On 20 August, activist Abe Foxman spoke in a WebTalk titled The Current Tide of Antisemitism. From his professional experience as the former director of the Anti-Defamation League to his role as vice chairman at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan, Foxman, a Holocaust survivor, has established himself as an authority on antisemitism. Recognizing the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has on our most vulnerable, Foxman partnered with Met Council to provide relief to Holocaust survivors in poverty.
Noting his dedication to fighting antisemitism over the past 50 years, Foxman offered insights into the current state of antisemitism in the United States. He explained that the rise we are seeing is nothing new. Rather, “antisemitism has survived thousands of years, the left and the right, monarchies and democracies, socialism, communism, fascism, capitalism- it survived it all.” However, Foxman said that several changes over the past few years have made this wave of antisemitism different in its form and response. First, social media has made it harder to combat antisemitism and nearly impossible to engage in one-on-one dialogue. The Internet has also made it possible for anonymous individuals to spew hate from behind a screen. Not only has this led to spreading more vile theories, but the reach is greater.
Moreover, Foxman worries that the Internet has caused us to lose the ability to have civil dialogue. Instead, we have public figures that use their platforms to promote their ideology. He compared public figures using their following to athletes selling Wheaties. In both cases, a famous individual is selling a product, in this case, he said, that product is antisemitism.
According to Foxman, a characteristic of social media is that we no longer have the luxury of walking away from hateful or hostile conversations. With posts on social media spreading rapidly Foxman said that it is important to shut down this type of speech and counter it with facts. Antisemitism has also shifted more in the anti-Israel sentiments that are prevalent today. Whether from the political left or the right, “for most, [anti-Israel behavior] is another vehicle for antisemitism.” The efforts to delegitimize Israel may be rooted in ignorance and reflects the importance of proper education and awareness.
One chief concern Foxman expressed about antisemitism is the lack of Holocaust education. There are several barriers to teaching about the Holocaust in schools, with no specific solution. Though passing legislation on Holocaust education is helpful, implementation is proving to be a challenging task. Before we can teach Holocaust education in schools, Foxman argued, we must educate teachers. While organizations such as the Museum for Jewish Heritage can assist with curriculum, the implementation process is proving challenging.
Foxman specifically expressed concern over making the Holocaust “relevant” to today’s students and young adults. He said that education must be a balance between making the issue “universal” and thus, applicable to those outside of the Jewish community. At the same time, the Holocaust had a profound impact on the Jewish community and should be recognized as a Jewish tragedy.
Moreover, the atrocities of the Holocaust are difficult to grasp in a textbook or film. In his experience, personal stories from survivors are most impactful. Specifically, “six million [Jews] doesn’t mean anything. Anne Frank does mean something.” He stressed that as the generation of Holocaust survivors pass, we lose witnesses who can share their stories. It is our responsibility to confront antisemitism as it emerges and to carry on the legacies of those who can no longer share their story.
