One of the oldest forms of bigotry in existence, anti-Semitism has persisted on account of religious intolerance, cultural misunderstanding and centuries-old myths that have resulted in divisions among cultural and religious groups and, in the most extreme cases, the loss of lives, families and communities. From bigoted jokes and slurs uttered in school halls to physical assaults and the desecration of Jewish synagogues and cemeteries, anti-Semitism manifests in all forms and instills fear in any community. For as long as the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has kept records of national hate crime activity, anti-Semitism has accounted for a majority of the hate crimes motivated by religious bias in the U.S., which is the second highest motivating factor of all hate crimes, the first being racial bias.
Studying anti-Semitism can debunk centuries-old myths that are the basis for many anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic incidents. Learning about the history of the Jewish people and the development of anti-Semitism combats misinformation about Jews, reveals the origins of age-old anti-Jewish stereotypes, and provides factual information that challenges anti-Semitic remarks and intolerance.
There are four lessons included in this unit that establish ground rules for respectful discussion on anti-Semitism (Lesson 1); provide students with a basic understanding of Judaism and the cultural, historical and religious aspects of the U.S. Jewish community (Lesson 2); offer facts to refute anti-Semitic myths and stereotypes so that young people can effectively respond to anti-Semitic incidents in their schools and communities (Lesson 3); and present a brief overview of the history and current day manifestations of anti-Semitism including extremist activity in the U.S. (Lesson 4).
This curricular unit also contains a number of resources for educators, students and families, including a myths and facts booklet on anti-Semitism, a list of book and video resources on anti-Semitism, recommended books on Jewish culture and faith, a handbook on the teaching of religion in public schools, a link to the ADL discussion guide, Anti-Semitism and The Merchant of Venice, and information on a new multimedia curriculum on the Holocaust that includes compelling video of first person testimony from Holocaust survivors, rescuers, and liberators.
In general, the study of anti-Semitism informs us of how all forms of bigotry operate. Prejudice of any kind can ultimately lead to hateful actions such as scapegoating, social exclusion, discrimination, and the genocide of a group of people. Understanding how anti-Semitism grows can help students recognize the importance of standing up to prejudice of any kind before it escalates.