can be found in everything from pop culture
to deep-web conspiracy theories.
The theme of greed in antisemitic rhetoric is so widespread
that it’s led to a long list of Jewish stereotypes, including
being excessively materialistic and money-oriented,
exploiting others for personal gain, being overly wealthy, and
controlling the world’s finances (see Figure G5).
Holocough
meme \ hälə ‘käf \
: a call by the far-right to spread coronavirus to Jews to infect
and kill them
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“Holocough” first emerged on white supremacist and neo-
Nazi channels on alternative social media platforms as news
of COVID-19 spread in the U.S. Far-right personality Milo
Yiannopoulos used “Holocough” in a Telegram poll, and
the term further spread to Gab, a messaging platform with
a large far-right and extremist base, after user Bjundabare
created an image with the text, “If you have the bug, give a
hug. Spread the flu to every Jew.”
The “Holocough” finds its roots in the historic practice of
connecting Jews to sickness, providing antisemites with
familiar tropes. In the 14th century, Jews in Europe were
blamed for poisoning wells and causing the Bubonic plague,
and thousands of Jews were murdered in response; in the
1890s, Jewish Americans were blamed for the tuberculosis
outbreak in the U.S.; in the 1930s, Adolf Hitler compared Jews
to bacteria and disease; and today we are again witnessing
Jews being blamed for COVID-19 (see poisoning the well).
Ironically, the same people invoking the term #Holocough are
often the same ones denying the scope and veracity of the
Holocaust.
Figure H2
An antisemitic picture
created by Bjundabare on
Gab in April 2020.
H
Figure H1
A poll posted to Milo
Yiannopoulos’s Telegram page
in March 2020.
Figure G5
A tweet shared on August of
2019.
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Holocaust denial
theme \ hō-lə-,kost di-'nī(-ə)l \
: an attempt to negate the facts of the Nazi genocide of the
Jewish people; a belief that the Holocaust did not happen or
was greatly exaggerated
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Despite endless historical facts, Holocaust denial and
distortion spread the false idea that Jews invented or
exaggerated the Holocaust, including the diary of Anne
Frank, Nazism’s intent to massacre Jews, the use of gas
chambers in concentration camps, and the murder of millions
of Jews. Denying the Holocaust, including denying the scope
or methods used by the Nazis and their allies during the
Holocaust, is antisemitic.
The term “Holohoax” is a common term for Holocaust deniers
across the political spectrum, who claim the Jewish people
exaggerated or made up the Holocaust. The term appears
on dozens of Facebook groups of every political disposition,
including extreme-right, anti-Zionist, conspiracy theory
communities, pro-Palestinian groups, and more (see Figure H3).
And even when antisemites don’t deny the Holocaust, they
have used it to attack Jews by accusing them of inventing or
exaggerating the Holocaust or by comparing its horrors by
the Nazi regime to defensive actions taken by the State of
Israel. Claiming that the State of Israel, home to the largest
number of living Holocaust survivors, behaves like the
Nazis in its treatment of Palestinians is a personal attack on
survivors and distorts the meaning of the Holocaust. Likening
the Gaza Strip, governed by the terrorist organization
Hamas, to the Warsaw Ghetto, where Jews were confined
by the Nazis before being transported to death camps as
part of the systematic massacre of 6 million Jews during the
Holocaust, or comparing the Israeli Defense Forces to the
Nazi army (Wehrmacht), is a form of Holocaust denial. There
is no legitimate comparison between defending the State of
Israel and ensuring the safety of its citizens to the systematic
destruction and liquidation of an entire people.
Figure H3
A tweet shared in August 2020.
Figure H4
A tweet shared in October
2019.
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Illuminati
noun \ i-,lü-mə-'nä-tē \
: groups or persons claiming special religious enlightenment
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Historically, the Order of the Illuminati refers to a secret society
founded in Bavaria by Adam Weishaupt in the late 18th to
advocate for secularism. However, during the interwar period
of the 20th century, fascist propaganda claimed the Illuminati
were a subversive element which served Jewish elites who were
behind global capitalism and Soviet communism (see Jewish
capitalist, Jewish communist) and were plotting to create a New
World Order (see New World Order).
This conspiratorial stance on the Illuminati, as well as its related
conspiracy theory of Freemason-controlling Jews, are built
on classic antisemitic themes, including the notion of Jewish
control over the world, the meddling by Jews in global politics,
and the Jewish plot for complete power over world governance
(see control).
Jewish capitalist
noun \ 'joōiSH 'kapədləst \
: a person who supports the principles of capitalism, an
economic and political system based on private or corporate
ownership of production and profits as opposed to public or
state ownership
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Jews have been accused of puppeteering the world economy
for centuries, having been associated with money since the
Middle Ages when commerce, trade, and other financial
industries were the only professions Jews were allowed
to have. As capitalism replaced other traditional forms of
commerce, the association of Jews with money remained
(see greed).
