DEI: The New Antisemitism

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs were originally designed to promote fairness and equal opportunities in workplaces, schools, and institutions. They promised to uplift marginalized communities and create inclusive environments for all.

As these initiatives have expanded, however, they have taken a darker turn—one that fosters antisemitism under the disguise of social justice. With antisemitic incidents on the rise in academic and professional spaces, has DEI become a new face of antisemitism?

DEI initiatives often emphasize race and identity politics, promoting narratives about historical oppression and systemic inequality. While these efforts were meant to create equity, they have sometimes led to the alienation of Jewish individuals.

Jews, historically persecuted and discriminated against, are frequently omitted from conversations about oppression. Instead, they are often categorized as part of an alleged “privileged” group, despite facing rising antisemitic attacks globally.

DEI programs focus on binaries—oppressors and oppressed. Jews, often seen as successful in various fields, are unfairly labeled as beneficiaries of systemic privilege.

This perspective disregards centuries of Jewish persecution, including genocide, displacement, and discrimination. In some cases, DEI policies have actively excluded Jewish voices from conversations on discrimination, reinforcing harmful stereotypes rather than dismantling them.

One of the most troubling aspects of modern DEI programs is their influence on college campuses. Universities, which have historically been centers of learning and critical thought, are now experiencing a surge in antisemitic rhetoric and policies under the banner of DEI. Jewish students have been harassed, prevented from entering libraries, and labeled as oppressors simply for supporting Israel or expressing their faith.

This problem extends beyond rhetoric. At many institutions, DEI offices have partnered with organizations that promote anti-Zionist sentiments, equating Zionism with racism and colonialism. This has led to an environment where Jewish students are pressured to denounce their own identity to be accepted within social justice movements.

When DEI officers themselves endorse or remain silent about antisemitic incidents, it raises the question: are these programs truly about inclusion, or have they become vehicles for exclusion?

DEI is not just shaping university culture—it is deeply embedded in corporate America. Many companies have adopted DEI policies that dictate hiring, training, and workplace culture. Yet, Jewish employees often find themselves left out of conversations about diversity.

While other minority groups are given spaces to express concerns and advocate for their rights, Jewish professionals are sidelined or even ignored when speaking up about antisemitism.

Some corporations have even partnered with groups who openly criticize Jewish identity and Zionism. Others have remained silent when antisemitic incidents occur in the workplace.

This double standard raises an uncomfortable reality: DEI is not about diversity at all—it is about advancing specific political narratives while ignoring or enabling discrimination against Jews.

Much of the antisemitism emerging within DEI programs is linked to hostility toward Israel. DEI frameworks often adopt anti-colonialist rhetoric, painting Israel as an imperialist entity and Jews as oppressors. This perspective ignores the complex history of Israel and the Jewish people, reducing a centuries-old conflict to simplistic narratives of victimhood and aggression.

If DEI continues on this trajectory, it risks becoming a mainstream enabler of antisemitism. By failing to address the unique struggles of Jewish individuals and by embracing ideologies that label Jews as oppressors, these programs are contributing to a culture of division rather than unity.

The rise of antisemitic incidents in DEI-driven spaces is not an accident—it is a symptom of a larger ideological shift that was pushed heavily on the United States, under the Biden Administration.

Even when antisemitism is not explicitly part of the conversation, DEI remains deeply flawed. What began as an effort to foster inclusivity and equal opportunity has instead become a tool for division, enforcing rigid ideological frameworks rather than promoting genuine fairness.

Rather than uniting people, DEI fosters resentment by dictating which voices deserve to be heard and which struggles are deemed legitimate. This selective approach eroded trust in institutions and marginalized communities that do not fit within its preferred narrative.

The Jewish community, among others, has felt the consequences of this exclusion.

Thankfully, with President Trump back in office, there is hope for reversing these harmful policies and reaffirming a commitment to genuine equality. His administration has consistently demonstrated support for the Jewish people, both in policy and principle, and will work to dismantle DEI’s divisive influence.

If the fight against discrimination is to have any real meaning, it must apply to all people equally—without ideological bias. The time has come to move beyond DEI and build a framework that truly values fairness, merit, and unity.