Why Antisemitism Can No Longer Be Ignored

The Antisemitism Surge in America

This recent spike in antisemitism in America ignited when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, including children and elderly Holocaust Survivors, and the kidnapping of 250 individuals. Within weeks, the narrative flipped, and Israel, the victim of a brutal terrorist attack, was recast as the aggressor. This fueled a wave of hate against the Jewish people that quickly spread to America.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there were nearly 10,000 antisemitic incidents reported in the year following the outbreak of the war—a more than 100 percent increase from the previous year. A recent joint survey by the ADL and the Jewish Federations of America (JFA) showed that more than half of Jewish Americans experienced at least one form of antisemitism in the past year. Sadly, 57 percent believe antisemitism is now a normal Jewish experience.

From January 1 to July 31, 2025, the Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) by Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) recorded 3,883 incidents—a 9.4 percent rise over the same period in 2024. This included a wave of antisemitism that infiltrated mainstream culture—like Kanye West’s release of a single and music video titled “Heil Hitler,” a Pulitzer Prize awarded to a Hamas hostage denier for commentary on the Israel-Hamas war, and widespread media coverage of a factually incorrect statement made by a United Nations spokesperson, who falsely claimed that 14,000 Gazan babies would die in 48 hours.

This normalization of antisemitic speech has emboldened hate in schools, where Jewish students are being targeted for harassment, excluded from clubs, or even physically threatened, as well as in the media and in neighborhoods. Social media users even justified the murders of Yaron and Sarah in Washington, DC.

The Jewish people are living in fear for their lives, while terrorists are bolstered by the mainstream culture’s normalization of this toxic rhetoric against Israel and the Jewish people. One Jewish man on a television news bite said that Jews feel like they are being hunted.

Another blatant example of antisemitic bias is the early mainstream media reports on the morning of June 1, 2025, that indicated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were responsible for killing more than 30 civilians outside an aid distribution center in Gaza. Those reports were based solely on information provided by the Hamas-led Health Ministry and were quickly reported without contention or context, even after Israel denied the reports. This is not the first time that the terrorist organization has used propaganda and the mainstream media to further its agenda and distort the reality of the war.

Since then, conservative influencers like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have espoused antisemitic conspiracy theories to the millions of viewers who follow them. Both speak from a “Christian” perspective but veer into the absurd with accusations such as blaming Israel for the assassination of Charlie Kirk. They both seem to be somewhat obsessed with Israel and driven by antisemitism. Tucker Carlson even used his few minutes at Charlie Kirk’s memorial to point a finger at the Jews for killing Jesus, implying their role in Kirk’s death.

Political Antisemitism

What we are witnessing is not just religious or racial antisemitism—it is also a dangerous form of political antisemitism aimed at the Jewish collective that targets the mere existence of Israel as a Jewish state. The radical left-wing antisemitic movement, masked as anti-Israelism, is in fact promoting outright antisemitism. The willingness of those in this movement to harm any Jew they encounter demonstrates that they are using politics as an excuse to attack and kill Jews—period.

It’s Time to Act

Now is the time to raise our voices and stand boldly with the State of Israel and the Jewish people. We must urgently turn our attention to the next generation of American Christians—young people inundated daily with antisemitic narratives on social media and university campuses. To reach them, we need innovative, relevant education that speaks their language and meets them where they are.

We must also spotlight media accountability and launch focused educational efforts that defend truth and protect Jewish communities. We must demand that the mainstream and legacy media prioritize integrity and moral clarity over being the first to report breaking news or further the agenda that Israel and the Jewish people are the aggressors when it’s obvious that they are the victims of heinous violence again and again.

Silence in the face of this vile and growing hostility toward God’s people is not an option.

This article was originally published on July 3, 2025, at: https://icejusa.org/2025/07/03/antisemitism-in-america/

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For over 40 years, Dr. Susan Michael has advanced the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) in the USA and worldwide. She serves as the USA President and sits on the ICEJ’s international Board of Directors. She is frequently asked to address complex issues to diverse audiences—including antisemitism, Jewish-Christian relations, and Middle East affairs—and does so with clarity and grace. Dr. Michael leads the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) network, has authored books, such as Encounter the 3D Bible: How to Read the Bible so It Comes to Life, and has developed educational resources, including the IsraelAnswers website, ICEJ U online courses, and curricula for Christian colleges.