While capitalism and communism are each terms that
describe an economic philosophy and worldview that have
been embraced by millions of people and served to define
the two adversaries of the Cold War which dominated the
20th century, when an adjective is added and the terms
become Jewish capitalist or Jewish communist (see Jewish
communist), the meanings change.
Figure J2
Graffiti artist Mear One’s “Freedom
for Humanity” mural depicting white
male capitalists, several who are
Jewish (see Jewish features) as the
enemy of the good. London, 2012.
J
I
Figure I1
A headline referencing the New
World Order from February
2011.
Dollar triangle =
Illuminati triangle
Two triangles creating the Star of
David
“ASNOM” anagram for MASON
Figure J1
A tweet shared in October 2020.
The German Democratic
Republic (GDR ) was a
communist satellite state
of the Soviet Union and yet
Jews were blamed as enemy
capitalists.
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Blaming Jews as “greedy capitalists” or for being at fault
for capitalism’s woes is a form of economic antisemitism.
Economic antisemitism is based on the alleged economic
status and financial behavior of Jews. It can also transcend into
government policies which target Jews based on perceived
economic practices.
Jewish communist
noun \ 'joōiSH 'kämyənəst \
: a person who supports the principles of communism, a
political and socio-economic ideology, in which all goods are
publicly owned as opposed to privately or state owned, and
social classes are eliminated
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“Jewish communism,” or “Judeo-Bolshevism,” is an antisemitic
conspiracy theory that states Jews have been behind
communist revolutions around the world. Leon Trotsky was
a political ideologue, who happened to be Jewish, who was
personified by the Russian Czarist government as a symbol
for Jewish Bolshevism (see Figure J4). Nazi Germany invoked
the antisemitic “Judeo-Bolshevism” myth to blame Jews for
Germany’s woes after World War I. While some Jews were
communists and fought in the Red Army during World War
II, labeling all Jews as communists is antisemitic. Another
code word invoked is “Marxists,” after Karl Marx, who, despite
being of Jewish descent, decried Judaism and blamed Jewish
merchants for promoting capitalism.
Jew down
verb \ joō doun \
: antisemitic term for haggling or bargaining for a cheaper
price
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Rooted in the false stereotype that Jews are cheap or
stingy, the phrase “Jew down” may seem to be a harmless
expression that’s used in everyday vernacular. However, it is
an insulting, antisemitic misrepresentation of Jewish behavior
that plays into the trope of Jews as greedy money handlers
who are unwilling to part with their earnings.
The common, mainstream use of antisemitic terms, like Jew
down, plays a dangerous role in normalizing antisemitism and
reinforcing conspiracy theories in the minds of antisemites. Figure J5
A tweet shared in March 2015.
Term for non-Jew
Figure J4
1919 Russian Civil War
propaganda poster depicting
Jewish Bolshevik Leon Trotsky
(from Serhii Plokhy’s The Gates
of Europe).
Figure J3
A tweet shared in July 2018.
‘Marxists’ has often been used as a code
word for Jews and is antisemtiic when
Jews are blamed for communist oppression
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Jewish features
theme \ 'joōiSH 'fēCHərs \
: antisemitic stereotypes that focus on physical features or
characteristics
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Large curved noses. Curly or red hair. Horns. Dark eyes
with drooping lids. Even though Jesus and all twelve of
his disciples were Jewish, it is red-haired Judas who is
purported to espouse Jewish values of greed and betrayal
(see Judas, greed). From religious woodcuts to inflammatory
publications in the medieval ages, Jewish features like curly
or red hair and hooked noses were grotesquely drawn, fueling
conspiracies that Jews are easily identifiable and subhuman.
The degradation of Jews through fictional facial stereotypes
has been a staple theme in antisemitic propaganda used to
portray Jews as subhuman or disfigured. Stereotypical Jewish
features are still used today—from Internet memes to cartoons
in top-tier news outlets—and they perpetuate the antisemitic
notion that base motives are revealed in ugly features. In
the 2020 Aalst Carnival theme, “UNESCO: Controlled by the
Jews?” Jews are drawn as distorted, red-nosed, and with gold
teeth, furthering the stereotype that Jews are malformed and
associated with money (see Figure J6).
Anti-Zionists also use the common feature of Jews as “white” to
attack Israel as a “white, colonial, settler” power, which ignores
and disavows the identity of millions of Sephardic and Mizrahi
Jews of color living in America, Israel, and around the world.
Jewish figures
theme \ 'joōiSH 'fi-gyərs \
: the use of public Jewish figures to spread antisemitic ideas
about Jews as an overall group
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Much like the age-old theme of blaming Jews for disasters
across the world (see scapegoat), prominent Jewish figures
are often the victim of antisemitic rhetoric that’s actually
being pointed at all Jews.
By focusing attacks on a single person, antisemites create a
coded language in which that person’s name or face becomes
synonymous with dangerous antisemitic conspiracies or
tropes. These can include everything from a Jewish plan for
world domination to a Jewish puppet master who manipulates
international events and creates social conflict for his own gain.
