This month we’re aiming to raise awareness of the danger of Antisemitism in the UK and on University campuses. It is also a month to celebrate Jewish heritage and culture, hopefully you learn something new.
Antisemitism is not a new concept; in fact, it’s been around for the last 4000 years, since the beginning of Judaism. It is known as the ‘World's oldest hatred’. For those of you who don’t know, Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people. The Students’ Union recently passed policy at Student Council to adopt the International Holocaust Remeberance Alliance (IHRA) Antisemitism definition, find out more here.
Antisemitism exists and is rising in the UK; in 2019 Antisemitic incidents hit an all-time high. Examples of Antisemitic incidents throughout history include, but are not limited to, the Spanish inquisition, the Holocaust, and recently the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Antisemitism is not limited to in-person hate crimes, it also occurs online, with conspiracy theories and hate towards Jewish people on social media. ‘Casual’ Antisemitism is also a problem that Jewish people face, with jokes about the Holocaust, wealth or facial features being common place.
We’ve been working together to bring you a range of resources and events so you can learn more about Jewish heritage and culture and Antisemitism and how to combat it! Keep an eye out on social media (@qmsu) for more content and make sure you check out the events that are being put on as part of the month.
Tiana Dinard-Samuel, VP Communities and Jewish and Israel Society Committee
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