This section of DiscovertheNetworks examines the origins, activities, and agendas of a host of anti-Semitic organizations. Holocaust scholar Helen Fein defines anti-Semitism as “a persisting latent structure of hostile beliefs towards Jews as a collective manifested in individuals as attitudes, and in culture as myth, ideology, folklore and imagery, and in actions – social or legal discrimination, political mobilization against the Jews, and collective or state violence – which results in and/or is designed to distance, displace, or destroy Jews as Jews.”

Traditional anti-Semitism, with its historic linkage to Nazism and fascism, tends to be overt. Its hallmarks include:

•  drawing on the age-old blood libel that depicts Jews as bloodthirsty murderers and cannibals

•  perpetuating the timeless conspiracy theory of undue and unseen Jewish influence politically or economically

•  denying the reality and scope of the Nazi Holocaust

•  branding Jews as "Christ-killers"

•  accusing Jews of usury

•  depicting Jews as uniformly dishonest, treacherous, and evil 

In addition, there is a "new anti-Semitism" characterized by anti-Zionist and anti-Israel criticism that is anti-Semitic in its effect — whether or not in its intent — and is more subtle and thus frequently escapes condemnation.

According to the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), anti-Zionist and anti-Israel criticism -- regardless of the motive -- become anti-Semitic when they entail:

•  denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination;

•  applying double standards to the state of Israel;

•  using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis;

•  drawing comparisons between contemporary Israeli policy and that of the Nazis; or

•  holding Jews collectively responsible for actions by the state of Israel. 

The RESOURCES column on the right side of this page contains a link to the section where profiles of Anti-Semitic Groups can be found. It also contains links to articles, essays, books, and videos that explore such topics as:

• the Left and anti-Semitism
• black anti-Semitism