Modern examples of this include rumors that George
Soros—a Hungarian-American of Jewish descent and well-
known billionaire—is paying members of a migrant “caravan”
Figure J7
A tweet shared in January 2018.
Figure J6
The 2020 Aalst Carnival theme:
“UNESCO: Controlled by the
Jews?”
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to march on U.S. borders (see Soros). Or when Harvey
Weinstein’s history of sexual abuse is somehow linked to his
Jewish identity, spreading the antisemitic trope of “Jewish
sexual perversion.”
The Rothschilds, another prominent Jewish family, have even
been blamed for bad weather, natural disasters, and creating
“the concept of climate change” (see Rothschild, Figure J7).
Jewish lightning
theme \ 'joōiSH 'lītniNG \
: a derogatory phrase describing the act of burning down a
home or institution in order to collect the insurance money
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“Jewish lightning,” like “Jew down,” is a phrase rooted in
Jewish stereotypes of stinginess and greed (see greed). The
faulty reasoning argues that because Jews love money and
are unwilling to spend it, they will commit insurance fraud.
Whether directed at Jews or non-Jews (this term is also
referred to as “Greek lightning” or “Irish lightning” depending
on the area), it is an ethnic slur that should be condemned.
Jewish lobby
theme \ 'joōiSH 'läbē \
: Jewish interest groups that engage in lobbying to seek
influence on a particular issue
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Lobbying groups by definition use their money to support
specific causes. Individual Jewish groups use money through
contributions, including campaign contributions, to draw
support for various missions and causes, as do tens of
thousands of other American lobbies and interest groups.
There is no one “Jewish lobby” that speaks for the Jewish
community. While some people use “Jewish Lobby” and
“Israel Lobby” interchangeably and have no antisemitic
intentions when saying “Jewish Lobby,” the phrase serves as
a dog whistle for those who believe Jews control politics (see
control). When “Jewish Lobby” is purposefully invoked to
describe Jewish control of Washington, then that is antisemitic.
Figure J8
A tweet shared in June 2020.
Jews blamed for the
2019 Notre Dame fire
Figure J9
A tweet shared in August 2020.
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Judas/30 pieces of silver
person, theme \ joōDUS/ 'THərdē pēses ‘äv 'silvər \
: in the Christian Bible, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ
for 30 pieces of silver
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’s 12 disciples, received 30
pieces of silver to betray Jesus to the religious authorities.
Although Jesus and all 12 disciples were Jews, the Western
world—through art, literature, music, and tradition—chose to
depict Judas as the Jew who sold out his Savior for money.
Thus, the name Judas became synonymous with traitor,
contributing to the persecution of Jewish communities for
two millennia. This false and libelous narrative would feed
into Hitler’s propaganda and the Holocaust.
Khazars
people \ kə'zär \
: a people once existing as a nation in the Caucasus and
southeastern Russia
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
In the 6th century CE, the Khazars—an obscure warlike tribe
in Turkistan [present day Kazakhstan]—fought for land that
was ultimately overtaken by Southern Russia and Ukraine.
Despite the decline in population and territorial defeat, the
Khazars continued to be mentioned throughout history—
especially as one of the first groups to adopt Judaism.
By the 8th or 9th century, antisemitic conspiracy theories
began forming around the Khazars’ reported conversion
to Judaism. This spurred antisemitic beliefs that they were
building a secret empire which sought widespread control
through financial gains (see Figure K1).
Given that the Khazars moved into and settled in Eastern
Europe, antisemites push the conspiracy that Ashkenzai
Jews—Jews descending from Eastern Europe—are not “real
Jews” and are working to infiltrate other nations on their quest
for world domination (see “not the real Jews”). The Khazar
trope is also used to undermine the Jewish connection to
Israel, and therefore Israel’s right to exist, because it falsely
says Jews originated from the northern Caucasus region and
were part of the Turkic empire—and not the Land of Israel (see
Figure K2).
Figure K1
A social post from June 2019.
Figure K2
A tweet shared in February
2018.
K
Figure J10
A tweet shared in June 2020.
Antisemitic reference to
Judas and Jews as traitors
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Kike
noun \ kīk \
: an offensive, derogatory term for a Jewish person
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Kike is an ethnic slur for a Jewish person. There are multiple
theories about where the term might have emerged. One
popular theory is that it is derived from the Yiddish word
for circle, “kikel,” a reference to how Jewish immigrants at
Ellis Island signed their entry forms: a circle as opposed to
an X, which Jews associated with the cross of Christianity.
Immigration officers described those who signed forms with
a circle as “kikel,” eventually being shortened to “kike.” Kike is
a highly offensive term used to insult and denigrate people of
Jewish faith or ethnicity that is widely considered to be a form
of hate speech.
kosher tax
conspiracy \ 'kō-shər 'taks \
: the idea that food companies and consumers are forced to
pay money to support the Jewish religion or Zionist causes
and Israel through the costs of kosher certification
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Many Jews adhere to religious dietary restrictions, which
govern the slaughter of animals and the ingredients and
production of various foodstuffs. To assist them, these
products are usually marked with a symbol attesting to the
fact that they are kosher, such as and .
