Anti-Semitism in the context of the contemporary world

28, 169, 221, 347. These are the numbers of anti-Semitic attacks as recorded by the Federation of Jewish Communities in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017. The gradual increase in the number of incidents is therefore noticeable in the long term; the fact that open anti-Semitism is on the rise in Czech society is nothing new. However, the period between September and October 2023 was also shocking in this respect, attacks on Jews in the Czech Republic jumped by 400 percent. In Western Europe the average was 250 percent; however, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, the intensity reached a 530 percent increase. But what leads to this development? Is hatred of Jews growing in the Czech Republic and throughout Europe, or are those who have always felt animosity toward them less afraid to express it now that they feel that society tolerates, if not directly supports, their actions? And who are today's antisemites? What are they actually striving for and what leads to the loss of an almost mathematical experience with the results that anti-Semitism brought not only in history? Are anti-Semites mainly represented among migrants from Middle Eastern countries and "kebab sellers", as they are often portrayed in the media, or do traditional white and "decent" Czechs still play a role?

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day on December 10, the head of the Center, Helena Hofmannová, and the director of the Herzl Center for Israeli Studies, Irena Kalhousová, will discuss not only these questions.The discussion will take place on December 11, 2023 at the PF UK in room no. 319, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We are looking forward to your participation.

CHR