The past decade has seen an upsurge in Antisemitic attitudes and behavior, virtually regardless of which criteria are used to measure it. This escalation has been prominent in a number of societies, notably in Europe, but nowhere has it been more intense than it has in the United States.  Yet, not long ago the threat appeared to be moderating. During the early 2010’s, reviews of the records kept by law enforcement agencies across America revealed that the annual totals of Antisemitic “incidents” (harassment or violence directed against Jews, or vandalism of Jewish property) were generally quite low by comparison to the recent past; in 2013, an audit prepared by the Anti-Defamation League recorded only 751 reported incidents, the fewest since the ADL began to compile annual audits in 1979. However, in 2016, and particularly after the general election, the number of incidents began to rise sharply, toward 2000 and then beyond it. The total for 2021 was 2717, easily the highest figure recorded to that point, and the total for 2022 surpassed it by 36%, coming in at 3697.  The upsurge of recent years also saw the massacre of eleven worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in Oct. 2018 – by far the greatest mass killing of Jews in American history. The spread of Antisemitism through social media has contributed to the problem, as has the hate-speech of celebrities like Kanye West.  And while the current brand of Antisemitism is commonly associated with the Far Right, it is prominent on the Far Left as well, especially on university campuses.

In his talk on April 18, Stephen Paolini will offer insights into the apparent surge in Antisemitism and will suggest possible remedies. Stephen is the associate regional director of the ADL’s northwest regional office, which is based in Seattle and is responsible for six states, from Alaska to Oregon. The moderator for this event will be Dr. Flo Leibowitz, who prior to her (very active) retirement taught philosophy at OSU for more than forty-five years. Professor Leibowitz is a member of the Holocaust Memorial Committee at OSU.

At Oregon State University, we have observed Holocaust Memorial Week every year since 1987. The breadth and the duration of our effort are unmatched in the Pacific Northwest. This program grows from the belief that educational institutions can do much to combat prejudice of all kinds, and to foster respect for the diversity that is America, by promoting an awareness of the Holocaust, perhaps the most horrific historical indicator of the high cost of prejudice. It is particularly important to teach young people about the Holocaust, so that coming generations will not forget the lessons that a preceding one learned at such cost. This emphasis recalls the motto of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness."  Learn more about all events at https://holocaust.oregonstate.edu/

For accommodations for disability, please contact University Events at events@oregonstate.edu or by calling 541-737-4717.