The kosher tax conspiracy theory states that this kosher
certification of products is an extra tax collected from
unwitting consumers for the benefit of Jewish organizations. It
is mainly spread by antisemitic and white supremacist groups,
who claim this to be a “Kosher tax” (or “Jewish tax”) that is
“extorted” from food companies wishing to avoid a boycott
and used to support Zionist causes or the State of Israel.
Figure K5
A sticker circulated by
antisemites to be placed on
kosher items in stores.
Figure K3
Figure K4
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New World Order
conspiracy \ 'nü 'wər(-ə)ld 'or-dər \
: the conspiracy of a small group of powerful individuals
working in secret to establish all-powerful control
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The New World Order conspiracy theory becomes antisemitic
when it’s followed by a reference to a Jewish business leader
or political official with a secret agenda who’s seeking global
control.
A widely-used conspiracy theory made popular in the 20th
century, the term centers on a cabal of world leaders using
the global stage to create an almighty, totalitarian regime
that strips people of their individual liberties and consolidates
power at the very top (see cabal).
The conspiracy theory behind the New World Order involving
Jewish leaders is based on the idea that Jews have formed
a power structure in which they control every aspect of
humankind—the economy, media, and political landscape (see
control).
“not the real Jews”
theme \ nät thə ‘rē(ə)l joōs \
: a phrase claiming that Jews are not God’s chosen people as
outlined in the Bible
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
While this phrase has been used by many throughout history,
today it is most commonly used by Black supremacists
claiming Black people—not Jews—are the true chosen people
of God. Black supremacy has roots in “Black Chosenness”—
the belief that African Americans are the descendants of the
twelve Hebrew tribes of Israel who settled across Africa after
the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel and were eventually
sold into slavery during the Atlantic slave trade.
Black supremacy argues that Black people are superior to all
other races and that “white” Jews are imposters. Elements
of Black supremacy can be found within the Black Hebrew
Israelite movement, as well as within Nation of Islam under
the leadership of Louis Farrakhan and his supporters. In the
age of social media, some Black supremacists have co-opted
the language of white supremacists when discussing Jews:
calling them “termites” and “bugs” with subhuman features
(see creatures).
Figure N2
A tweet shared in September
2020.
Figure N3
An Instagram post shared in
April 2014
N
Figure N1
A tweet shared in October
2019.
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Some antisemites on both the right and left claim that
Ashkenazi Jews are “fake Jews,” and that Israel is a “fake
nation.” This accusation has been used historically and
continues to be used by those who believe in the Khazar
conspiracy theory dispelling the Jewish connection to Israel
(see Khazar).
poisoning the well
trope \ 'poiz(ə)niNG thə wel \
: a smear tactic in which an opponent introduces negative
information about their adversaries in order to discredit them.
The term derives from the ancient war tactic of poisoning an
opponent’s water to diminish his strength
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
“Poisoning the well,” an accusation rooted in the 14th century
Bubonic Plague, blames Jews for purposefully spreading
disease. As the Black Death spread across Europe, Jews were
accused of spreading the infection through common drinking
wells. Thousands of innocent Jews were murdered in response.
This trope can be found on all sides of the political spectrum—
from Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, which accused Jews of being
“vermin” and spreading bacteria, to Nation of Islam leader
Louis Farrakhan’s diatribes labeling Jews as “termites” also
spreading disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jews
were blamed by alternative figures on various far-right fringe
platforms for creating and/or purposefully spreading COVID-19.
This trope reached a more mainstream audience on the far-left,
where political cartoons and statements were made saying
Israel (or “Zionists”) created COVID-19 in order to hurt the
Palestinians and/or profit off the vaccine.
Figure P2
An Instagram post shared in
July 2014.
P
Figure P1
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu holding a piece of
bread for peace doves that he
is poisoning with liquid from
a bottle labeled "settlement
construction,” Stuttgarter
Zeitung, 2013.
Prime Minister Netanyahu
is depicted poisoning the
peace process
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Protocols of the Elders of Zion
conspiracy \ 'prō-tə-,kol 'äv thə 'el-dər 'äv 'zī-ən \
: a fraudulent document attributed to the secret police of
Tsarist Russia, first disseminated in the early 20th century and
still circulated today, that serves as a pretext and rationale for
antisemitism
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Protocols of the Elders of Zion—written by the Russian secret
police in early 20th century—incorporates much of what we
know to be classic antisemitic themes and supports the trope
that Jews seek world domination, using their "invisible hand"
to enslave the rest of mankind.
The book spun tales of a conspiracy that Jews were
collaborating clandestinely to use their international
influence in the media and economy to take over the world
and encourage the downfall of societal norms through
communism, gambling, labor unions, and music.
