Scholars have written reams about the enduring hatred today called antisemitism, also called anti-Judaism. They have studied its origins in Christian thought, multiple manifestations in Western civilization, expressions of prejudice and discrimination in law and society, and myriad examples of shocking violence across the millennia. Pamela Nadell’s forthcoming book Antisemitism, an American Tradition shows the many ways in which this enduring hatred found a home in America. Even as Jews thrived in America for more than 350 years, antisemitism affected their lives. It took different forms—Jews were blackballed from clubs and societies, legislation impacting Jewish rights, and even terrible violence. Understanding the Jewish experience in America requires understanding that antisemitism was and remains a powerful American tradition.
As antisemitic incidents spike across the U.S. in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, experts warn of an alarming rise in hate crimes, online vitriol, and harassment of Jewish students. NBC News reports on this disturbing trend, with historian Pamela Nadell noting that while antisemitism has long been part of American history, the unprecedented scale and intensity of social media-fueled hatred make this moment particularly dangerous.