When Jewish schools face legal challenges just for teaching their own identity, and synagogues require military-grade security to operate safely, it’s clear that it’s more than isolated incidents.
Across Western democracies, antisemitism is not just rising, it’s being repackaged and, disturbingly, sometimes justified under the label of anti-Zionism. The real danger lies not only in the acts of violence or discrimination themselves but in the growing acceptance of the ideas that make them possible.
Recent events in the United Kingdom and Canada highlight this urgent crisis. These aren’t random outbreaks but part of a troubling pattern demanding urgent attention.
So far, responses have been cautious and insufficient. The consequences reach far beyond Jewish communities, threatening the very foundations of tolerance and coexistence in democratic societies.
In the UK, The Guardian reported a significant escalation in the terrorism threat level, raised to “severe” due to a spike in attacks targeting Jewish people, institutions, and businesses. The government’s response has been to hire former Royal Marines and paratroopers to protect Jewish sites. The near militarization of everyday communal life starkly reveals the scale of the threat and a broader failure to ensure basic safety for Jewish citizens.
In Canada, the situation takes a different but equally alarming form. The Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation revealed that on April 22, 2026, a coalition of anti-Israel and antisemitic groups, including organizations with seemingly benign names like “Just Peace Advocates” and “Palestinians and Jews United”, filed formal complaints against 11 Jewish day schools across the country.
These complaints, lodged with the Canada Revenue Agency, accuse these schools of breaking tax laws by promoting pro-Israel and Zionist views, arguing that supporting Israel and the Israel Defense Forces contradicts Canadian charity rules.
At first glance, this might look like a bureaucratic dispute. It’s not. These complaints form a strategic, coordinated effort to undermine Jewish education and identity, cloaked in legal jargon. This is part of a larger movement that blurs the line between political disagreement and outright hostility, using anti-Zionism as a cover for antisemitism.Opposition to Zionism, the political movement supporting the Jewish state, is often framed as a valid political stance.
But when it crosses into denying Jews the right to self-determination or holds them collectively responsible for Israel’s government, it stops being a political critique and becomes discrimination.
This crossover is exactly what the Canadian complaints represent. Jewish schools serve as vital centers for cultural and religious identity. Targeting them through tax complaints isn’t just an attack on Zionism; it’s an attempt to restrict Jewish identity itself, echoing historical tactics that have pressured Jewish communities under the guise of neutral legal processes.
Antisemitism cloaked as anti-Zionism
This troubling dynamic isn’t confined to the UK or Canada. The rise of antisemitism cloaked as anti-Zionism is a transnational phenomenon spreading through Western democracies. The violence in the UK and legal harassment in Canada reflect a broader failure to confront these prejudices with clarity and resolve. Without a decisive response, this problem will only deepen.
In the United States, similar tensions play out. New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani has drawn attention for his vocal criticism of Israel, presenting it as part of representing a diverse population. But such stances often blur an important line: between legitimate policy critique and rhetoric that risks normalizing the marginalization of Jewish citizens.
When leaders disproportionately single out Israel or question the legitimacy of the Jewish state, they can inadvertently legitimize narratives that feed broader hostility toward Jews.
The challenge today is recognizing that antisemitism often wears the mask of political activism or human rights advocacy. It calls for a nuanced understanding and firm boundaries.
Criticism of any government, including Israel’s, is valid and necessary. But when it turns into demonization, delegitimization, or double standards applied only to Israel, it creates fertile ground for antisemitism to grow under the guise of activism.
Antisemitism isn’t a relic of the past. It adapts, persists, and evolves. Online platforms and social media amplify conspiracies and hate speech, blurring lines between political critique and outright bigotry. This modern antisemitism targets entire communities, questioning their legitimacy and rights.
Governments, civil society, and individuals must respond clearly and consistently. Raising security levels, as in the UK, is necessary but reactive. Legal battles like those in Canada demand vigilance and sustained advocacy. Political leaders must be held accountable for rhetoric and policies that risk marginalizing Jewish citizens.
The surge in antisemitic acts and legal challenges against Jewish institutions is a call to action. It reminds us that the fight against hatred is ongoing and complacency is not an option.
Protecting Jewish communities means more than security or legal defense; it means reaffirming the democratic principle that no minority should have to justify its identity or existence.
Already, these attacks are driving tangible consequences. More Jews are choosing to make aliyah – seeking safety and belonging in Israel. This isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a quiet indictment of societies that fail to make their Jewish citizens feel secure.
The rise in antisemitic violence and targeting of Jewish institutions is flashing red lights. They reveal how hatred can adapt, rebrand, and gain acceptance when not confronted clearly.
Protecting Jewish communities is not just about security; it’s a test of whether democratic societies will uphold their own values consistently. The real question is whether there is clarity and courage to confront this threat directly.
Dr. Michael J. Salamon is a psychologist specializing in behavioral analysis, trauma and abuse and director of ADC Psychological Services in Netanya and Hewlett, NY.
Louis Libin is an expert in military strategies, wireless innovation, emergency communications, and cybersecurity.
Source:
www.jpost.com
