Abstract
This article deals with the relationship between the Holocaust and antisemitism, focusing on the events of 2020-2021. The point of departure is the fifth World Holocaust Forum at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, held under the slogan: “Remembering the Holocaust, fighting antisemitism”. The event took place at the invitation of Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, in advance of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 23, 2020). Content analysis of the speeches given by presidents and prime ministers from around the world reinforce the insights of the Holocaust and the association with current-day antisemitism. In March 2020 the COVID-19 virus appeared, and a wave of antisemitism surfaced with it. Analysis of contents that appeared on websites and social networks reveals vitriolic antisemitism against Jews as generators of the virus, being the virus themselves.This study utilized the method of anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), who established the interpretive approach to anthropology for analyzing culture contents. This, with regard to content analysis in general and to the contents of social networks and their contribution to antisemitism, in particular. Operation “Guardian of the Walls” in Gaza in 2021 further fanned antisemitism. Content analysis of websites and social networks portrays the Jewish soldier as a Nazi soldier and all Jews as murderers – with all the Holocaust symbols and Holocaust language.The study seeks to examine whether and to what degree the educational system in general and guides of youth trips to Poland as mediators of memory in particular, are prepared for the educational challenge of eradicating antisemitism in the post-Holocaust era. The research findings show that the challenge still awaits us. Education is an essential instrument in the battle against antisemitism but the educational system, both formal and informal, is not prepared.
Highlights
The Holocaust and Antisemitism – A New Era?This article focuses on one insight of the Holocaust events, and that is the association with current-day antisemitism
The COVID-19 virus emerged – together with a wave of antisemitic events, the pretext being that the Jews had brought the COVID-19 pandemic
Since the public sphere was restricted during COVID-19 and people remained at home, activities on the social networks were strongly intensified, including antisemitic activity, and this was characterized by aggressiveness and verbal violence
Summary
This article focuses on one insight of the Holocaust events, and that is the association with current-day antisemitism. This annihilation was carried out in the context of the generations-long traditional antisemitism, but it was primarily based on the pseudo-scientific racist theory, which ranks humanity on a hierarchy of superior to inferior. The difference between this racism and traditional racism is its institutionalization. In the current study we analyzed the speeches of world leaders on antisemitism at an event held for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as performing content analysis of the discourse on social networks, which reflects contemporary culture. The current study transfers must of the discourse and interest in lessons learned from the Holocaust, on the Jewish and universal sphere, to the cognitive and value-based aspect and its manifestation in antisemitism
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