Russian leadership used the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
text to scapegoat Jews as the reason for widespread poverty
and suffering (see scapegoat).
In the mid-1920s, Henry Ford brought this text to the United
States and published excerpts alongside articles in The
Dearborn Independent, a newspaper he owned. Through this
effort, he propagated antisemitic falsehoods that Jews were
using ideals of communism and their control over financial
institutions to damage the U.S. economy and cause moral
harm to the American people (see Jewish communist).
Today, Protocols of the Elders of Zion can still be found in
translation across the world (see Figure P3)—including in
many Arab nations where it’s sold as an authoritative text.
QAnon
conspiracy \ 'kyoo ən än \
: a loosely organized, far-right network of people who
believe the world is controlled by a satanic cabal of
pedophiles and cannibals, made up of politicians (mostly
Democrats), mainstream media, journalists, and Hollywood
entertainers. This cabal is accused of controlling a “deep-
state” government whose purpose is to undermine and attack
President Donald Trump and his supporters
Q
Figure Q1
Twitter account profile of
@Qanon76.
QANON'S MOTTO IS "WHERE WE GO ONE, WE GO
ALL" OFTEN WRITTEN AS WWG1WGA.
Figure P3
An Amazon listing for the
Protocols of the Learned Elders
of Zion paperback.
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WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish elites, globalists,
and bankers are part and parcel of the QAnon belief system,
and George Soros and the Rothschilds are consistent
targets (see Soros, Rothschild). The use of children in the
conspiracy—the need to rescue children from the hands of
the powerful globalists—harkens back to medieval blood libel
accusations against Jews (see blood libel).
QAnon emerged in October 2017 when anonymous messages
appeared on 4chan, an online messaging board used by the
far-right. “Q” refers to the top security clearance of the U.S.
Department of Energy, while “Anon” references the anonymity
of the Q source. “Q” is believed to be a government insider,
revealing secrets to his/her followers.
QAnon conspiracy theorists are waiting for the “Storm”—the
mass arrest of people in power—and the Great Awakening,
where everyone will realize the QAnon theory is the truth. In
May 2019, the FBI identified QAnon as a potential domestic
terrorist threat.
Rothschild
person \ rōt SHild \
: a wealthy Jewish family whose banking business dates back
to the 18th century Holy Roman Empire
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The Rothschilds are a Jewish banking family who have been
accused of secretly controlling the economy, manipulating the
weather, and profiting from wars. “Rothschild” has become a
generic term for greedy and manipulative Jewish billionaires
(see Jewish figures, greed).
In the mid-19th century, French antisemite Georges Dairnvaell,
under the pseudonym “Satan,” published a pamphlet alleging
Nathan Rothschild witnessed France’s defeat in the Battle
of Waterloo in 1815 and returned to London before the news
broke to make 20 million francs on the stock exchange. All of
this was false. Rothschild was not at Waterloo (or Belgium),
nor did he profit from the battle. Despite being provably false,
the Satan pamphlet was reprinted and translated into many
languages. The Rothschild family (and by extension Jews) were
blamed for economic crises and wars for the next 200 years.
R
Figure R1
An antisemitic cartoon
centered on the Rothschild
family, 2015.
Antisemitic cartoon depicting the
Rothschilds as a pig feeding countries’
intelligence services, including
Islamist terrorist groups.
Figure Q2
A tweet shared in 2020, using
QAnon slogan #WWG1WGA
(“Where we go one, we go all.”)
QAnon followers are encouraged to
become “digital soldiers” and take
an oath pledging support to the
cause. On July 4, 2020, Michael Flynn,
former National Security Advisor
to President Trump, posted a video
online of a small group, including
himself, taking this oath.”
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Hitler’s propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, produced
“Die Rothschilds Aktien auf Waterloo” in 1940 as part
of Nazi Germany’s antisemitic propaganda campaign.
Conspiracy theorists in Iraq recently blamed the Rothschilds
for the COVID-19 pandemic. Louis Farrakhan’s speech, The
Conspiracy of the International Bankers, claims the Rothschild
banks are members of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,
which they are not.
The most malicious of conspiracies about the Rothschilds is that
they orchestrated the Holocaust to gain sympathy for Jews in
order to create the State of Israel (see Holocaust denial).
In January 2021, news broke that Congresswoman Marjorie
Taylor Greene (R-GA) had blamed “space lasers...beaming
the sun’s power down to Earth,” funded by “Rothschild Inc.,”
for California’s deadly wildfires in November 2018. It is yet
another example of a baseless conspiracy that charges the
Rothschilds for world events.
Satan
noun \ 'seit(ə)n \
: also known as the Devil, Satan is the Western personification
of evil. Within Christianity, Satan is also referred to as the
tempter, the ruler of demons, and the father of lies
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Referring to Jews as Satan or the devil stems from the
interpretation of John 8:41-44 in the Christian Bible. Here
Jesus says to his fellow Jews, “For you are the children of your
father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does….
