Anti-Semitic vandalism at a Jewish cemetery in France, January 2015. The swastika is a predominate symbol used to convey anti-Jewish sentiment. 2014 held a marked increase in similar vandalism along with violence against Jews. Less than two months into the New Year and deadly anti-Semitic attacks have already captured headlines more than once. The killing of Jewish hostages at a kosher market in Paris started the year off. Last weekend, a Jewish security guard was shot and killed near a synagogue in Copenhagen.
These events are indicative of the increase in anti-Semitism and violence against Jewish People throughout the world. It is a disturbing trend that gives great cause for concern.
Last year saw a marked rise in anti-Semitic incidents. The Simon Wiesenthal Center put out its list of the Top Ten Worst Global Anti-Semitic/Anti-Israel Incidents of 2014. In its introduction, it states that “2014 was a year of unprecedented explosions of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hatred,” and “a year of increasing acceptance of Jew-hatred in the political and social fabrics of societies.” The list, it says, is “indicative of burgeoning threats and challenges to the Jewish People not encountered since the end of WWII” (Simon Wiesenthal Center 2014 list).
The list recounts, by country or region, outrageous acts of anti-Semitism in 2014:
Anti-Semitism in Belgium
It remembers the Belgium doctor who last summer took a call from the son of a 90-year-old Jewish woman with a broken rib. The doctor refused to see her and told her son to, “Send her to Gaza for a few hours; then she will get rid of the pain.”
In the United Kingdom
In the UK, seventh-grade boys from a Jewish school were refused entry into a sporting goods store when the guard said to them, “No Jews. No Jews.” The store chain did apologize, and later fired the guard.
In the U.S.
In the U.S., several college campus incidents were noted in which there was open hate-speech against Jews and Israel by professors, and in campus forums. Also mentioned were the Kansas City Jewish community center murders in which a former Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon opened fire outside the center, killing three passersby who happened to be Gentiles. According to the report, he told reporters he had “wanted to make d****d sure I killed some Jews…before I died.”
Also in the US, the United Auto Workers Local 2865 labor union voted to support the BDS Movement encouraging boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel for what they claim is “occupation” of “Palestinian” land. (Washington Examiner).
In Hungary
The mayor of an eastern Hungarian town publically hanged in effigy Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former President Shimon Peres. The sign hanging on the Peres dummy called him a war criminal and “genocider” who was going to his master, Satan.
In Israel
Incidents in Israel were the most horrific: the Har Nof Synagogue massacre, the kidnap and murder of three Jewish teens, and several acts of “car terrorism” were mentioned in the report.
Israel’s Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs Ministry compiled a report on anti-Semitism in 2014 which also indicates “deterioration around the world,” as Minister Naftali Bennett described it. He noted that past stereotypical anti-Semitism – that of “a global Jewish conspiracy” – is compounded by “the campaign to delegitimize Israel.” He stated that opposition to Operation Protective Edge is a smokescreen for anti-Semitism that does not “distinguish between Jews and Israelis” (The Jerusalem Post).
France sees doubled anti-Semitism in 2014
France experienced double the number of anti-Semitic incidents in 2014 than it did in the previous year, according to the Jerusalem Post. The January incident in Paris in which four Jewish people were killed by a Muslim terrorist in a Kosher market does not factor into these statistics.
British anti-Semitism growing
The Campaign against Anti-Semitism recently conducted a survey of anti-Semitic attitudes in Britain along with the concerns of British Jews. The survey was taken just before January’s three days of terrorist rampage in Paris and reveals that over 50 percent of British Jews feel present anti-Semitism “echoes” that of the 1930s. It showed that 58 percent believe Jewish People may have no long-term future in Europe. Again, over 50 percent of British Jews say they witnessed more anti-Semitism in the past two years than ever before, and 63 percent believe authorities let too much of it go unpunished.
On the other side of the spectrum, the survey evaluated anti-Semitic beliefs of a sampling of British citizens. From a list of seven anti-Semitic statements, 45 percent of Brits surveyed believe at least one is probably or definitely true. Twenty-six percent believe at least two are true, seventeen percent think at least three are true, and eleven percent believe at least four of the seven anti-Semitic statements are true.
The increase of global anti-Semitism is real. Now more than ever we must stand with Israel and Jewish People. Look for our coming blog posts “12 Ways to Pray against Anti-Semitism,” and “Nine Ways You Can Support Israel.”
And please continue to pray against anti-Semitism around the world, asking God to protect His People and raise up world leaders to speak out against it.
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