Understanding antisemitism in the UK
Coming away from a virtual course with the Holocaust Educational Trust, Evie Robinson reflects on the history of antisemitism, and the issues facing Jewish students at UCL today.
Photography by Renate on Flickr.
For a long time I have wanted to learn more about the historical origins of antisemitism, and how it affects contemporary manifestations of this prejudice. When I was recently presented with the opportunity to take part in a virtual course with the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) entitled “Understanding Antisemitism in the UK”, I eagerly signed up, prepared with dozens of questions and hoping to learn more. After a month of intensive ambassador sessions with many incredible speakers and academics, I came away feeling enlightened, informed, and above all, inspired.
From speaking to fellow HET ambassadors as well as Jewish students, it seems that many young people are unaware of the origins of antisemitism, and many of the stereotypes that date back centuries are still being used in our daily discourses. A recent survey conducted by UCL Jewish Society shed light on the extent of antisemitic hatred and discrimination on campus: a horrific reality for Jewish students, and an uncomfortable fact for all. So, what can we do to stand in solidarity with Jewish students on campus? Education is always the most powerful tool to combat hatred and prejudice, and we can start by unpacking some of these labels and stereotypes, to understand how we can best educate others on the misinformation perpetrated.
As part of the course with the HET, we had the privilege of hearing from Dr Robert Rozett at Yad Vashem (Israel’s official memorial and education centre for the Holocaust). Dr Rozett provided us with an incredibly informative insight into historical antisemitism, making the complex and intricate history accessible for the group, especially for many ambassadors who were participating in a HET course or event for the first time. Antisemitism has existed for centuries and has evolved in many different forms. Historically, antisemitism has its roots in Christian culture, with an understanding of the New Testament of the Bible that perpetuated Jews as responsible for the killing of Christ. This idea was intensified with the emergence of Blood Libels: when a young Christian child went missing and was later found dead, local Jewish communities were blamed, and accused of sacrificing the child and performing rituals with the child’s blood.
From the 4th century, there were many laws which discriminated against Jews, including prohibiting Jewish people from holding public office or having contact with Christians, and forcing them to wear emblems such as a star on their clothing to distinguish them from Christian people. A new layer to this well-established prejudice against Jews emerged in the Medieval period, primarily due to the feudal structure of society. As Jews were prevented from owning land, joining guilds or practicing professions, many engaged in money lending as the only occupation available to them. This in turn created a portrait of Jews as greedy, and people who only care about money: an idea that continues to prevail in conversations today. The 20th century and rise of Nazism ushered in a new era of modern antisemitism, but before this a crucial document solidified common political fears about the Jewish population: the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Created by Russians at the end of the 19th-century, the text perpetuated the idea that Jews desired world domination, and was later used by Hitler and the Nazi as propaganda to further their antisemitic policy.
After listening to many brilliant sessions on the origins of antisemitism (and what I have covered above is only a fraction of the story), we turned our focus to deciding what we, as young people, could do to fight these stereotypes and stand up against antisemitic hatred in our social circles. I was delighted to hear from Lord Mann, Independent Government Advisor on antisemitism and Danny Stone from the Antisemitism Policy Trust. Both are firm believers in the power of young people in paving the way for change, and their words were inspiring. Stone spoke of the importance of calling out hate when you see it; “through challenging prejudice, you teach the world how you want things to be”; and Lord Mann stressed the importance of each of our daily contributions to tackling prejudice, urging us to “never underestimate your own power”. Two individuals doing incredibly significant work regarding antisemitism in its many forms, Lord Mann and Danny reminded us of our power to instigate change.
I am incredibly proud to be an Ambassador for the HET, working daily on a multitude of different projects, all with the end goal of using Holocaust education to highlight the problems of modern day prejudice and discrimination, and aiming to equip other young people with the tools to fight hatred. But in light of JSoc’s recent report, I am reminded of my privileged position as a student who does not experience daily discrimination simply because of what they believe, or whom they identify as. Having such a voice in debates amongst young people as a representative of HET, I feel a great sense of duty to amplify the voices of those who are most marginalised, and I hope that educating others can be a start. Antisemitism is a form of racism that is so often overlooked, but one that is no less deserving of our time, effort and unwavering commitment. We must do more to make Jewish students feel safe at UCL.
Further resources:
Holocaust Educational Trust website: https://www.het.org.uk/
Antisemitism: What it is, What it isn’t, Why it Matters - Julia Neuberger (a great book to start with if you want to learn more about the roots of antisemitism)
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