When [the devil] lies, it is consistent with his character; for he
is a liar and the father of lies.”
In medieval Christian folklore and artwork, Jews were depicted
with grotesque characteristics such as devil’s horns, sharp
claws, jagged teeth, pointy ears, and other satanic features to
portray the differences between Christianity and Judaism.
Today Jews, and the Jewish State, continue to be cast as
Satan, demons, vampires, or other demonic figures. Like the
deicide charge, antisemitic elements from Christian tradition
have been recycled in the Muslim world (see deicide charge).
Israel is demonized and, like the devil, viewed as the “source
of evil” in the world. The Islamic Republic of Iran openly calls
for Israel’s destruction and refers to the country as the “Little
Satan.” Louis Farrakhan has come under fire for ranting about
“unmasking the satanic Jew and the synagogue of satan.”
S
Figure S1
A cartoon shared in Qatari
newspaper al-Watan in July
2002.
The Star of David being used to make the
devil Jewish, with the face of former
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Figure S2
“The Pope,” al-Hayat al-Jadida,
March 22, 2000.
A Satanic-looking Jewish figure labeled
'Israeli Colonialism' replies to the Pope’s
words “May there be peace throughout
the Land,” with “May there be settlements
throughout the Land.”
Figure R2
A post on Marjorie Taylor
Greene’s Facebook page,
November 17, 2018.
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scapegoat
theme \ 'skāp-,gōt \
: one that bears the blame for others
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The story of the scapegoat is derived from the book of
Leviticus in the Torah, and is translated from the Hebrew word
‘ăzāzêl, meaning “absolute removal.” It is said that every year
on Yom Kippur, collective grievances and sins are placed onto
a physical goat that is sacrificed, as a symbol of the washing
away and casting aside of wrongdoing.
Antisemites have been using Jews as “scapegoats” for
thousands of years, blaming them for deicide, the murder
of Christ, and even the Bubonic plague in the Middle Ages
(see deicide, Figure D2). Over the past several hundred
years, antisemitism has slanderously assigned blame to Jews
for world events such as Germany’s loss in World War I—
giving rise to Hitler and the Holocaust—and even 9/11 and
the financial crisis in 2008 due to the perceived control of
financial institutions (see conspiracy theory, control).
silencing
theme \ 'sīlənsiNG\
: prohibit or prevent from speaking
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
One of the longest standing antisemitic attacks leveled
against Jews is the “silencing” of their opponents. The false
claim that Jews deem any criticism of Israel or the Jewish
people as antisemitic, and wield the power of the antisemitic
label to silence the opposition, is offensive and dangerous
for productive discourse. The idea of “silencing” speech plays
into the commonly used trope of “Jewish control” with the
false accusation that all discourse that criticizes the policies
of Israel should cease to exist in order for the State of Israel to
remain powerful.
It is yet another example of the nonsensical way in which
Jews are both blamed for silencing their critics and accused
of perpetrating hateful rhetoric by speaking out against them
in order to gain sympathy.
Figure S4
A tweet shared in June 2014.
Figure S3
A tweet shared in April 2018.
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slavery / slave trade
noun \ ‘sleiv(ə)ri \ ‘slāv trād \
: the practice of owning slaves, people who are forced to work
with little or no pay and are denied physical freedom or the
opportunity to leave
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
The claim that Jews controlled or made up a significant
portion of the Atlantic Slave Trade is false. The Council of the
American Historical Association (AHA) “condemns as false
any statement alleging that Jews played a disproportionate
role in the exploitation of slave labor or in the Atlantic slave
trade.” While some Jews with resources owned slaves, as
did wealthy people of all backgrounds, it was by no means
widespread within the Jewish community.
This trope has been spread by the far-right and far-left,
from David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan wizard, to Louis
Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI). The claim
was popularized in Farrakhan’s 1991 publication The Secret
Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, Volume One, and has
most recently resurfaced within segments of the Black Lives
Matter (BLM) Movement to prevent Jews from taking part in
the protest movement.
smirking merchant
meme \ t'hə 'smərkiNG 'mər-chənt \
: an antisemitic cartoon portraying a Jew based on
stereotypes and tropes
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Visually, the smirking merchant cartoon, also known as the
happy merchant meme, relies heavily on derogatory Jewish
stereotypes—a large hooked nose, a scheming smirk and
pose, frizzy hair, and grimy beard (see Jewish features).
As the most popular antisemitic image online, the smirking
merchant is also used to symbolize both traditional and
modern-day tropes, including Jewish control over the world,
Jewish greed, Holocaust denial, and a general blame for white
supremacy hot topics like “race-mixing,” feminism, and the
LGBTQ community.
While originally created as part of a racist and antisemitic
cartoon, the smirking merchant joined other bigoted memes—
e.g., antisemitic versions of trollface and Pepe the Frog—on
popular, far-right sites like 4chan, 8kun (previously 8chan),
and Gab.
