Academic Says Antisemitism Evolving and Difficult to Define

Protestors hold placards and flags during a rally against antisemitism in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 18, 2024 . Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Defining antisemitism is difficult as perceptions of it changes over time, a parliamentary committee on antisemitism at Australian universities has been told.

Monash University Associate Professor David Slucki, the director of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, shared his views on the recent surge in vandalism and violent acts against the Jewish community across the country.

While antisemitic incidents have surfaced in many places following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the past few months have seen a significant escalation in number and severity.

This includes reports of offensive graffitiing, and arson attacks on cars and buildings in Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne.

According to the Australian Federal Police, over 100 incidents of antisemitic crimes are currently under investigation.

Police also suspect that overseas actors may be behind the incidents, potentially hiring local criminals to carry out acts of sabotage.

The incidents have prompted state governments to crack down on antisemitic behaviours, with New South Wales deploying its counter-terrorism task force.

Definitions Change Over Time

Amid the escalating situation, Slucki raised the issue that it is challenging to define antisemitism as definitions are “imperfect and imprecise,” and change over time.

“What we consider to be antisemitic 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 years ago has changed, and that'll change again as history moves on,” he told the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights.

“A lot of these concepts that we’re dealing with generally in this discussion around things like racism [and] discrimination—they’re all imprecisely defined.”

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has developed a non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism, which is adopted by state members as a reference.

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities,” the definition reads.

It adds that manifestations of antisemitism might include the targeting of the state of Israel.

But said Slucki there are controversies around this definition as it revolves around the role of the Israeli state in Jewish life and identity.

“The best evidence we’ve got indicates that a majority of Australian Jews identify themselves as Zionists, meaning they see Israel as their Jewish homeland, to which they identify as sort of core to their Jewishness,” he said.

“For people for whom that is at the core of their Jewishness, challenges to the existence and thriving of Israel are necessarily antisemitic.”

“There are many more grey areas where things like criticism of Israel might devolve into antisemitism. This is all to say that defining antisemitism is difficult.”

Protestors hold placards and flags during a rally against antisemitism in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 18, 2024. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The Lack of Understanding About the Surge in Antisemitism

There is also an insufficient understanding of the recent increase in antisemitism in Australia, the associate professor said.

“The recent spate of attacks in Sydney, the regularity of it, the types of targets, I think that the level of violence we’re seeing is pretty shocking, and certainly a moment for pause,” he said.

At the same time, Slucki raised the issue that antisemitism has been entrenched in Australian society for a long time.

“There are times when antisemitism existed in the fabric of Australian society in much more insidious ways, where Jews were excluded from Australian society,” he said.

“The presence of former Nazis after World War II, who were brought to Australia—whether they were German scientists or former concentration camp guards who came as refugees or displaced persons.

“Antisemitism has never gone away in Australia, like, as long as there’s been Australia, there’s been antisemitism.”

Under such a complex situation, Slucki said there was a need to have a better understanding of antisemitism in Australia, including about how it is connected to antisemitism on a more global scale.

“We need to examine further the relationship between antisemitism and other forms of racism, prejudice, hate, and unjust discrimination,” he said.

“We need to understand what are the best ways to combat these pernicious phenomena and develop methods that are sustainable to make this country a safer and more just place to live, not only for Jews, but for people of all backgrounds.”