Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism (also Judeophobia) is the term for the categorical rejection of Jews and Judaism. It occurs itself in opionions, ideologies and symbols, and it can lead to acts of social or legal discrimination and various forms of violence.
SIG Factsheet on the subject
De l'antijudaïsme à l'antisémitisme*
* Available in French or German. Select your preferred language by clicking the language selection on the top of this site. This will display the content of this page (in either French or German).
Anti-Semitism is known to have existed for over 2000 years and has been apparent in many historical periods, particularly in Europe. Even in ancient times, Judaism was perceived as a threat to polytheism and was persecuted by the Roman Empire. A later development was the Christian perspective that saw Jews as complicit in the death of Jesus, thus adding a religious justification for hostility to them. The consequences have been enforced baptisms, expulsions and pogroms. Deeply rooted in religion, the inspiration for anti-Semitism has played a major role in perpetuating stereotypical images of Jews and hatred of Jews.
Not overcome yet despite the Second World War
The most radical manifestation of anti-Semitism was the Holocaust with its declared aim of eliminating the physical presence of all Jews, leading to the systematic murder of six million Jews. However, anti-Semitism itself has by no means been eliminated since the end of the Second World War. Instead, it persists as a latent undercurrent ready to reactivate in times of crisis. Recently, it has tended to become more, not less, assertive.
Anti-Semitism and the hatred of Jews take many different forms. For example, the Holocaust is either denied as a reality or justified in terms of a racist ideology and stereotypical images of Jews. Jews have been denied the right to self-determination beeing a nation of their own. Jews as a group are made responsible for the actions and politics of Israel, and standards are applied to Israel which are different from those applied to other states.
Different forms of hostility to Jews
Signs of an underlying hostility to Jews may be found today in public life, on the street, in the media, in electronic communication channels, at school, at work and in the religious arena. Indeed, an anti-Semitic concept persists in Switzerland and makes sporadic appearances. Studies indicate that anti-Semitism feeds on prejudices and clichés and is also alive in precisely those areas where there are no Jews at all.