Figure S6
Antisemitic Facebook
comment using the smirking
merchant meme.
Hooked
Nose
SIGNIFIES
GREED
EVIL,
SCHEMING
SMILE
Figure S5
A tweet shared in June 2020.
Claims that Jews made up the
majority of slave owners is
malicious and false.
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Soros
person \ ‘sORos \
: refers to Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor George Soros,
a billionaire philanthropist, who was born Jewish, and
champions liberal and progressive causes
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
George Soros is vilified in some quarters of the world (and
revered in others) for supporting progressive causes such as
immigration and criminal justice reform. In the U.S., George
Soros has been charged by the far-right with funding Black
Lives Matter protests and migrant caravans to the southern U.S.
border. He is also the namesake of the anti-migrant legislation
in his native Hungary (the so-called “Stop Soros law,” which
criminalizes aiding migrants).
Criticizing Soros or his politics and actions is not antisemitic.
Indeed, those who have suggested that any criticism is
antisemitic do real disservice to the cause of fighting Jew-
hatred. However, when Soros is used as a symbol for Jewish
control, wealth, and power, the criticism may be an updated
version of traditional antisemitic tropes (see conspiracy
theory, control, Jewish figures).
Unfortunately, hatred of George Soros has not remained
solely on the Internet. In October 2018, a far-right agitator
sent a bomb to his house, as part of a string of bomb threats
against prominent Democrats.
“Zionism is racism”
theme / 'zīə.nizəm iz 'rā,sizəm /
: refers to United Nations Resolution 3379 in 1975, in which the
General Assembly linked Zionism and the State of Israel, to
racism and racial discrimination. This was overturned in 1991
making it one of only two resolutions ever revoked by the UN
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Prior to 1948, Zionism was an aspiration—the national liberation
movement of the Jewish people, founded by Theodore Herzl
in the late 19th century, to re-establish a Jewish nation as a
solution to the antisemitism Jews faced in Europe. After 1948
until today, Zionism became a reality: a homeland not only to
persecuted European Jews, but Jews from all over the globe,
including Jews fleeing persecution from the Soviet Union, the
Arab world, Turkey, Iran, and Ethiopia, amongst others. Israel
is one of the most diverse countries in the world with over half
of its population being from Africa, India, and other areas of
the Middle East. The vast majority of Jews around the world
identify as Zionists, meaning they support the existence of
Israel as a Jewish State in the historic Land of Israel.
Figure Z1
The Secretary of Iran's
Supreme National Security
Council claimed that racist
Zionism should be the most
concerned about "the collapse
of racist symbols." June 2020.
Connecting Zionism to racism
conveys that Jews do not have
a right to self-determination
Z
Figure S7
A tweet shared in Sept. 2020.
Figure S8
A tweet shared in March 2020.
Soros is often used as a
symbol of Jewish control
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The Soviet Union led the effort to link Zionism to racism,
basing their accusations on the notorious Protocols of the
Elders of Zion and arguing that Judaism’s concept of “the
chosen people” promoted racial superiority. This deliberate
slur interpolated and distorted the real meaning of Judaism
which explains the Jewish people are ‘chosen,’ or set apart,
for special and burdensome religious and social obligations.
Other states from Cuba to the Arab world repeated these
slurs and criticized Jews and Israel by using the phrase
“Zionism is racism,” often taking the discrimination practiced
historically against Jews as individuals and employing it
against their collective identity.
Criticizing specific Israeli government policies as
discriminatory or racist is not antisemitic. However, saying
“Zionism is racism,” a phrase which itself is a racist and
religious distortion, conveys that the Jewish people—unlike
all other people in the world—do not have a right to self-
determination. The phrase also denigrates the Jewish State
and belittles the diversity of Jewish life in Israel. Famed Soviet
Nobel Peace Laureate Andrei Sakharov warned that this
resolution would “contribute to antisemitic tendencies in many
countries by giving them the appearance of international
legality.”
Zionist / “Zio”
noun / 'zīənəst / ‘zīō /
: a supporter of Zionism; a person who believes in the
development and protection of a Jewish nation in its historic
homeland of Israel
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Zionism is a movement and ideology to reestablish and
support the existence of a Jewish state in the Biblical Land
of Israel. A Zionist is someone who supports Jews’ right to
self-determination in their historic homeland and Israel’s right
to exist. However, antisemites often use “Zionist” or “Zio” as
shorthand for “Jew,” while many antisemites attempt to cloak
their hate by claiming to be merely “anti-Zionists” (see Figure
Z3). Notably, anti-Zionism—the belief that the Jewish people
do not have the right to a national home in their ancestral
homeland (e.g. that the State of Israel should not exist)—is
itself widely believed by Jews to be a form of antisemitism.
