Those who do not deal with antisemitism on a daily basis may not realize but, at any given moment and all over the world, an event occurs that can be defined as antisemitic.
Lashing out at Jews, Israelis, and the values of Zionism, denying the Holocaust and singling out or condemning Israel – all of these are expressions of antisemitism.
In recent years, we have witnessed a number of dramatic global events, and each of them has had an impact on the rise of antisemitism in the world, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether conspiracy theories regarding the spread of the virus, the war between Russia and Ukraine or two Israel Defense Forces' military operations – Guardian of the Walls in May 2021 and Breaking Dawn this month – all have resulted in some amount of unwarranted blame on Jews and Israel.
These events became fertile ground for the rise of antisemitic incidents and were essentially used as a lever for hatred directed at the Jewish people. From the beginning of 2020, we saw a sharp increase in antisemitic acts. In fact, antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high worldwide in 2021.
These facts cannot be ignored. So long as the world is still spinning – revolutions playing out and trends shifting – antisemitism remains alive and kicking. It exists among us, sometimes disguised under seemingly different ideologies but not hidden from our eyes.
During the COVID pandemic, the social impact of imposed quarantines, closures, and isolation prevented people from gathering and, in its place, led to antisemitic discourse with a stronger presence in cyberspace.
On the other hand, the ending of quarantines and the onset of governmental policies regarding the COVID vaccinations – together with the economic fallout of these policies – also contributed to the increase in antisemitic incidents compared to pre-pandemic years. We all know that, historically, economic hardship is a favorite playground for the growth of antisemitism. These familiar excuses are repeated throughout history and dwell in our lives currently, as well. Then and now, voices rise from fringe groups, but they must not be given a platform.
In recent years, antisemitism has manifested itself in the boycott against the State of Israel. This new form of antisemitism aims to deny the right of the Jewish people to their land. This kind of antisemitism exploits freedom of expression and abuses the basic values of democracy.
"The List 2020" is geared toward diverse target audiences from all over the world. The book is published in English, which reinforces the fact that antisemitism is a global problem and should be treated as such.
The fact that the book is accessible to the general public – and not only to Israelis – gives us hope for raising awareness among people from different countries. This is the first step to eradicating antisemitism.
The List 2020 also presents an opportunity to call on Jewish communities around the world to stay united and to ensure that no room is given for small hate crimes to grow into larger ones. This is a time to ensure that the weeds of antisemitism are rooted out and not given a chance to raise their heads, regardless of what happens within or outside of Israel's borders.
We are in a long and continuous struggle against an elusive enemy that changes its form to adapt to the "spirit of the times." We must confront antisemitism head-on and stand firm, every day.
"The List 2020" is an important tool in this fight against antisemitism, and for that we are grateful.
This article originally appeared on ALL ISRAEL NEWS and is reposted with permission.