Session 1: What is Antisemitism? Definitions and Debates 

Although Jew hatred dates back millennia, historians disagree on whether it should be called “antisemitism.” While some apply the term to violent events that have taken place across the entirety of Jewish history, others contend that alternative terms, such as “anti-Judaism” and “Judeophobia,” better describe the phenomenon in certain eras. Particularly in recent years, scholars and policymakers have debated the meaning of antisemitism by analyzing the role of political considerations in shaping how the term has been employed. Panel #1 addresses these and other issues by exploring competing definitions of antisemitism, examining how they relate to the controversial notion of antizionism, and determining how both terms have been affected by Hamas’s terror attack against Israel.
Jeffrey Veidlinger, University of Michigan
Glenn Dynner, Fairfield University
Miriam Elman, Academic Engagement Network
Moderated by Gavriel Rosenfeld, CJH / Fairfield University
This program took place on January 28, 2024.