Anti-Zionism can also spread antisemitic conspiracy
theories. For example, referring to Zionism and Judaism
interchangeably blames Jewish people for the actions and
policies of the State of Israel, which furthers conspiracy
theories about control and world domination (see Figure Z2).
Figure Z3
A tweet shared in August 2020.
Figure Z2
A tweet shared in September
2019.
1. Labelling Jews as “the other”
2. Widely used antisemitic conspiracies
3. Using Jews as a scapegoat
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Zionist Occupied Government (ZOG)
conspiracy /'zīə,nizt 'äkyə,pīd 'gəvər(n)mənt (zôg) /
: white supremacist belief declaring the U.S. government is
controlled by Jews
WHY IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
ZOG is a white supremacist theory that believes Jews
(“Zionists”) secretly control Western politics (see conspiracy
theory, control). The term first appeared in the 1970s in the
U.S. and is found on white supremacist sites such as Aryan
Nations and National Alliance. By manipulating Western
governments, antisemites claim ZOG controls the world
economy, limits free speech, confiscates land, and usurps
military and police forces. The phrase “Zionist occupiers”
is also used by antisemites on the far-left and by Islamists,
seeking to destroy Israel.
Figure Z4
A tweet shared in August 2020.
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Defining Antisemitism
The purpose of Translate Hate is to provide visuals and
explanations of the diversity of sources of contemporary
antisemitism. Recognizing and defining antisemitism go
hand in hand. The tropes and themes referenced here are
all encompassed within the authoritative International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition
of Antisemitism, recommended by the European Council,
the European Parliament, the UN Secretary General,
the Organization of American States, and dozens of
governments around the world, including the United States.
To effectively fight antisemitism, we must define it. Here is
the definition in full:
On 26 May 2016, the IHRA Plenary decided to adopt
the following non legally binding working definition of
Antisemitism:
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may
be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and
physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed
toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their
property, toward Jewish community institutions and
religious facilities.
To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve
as illustrations: Manifestations might include the targeting of
the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However,
criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other
country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism
frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity,
and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.”
It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and
employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.
Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the
media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere
could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are
not limited to:
• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews
in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of
religion.
• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or
stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power
of Jews as collective—such as, especially but not exclusively,
the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews
controlling the media, economy, government or other
societal institutions.
• Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or
imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person
or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
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• Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers)
or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the
hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and
accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of
inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
• Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or
to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the
interests of their own nations.
• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,
e.g., by claiming that the existence of a state of Israel is a
racist endeavor.
• Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not
expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
• Using the symbols and images associated with classic
antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel)
to characterize Israel or Israelis.
• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that
of the Nazis.
• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state
of Israel.
Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by
law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of
antisemitic materials in some countries).
Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks,
whether they are people or property—such as buildings,
schools, places of worship and cemeteries—are selected
because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to
Jews.
Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of
opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in
many countries.
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How to Report Hate
REPORT HATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
We can all play a role in reducing online hate. Don’t be silent
when you see an instance of antisemitism or other forms of
hatred on social media. Report it to the platform directly.
1. Tap options symbol (dots, arrow, carrot) on the post, profile,
or comment.
2. Tap Report.
3. Select the reason (hateful conduct, hate speech,
inappropriate) as listed on the platform.
Not seeing what you’re looking for? Find more direct
information from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Help.twitter.com then click “Abuse” then “Report abusive
behavior”
Facebook.com/Help then click “Policies and Reporting” then
“Reporting Abuse”
Help.Instagram.com and search “Abuse and Spam”
Support.tiktok.com then click “Safety” then “Report a Problem”
But what if the platform doesn’t take it down? We may not
be able to remove all antisemitic posts, but we can and will
have our voices heard. With every report, we shed light on
antisemitic behavior—getting us a step closer to stopping it.
REPORT HATE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Talk to Law Enforcement
Check www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/get-help-now for help on
reporting hate crimes and incidents to your local police and
the FBI.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN INCIDENTS OF HATE OCCUR
Report it.
Speak out and be an ally. Consider a prompt, public statement
of condemnation to signal that online hate is unacceptable.
Use Translate Hate to explain why a post is antisemitic.
Hold the perpetrator accountable and demand a public
apology. Work to restore civility to the public discourse.
Reach out personally to those affected by online hate to show
solidarity.
Participate in coalitions and educate others about antisemitism.
Advocate for measures that help reporting and prosecution of
hate crimes.
Support funding for Jewish community security needs.
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Conclusion
While this glossary is by no means an exhaustive account of
all the antisemitism present in our world, it captures the most
commonly used tropes and conspiracies. After all, antisemitism
is an ever-evolving threat, as are the most widely used tropes
that help it spread. Antisemitism continues to pose a direct
threat to democracy, democratic values, and human rights. It is
a problem for Jews and—even more critically—for non-Jews to
solve. Because antisemitism is a societal issue, our aim is to raise
public awareness of common forms of antisemitism and elevate
the debate on confronting this menace.
AJC.org/TranslateHate
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