Antisemitism resurgence debate arises as Western culture marks the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's establishment.
In a disheartening turn of events, the Antisemitism Research Center has reported a troubling doubling of antisemitic incidents since 2023, despite Jews comprising less than 1% of the global population. This alarming trend is echoed across the globe, with incidents of hate and violence against Jewish communities on the rise.
The digital realm, unfortunately, provides a platform for conspiracy theories that blame Jews for global ills. These baseless narratives have been documented by various research institutions, including the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which reported a 50-fold spike in antisemitic comments on Canadian YouTube channels following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
Dean Lavi of the London Jewish Community Centre laments a "massive rise" in violence against Jewish institutions in Canada. Similarly, European rabbis, including eight from Spain, have penned a letter to EU institutions warning of an "unprecedented" increase in antisemitism since the same date.
The physical manifestation of this hostility can be seen in cities like Madrid and Salamanca, where antisemitic graffiti targets Jewish-owned shops. In a more brazen display, a German shop owner in Flensburg displayed a sign banning Jewish customers at the beginning of 2025, causing nationwide outrage and prompting investigations by the public prosecutor for incitement of hatred (Volksverhetzung).
This incident, occurring 80 years after Auschwitz's 1945 liberation, was labelled "antisemitism in its purest form" by Felix Klein, Germany's antisemitism commissioner. The sign was removed from the storefront but reportedly relocated inside the shop. Legal proceedings were initiated against the shop owner due to suspicions of attacking human dignity and inciting hatred against Jewish people living in Germany.
The events in Flensburg are not isolated incidents. By 2024, a survey of Jewish doctors in Ontario revealed one-third contemplating emigration due to rising threats, including arson attacks on synagogues and schools. Families are questioning their future amid growing harassment and physical threats.
Researcher David Hartmann confirmed in a 2025 review that digital echo chambers deepen prejudices. Social media's speed amplifies similar tropes, from stereotypes on TikTok to falsehoods implicating Jews in unrelated deaths, like the baseless Charlie Kirk conspiracy.
The increase in antisemitism divides societies along ideological lines, weaponising narratives of colonialism and foreign policy to stoke Islamophobia along with antisemitism. Politicians from Flensburg's mayor to EU lawmakers urge boycotts, investigations, and the creation of a "human rights union" that shields minorities.
However, Europe's Jewish Association decries a potential "exodus" unseen since World War II, with rabbis like Menachem Margolin insisting words of solidarity fall short. The Diary of Anne Frank, or 'Diary of a Young Girl', became a 'must-read' for school children and a societal vow to never again permit the horrors of Nazi barbarity in Europe. Yet, as we stand on the brink of a new era, the question remains: have we truly learned from history?
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