Anti-semitism
WZO, JAFI, and the Ministry for Diapora Affairs
Israel
2023 began with a gradual increase in antisemitic incidents of up to 10%, compared to 2022. This trend was maintained for the first nine months of the year (January-September). However, the events of October 7th and the war that ensued saw a dramatic increase in levels of antisemitism around the world, which resulted in all-time highs. The number of antisemitic incidents for the period between October and December increased six-fold, compared to the previous nine-month period. On a yearly basis, 2023 ended with a 235% increase in antisemitic incidents, compared to 2022, with 43% of monitored events occurring in the USA and 35% in Europe. This past year, violent antisemitic incidents sharply increased by 33%, compared to 2022, with 48% of these related to the Iron Swords war. Here, 46% of all antisemitic incidents took place in the USA, followed by Britain (16%), Germany (9%), France (6%), Canada (6%), Australia (2.5%).
The Department for Combatting Antisemitism and Enhacning Resilience at the WZO
Israel
On the morning of Saturday, 7th October 2023, the State of Israel was shaken to the core when Hamas terrorists waged an unprecedented and barbaric attack. At least 1,200 people were murdered, with an estimate of 20,000 injured by the end of 2024, and 240 having been taken hostage.
From mass murder to rape, torture, mutilation, and taking of hostages, every imaginable international law was completely violated by Hamas, including war crimes, attempted genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Hamas’ actions were universally condemned, including by the United States, Europe, and many leaders around the world.
This document provides a brief overview and seeks to answer some of the most commonly asked legal questions concerning the actions of Hamas and Israel’s response to the massacre of October 7th.
Natal
Israel
A traumatic event is a situation in which a person is exposed to a direct threat of death or
severe injury to themselves and/or their loved ones. Exposure to a traumatic event can occur
when the person is directly experiencing it or witnessing or learning that the event has
happened to a loved one. It can also occur when professionals – such as first responders,
police officers, and mental health professionals – are repeatedly exposed to aversive details of a
traumatic event. Traumatic events can lead to the development of an acute stress response
and, over time, even post-traumatic stress disorder.
War exposes entire populations to a prolonged state of imminent threat to life, in other words,
a “Continuous Traumatic Threat.” In this situation, the individual focuses on survival, self-preservation,
and safeguarding the immediate surroundings from the external threat.
EmotionAid
Does your heart beat fast in times of stress or crisis?
Does your breathing get shallower? Does your body tremble?
Do you feel confused, disoriented, anxious, panicky, or helpless?
These are natural reactions in times of stress. They can be calmed and changed on the spot by taking the 5 simple steps in this guide.
EU CARE
Europe
CSPC
Israel
An informative one-pager about how to speak to children about traumatic events like war, and other imminent threats.
Ohel
USA
Ohel presents: Coping with Sari, Ori and Bananas! A puppet show for children to help them process their feelings about the war, in collaboration with Sari Kapnitikoff of That Jewish Moment.
Tzivy Reiter
Director of Ohel's Children's & National Trauma Services
USA
Practical suggestions to help your young children cope with the war in Israel, by Ohel.
Tzivy Reiter
Director of Ohel's Children's & National Trauma Services
USA
Practical suggestions to help your children cope with the war in Israel, by Ohel.
ICSPC
Israel
Discover your inner strength with the Resilience Fairy! 🧚♀️✨ Join us in this fun video for kids and adults to learn about the BASIC PH resilience model – a superpower for coping with stress and anxiety! 💪🚀 B = Belief A = Affect S = Social I = Imagination C = Cognition Ph = Physiology Unleash your inner hero now!
Natal
Israel
Especially for times of war, when in Israel and Jewish communities around the world the ongoing threats bring high levels of stress with them, Natal offers plenty of resources to cope with the stress buildup and help in relaxation.
The documents included in this Best Practice:
- How to Calm Children, and Adolescents during Times of Stress
- The Animal Superpower Game
- Self-soothing in 8 steps
- Family Relaxation Exercise
"Combat Antisemitism Movement" and "Fight Online Antisemitism"
Reporting antisemitic content on social media networks is easy and anonymous. The account/person who posted the content will not see you reported it.
You can find step-by-step guides to reporting hateful content on the most popular social media platforms in the attached pdf.
PJ Library
It’s a rip-roaring tale. Beautiful princess saves her people! Palace intrigue! Failed assassination plots! The triumph of the underdog! So cinematic; so fun!
But the Purim story, as told in Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) also provides a great opportunity to talk seriously about modern-day antisemitism.
Rachel Fish, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism Proud PJ Library Parent Member, PJ Library Nextgen Board
Incidents of antisemitism can occur at unexpected moments and often when we least anticipate them. To experience hostility and discrimination from others because of religion, race, and/or ethnicity is traumatic for adults and children alike, and fear can make it hard to speak up and stand up for oneself. It’s a difficult topic to discuss, and for many of us, navigating this terrain feels daunting and explosive. How do we speak, whether in person or via social media, to family members, close friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and, most importantly, our children about such an ugly and painful subject? What is required for each of us to feel confident to enter this conversation and feel as if we are on sturdy ground?
PJ Library
Let’s face it, no one wants to have to tell their child that there are nasty people in the world who will try to hurt them just for being themselves. We raise our kids to be good people, mensches, to help and accept others, and to do the best they can to treat those around them fairly and with respect.
Dr. Shiri Daniels
Executive Director of Counseling Eran; Member of JReady's professional committee
Israel
Crisis and disaster events can evoke overwhelming emotions: anxiety, anger, uncertainty, helplessness, and a sense of threat to our basic safety and security. In addition, for some the events may provoke earlier traumatic memories from a similar situation and/or intensify preexisting emotional difficulties. Crisis events undermine the sense that we have control over our lives, harm social resilience, and raise levels of anxiety and emotional distress among all of us: children, youth, and adults alike. At times, the emotional overload can paralyze us, leading us to close ourselves off and avoid contact with others. However, talking about our most difficult fears and disturbing thoughts can bring a great sense of relief during times of emotional distress.
Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy
Israel
In September 2019, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs published a report, “Behind the
Mask,” which demonstrated the connection between antisemitism and the Boycott
Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and its delegitimacy campaign against the
State of Israel. The report included over 80 examples of leading BDS activists
disseminating antisemitic content, consistent with the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
Following the report, and in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the Ministry has been
monitoring antisemitism and efforts to delegitimize Israel with the linking of the State
of Israel and Jews to the coronavirus. The Ministry and other organizations focused on
combatting hate speech found multiple cases of BDS-supporting organizations and
senior government and quasi-governmental officials propagating antisemitic
conspiracies and libels.