Antisemitism:
The facts
What is Antisemitism?
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
Jews remain the most targeted religious group for hate crimes in Canada.*
Antisemitism is happening here
The Jewish community represents 67% percent of all religiously motivated hate nationally.
Although only consisting of 1% of Canada’s population, 14% of all reported hate crimes are targeted at the Jewish community.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) reported that the Vancouver Jewish community experienced a 62% increase in police-reported antisemitic hate incidents in 2023 compared to 2022.
Of the 47 anti-Semitic hate incidents reported to the VPD in 2023, 33 occurred after October 7.
The VPD has investigated 50 criminal offences connected to the October 7 terrorist attacks and ensuing conflict.
Examples of antisemitism
Antisemitism is calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
Antisemitism is making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
Antisemitism is accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
Antisemitism is denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
Antisemitism is accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
Antisemitism is accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
Antisemitism is denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
Antisemitism is applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
Antisemitism is using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
Antisemitism is drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Antisemitism is holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.