History Repeats: Global Antisemitism Surges

History Repeating Itself: The Alarming Rise of Global Antisemitism

The Holocaust did not begin with gas chambers. It began with words.

Before six million Jews were murdered in Nazi Germany, there was a slow, methodical buildup of hatred: propaganda, dehumanization, political scapegoating, and the mainstream normalization of antisemitic narratives. Today, as we witness a chilling resurgence of global antisemitism, we must ask—have we learned anything from history?

The brutal murder of a young Jewish couple today, connected to the embassy in Washington D.C. sent shockwaves through the Jewish world. For many, this is not an isolated act of violence—it is a symptom of a larger disease that’s spreading rapidly across the globe.

1. Then and Now: Twisted Narratives Fuel Hatred

In the 1930s, Jews were blamed for Germany’s economic failures, painted as greedy capitalists by one regime and subversive communists by another. Hitler’s propaganda machine weaponized lies until they became truth in the public’s eyes. Jews were accused of dual loyalty, of conspiring behind the scenes to control banks, media, and governments.

Today, the same themes reemerge under different disguises. Jews are targeted as symbols of “colonialism” in Israel, accused of “genocide” in a country that has constantly fought for its survival. On university campuses across the U.S. and Europe, students chant “from the river to the sea,” a slogan that openly calls for the eradication of Israel. And when Jewish people raise their voices in defense, they’re often silenced or dismissed as aggressors.

The difference? In 2025, these views are not confined to the margins. They are spreading across mainstream platforms, cheered on by influencers, politicians, academics, and even some NGOs—many of whom claim to champion human rights while demonizing the only Jewish state.

2. A Global Hatred, Dressed in New Clothes

In Nazi Germany, antisemitism was explicit. Today, it wears the mask of “anti-Zionism”—a distinction without a difference when it denies Jews the right to a homeland. Critics of Israel are quick to claim that they’re “only” against the government or its policies. But that same scrutiny is rarely applied to China, Iran, Russia, or any other nation facing conflict.

This double standard is not accidental. It is a refined form of antisemitism: holding Jews collectively responsible, whether they live in Tel Aviv or Toronto.

When Jewish synagogues are defaced in Paris after an Israeli military operation, when Jewish students are assaulted on U.S. campuses, when Jewish neighborhoods in London are patrolled by protest mobs, this is no longer about politics—it’s about hate.

3. The Psychological Warfare: Dehumanization 2.0

Just as Nazi Germany published children’s books portraying Jews as subhuman rats and parasites, today’s social media memes liken Israel to the Nazis—a grotesque inversion of history. Holocaust inversion, where Jews are painted as the new oppressors, is not just offensive. It is psychological warfare that erodes empathy, rewrites history, and gives moral cover to those who seek harm.

In both eras, the Jewish people were made into caricatures, stripped of nuance, and turned into symbols of evil. The method has not changed—only the medium.

4. What Has Changed? One Word: Israel

The critical difference between then and now is that the Jewish people are no longer stateless and defenseless. In 1940, Jews had no military, no national voice, no refuge. Today, Israel stands as the embodiment of Jewish self-determination—a strong, democratic nation in an increasingly unstable region.

But this sovereignty has made Israel a lightning rod. While it protects Jews worldwide in ways that were unimaginable during the Holocaust, it has also become a target. When Israel defends itself against terrorism, it is accused of “genocide.” When it mourns its murdered citizens, it is met with silence or skepticism. The very existence of a Jewish state has become a battlefield.

This paradox is not lost on Israel’s enemies: they understand that if they can isolate Israel, they can isolate Jews everywhere.

5. The Time to Speak Is Now

History doesn’t repeat itself exactly—but it often rhymes. And the rhyme we hear now is dangerously familiar. It’s in the silence of world leaders after Jewish deaths. It’s in the headlines that excuse terrorism while blaming the victims. It’s in the chants on college campuses and the attacks on city streets.

The Jewish people cannot afford to wait until the violence escalates further. And neither can the world.

We must name antisemitism wherever it hides—whether it’s in the halls of the UN, behind activist hashtags, or cloaked in intellectual discourse. We must support Israel not just as a geopolitical ally, but as a moral necessity—a living answer to a question the world once answered with silence.

In memory of those murdered in the Holocaust, and in honor of those murdered today, we must refuse to be silent. The fight against antisemitism is not only a Jewish issue—it is a fight for truth, for justice, and for the soul of our shared humanity.