The Truth About Anti-Semitism on Campus — It’s Not All About Israel

[Behind the Aegis]

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!

Reports of anti-Semitic assaults rose dramatically in the past year, particularly on college campuses. And while there may be a tendency to view all critique of Israel as anti-Semitic, a new study finds that at three major universities, politics are not to blame.

“The anti-Semitism that is felt on campus isn’t necessarily attached to Israel, it’s more like the old stereotypes,” Paulee Manich, a junior at Rutgers University, said.

A new study of anti-semitic “hotspots” by the Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis, found that at Rutgers, Wisconsin and Illinois, anti-Semitic incidents were linked to general Jew hatred, and were less likely to be linked to Israel or the Palestinian conflict. At these schools, where as many as one third have witnessed anti-Semitic harassment, buildings were marked with swastikas, vandals spattered Jewish centers with eggs and students were verbally assaulted. What’s happening at these schools echoes the well-documented rise of white nationalism in the wake of Donald Trump’s Republican candidacy for president.

“It is emblematic of what is happening across the country,” said Greg Steinberger, Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Hillel.

“In my dorm freshman year, I was asked where my horns were,” one senior told researchers.

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Emphasis added by me. It seems, with few exceptions, the rise in anti-Semitism garners little more than a bored "meh" from people, including some Jews. It almost appears as if something downright horrible must happen first before it is taken seriously. Given the rise in hate groups, neo-Nazis, and the emboldened hate-mongers of all sides, they may actually get their "wish" sooner than later.

[EllieBC]

1. The lack of response by many really upsets me.

I have many friends who self identify as social justice types. Yet they will NOT discuss antisemitism. Or they write it off as "probably just some overflow from Middle East issues".

As for fellow Jews just giving it a meh response....I think we've all lived it so long we aren't shocked. It's not that we (the collective we) don't care, it's just not shocking to us. Shocking would be antisemitism NOT occurring.