what is antisemitism definition
Antisemitism is hostility, prejudice, discrimination, or hatred directed at Jews because they are Jews, including attacks on Jewish people, communities, or institutions seen as Jewish.
What is antisemitism? (Core definition)
Most widely used formal definitions today say antisemitism is a “certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”
In practice, that means negative beliefs, emotions, or actions aimed at Jews as individuals, as a group, or at Jewish institutions, because of their Jewish identity or because they are perceived as Jewish.
Many contemporary guides sum it up simply as “discrimination, prejudice, hostility, or violence against Jews as Jews (or Jewish institutions as Jewish).”
How antisemitism shows up
Common forms include:
- Verbal abuse or slurs against Jews.
- Stereotypes about “Jewish power” over media, finance, or governments.
- Conspiracy myths blaming Jews for “why things go wrong” in society.
- Holocaust denial or claims it is exaggerated.
- Vandalism or attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools, cemeteries, or community centers.
- Threats, harassment, or violence targeting people because they are (or are thought to be) Jewish.
Examples of behaviors often listed as antisemitic in official guidance include:
- Calling for or justifying harm or killing Jews in the name of an ideology or religion.
- Making dehumanizing or demonizing claims about “the Jews” as a whole (for example, a “world Jewish conspiracy”).
- Holding all Jews collectively responsible for the actions of a single Jew, a Jewish group, or of the State of Israel.
- Denying or trivializing the Holocaust, or accusing Jews of inventing or exaggerating it.
Why definitions matter today
Governments, universities, and international bodies have adopted working definitions (like the IHRA definition and others) so they can classify incidents, train staff, and track trends in antisemitic hate.
These definitions are not always legal codes by themselves, but they act as tools for education, monitoring, and policy-making, especially as antisemitism has adapted to online spaces and current political conflicts.
At the same time, there is active debate in forums, campuses, and civil- society groups about how to distinguish between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israeli state policies, and several newer definitions try to spell out that distinction explicitly.
Key points to remember
- Antisemitism targets Jews (or those perceived as Jewish) as Jews.
- It can be expressed in speech, writing, images, policies, or violent acts.
- It often relies on old conspiracy myths and stereotypes that resurface in new contexts and “latest news” cycles.
TL;DR: Antisemitism is prejudice and hostility toward Jews, from insults and stereotypes to discrimination and violence, including attacks on Jewish institutions, often fueled by conspiratorial myths about Jewish power.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.