As formally defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, “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.” According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the last two years have brought a spike in antisemitism. Unfortunately, UConn’s campus spaces have not been free from this trend.

Rising antisemitism does not just impact Jewish people; bias, hatred, harassment, or violence against one identity-based group normalizes bias, hatred, harassment, and violence towards other identity-based groups. We have seen, for example, a similar spike in anti-Asian and Anti-Black racism, in Islamophobia, in violence against the LGBTQIA+ community, and in sexual- and gender-based violence across all groups.

We encourage all members of the UConn community to confront antisemitism, racism, and discrimination, to actively speak out and denounce it, and to create a caring community that celebrates diversity.

Here are some resources for learning more about how and why we must combat antisemitism:

• Best Practices – Campus Climate Initiative
• Hillel Campus Climate Initiative
• The Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
• Antisemitism Education (YouTube)
• Antisemitism: How the Origins of History’s Oldest Hatred Still Hold Sway Today (The Conversation)
• Between Kanye and the Midterms, the Unsettling Stream of Antisemitism (NYT)
• UConn also offers a course on antisemitism: “Why the Jews? Confronting Antisemitism.” This course will run from March 6th through April 28th this spring.