“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.” - International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
Historic examples of antisemitism may include:
Modern examples are those that happened from the 1800s onwards. These can include:
Contemporary examples of antisemitism, those that have manifested since the Holocaust, can include:
Social media and the internet have created a place for antisemitic messages and conversations to thrive. Some examples of this are:
Although combating antisemitism is not an easy fix, there are a few ways that we can all take action:
When hate goes unchallenged, it allows people to think that they can get away with these words and actions.
Many antisemites want to gain attention from their actions. We want to call attention to the action, not the person.
If it is safe to do so, collect evidence that will help when reporting to the police. This includes descriptions of the perpetrators, video or photo evidence of the action and details of what was said or done.
Report actions of antisemitism online to the social media platform.
Although antisemitism mainly affects the Jewish population through direct targeting, it is not a problem that only affects the Jewish community.
In 2021, about 1,300 Jews in Canada reported hate crimes. This is 10 times more than any other religion in Canada.
The impacts of antisemitism include suppression of identity for Jewish people, and at the most extreme, violence towards the community.
More broadly, the existence of antisemitism targets the foundations of society for everyone. Like other forms of intolerance, antisemitism needs to be addressed by more than just Jewish communities.
The Shine a Light on Antisemitism mosaic was created by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton in partnership with Lewis Lavoie to start conversations about antisemitism. Funding for the mosaic art project is from the Jewish Federations of North America's annual Shine a Light on Antisemitism awareness campaign.
Current location: Beth Israel Synagogue
To host the mosaic in a public or private space, please contact the Federation.
Want to learn more about antisemitism? Check out these resources:
IHRA's Shine a Light Antisemitism Primer
Antisemitism Uncovered
Shine a Light Partner Resources
Unlearn Antisemitism (Resources for parents and educators)
Antisemitism in Canada
ADL Antisemitism History
Alberta Hate Crimes Committee
Shine a Light for Antisemitism, organized by the Jewish Federations of North America, is a platform for companies, organizations, individuals and institutions to learn about and shed light on antisemitism.
The Shine a Light campaign takes place every December, and was created to stand up to the harmful prejudices and stereotypes against the Jewish community.