Moderator: Ms. Adi Kantor
Prof. Yehuda Bauer and Dr. Sharon Nazarian
Regarding the ongoing phenomenon of antisemitism, which is both historical in nature and connected to growing nationalism and xenophobia, Prof. Yehuda Bauer contends that it is import to take an offensive approach. Defense is of limited utility. Instead, those pursing antisemitism must be identified and attacked. Even encouragement of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and its enforcement among various countries is an important tool – but is no more than a tool. Antisemitism cannot be battled through defense; rather, the phenomenon must be attacked, based on the recognition that antisemitism is a consuming ideological cancer, and those pursuing this endanger the very societies they live in. Dr. Sharon Nazarian of the ADL noted that antisemitic attitudes in the United States is not necessarily more rampant than before, and they remain quite prominent (e.g., 15% of Americans think that Jews have too much power in the business world, and 19% think that Jews talk excessively about the Holocaust); rather extremists are emboldened, and feeling empowered, pursue antisemitic acts more than ever. She argues that antisemitism is not a Jewish problem per se or a problem for Israel, and therefore Israel should not take the lead in battling it, as it frees the world at large of this problem. Criticism of Israel is not necessarily antisemitism, but both speakers agreed that anti-Zionism or anti-Israel attitudes are often “progressive” masks for basic antisemitism.