Antisemitism facts for kids
Antisemitism is a strong dislike or prejudice against Jewish people. It means treating Jewish people unfairly or hating them just because they are Jewish. This kind of hatred has been around for a very long time.
One of the most terrible examples of antisemitism was the Holocaust. This was a genocide (a planned killing of a large group of people) that happened between 1933 and 1945. During this time, the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and his followers tried to completely get rid of Jewish people in Europe. They believed Jewish people were a "bad racial group." About six million European Jews were killed because of these beliefs.
Even today, antisemitism still exists in many parts of the world.
Contents
What is Antisemitism?
Antisemitism is more than just disliking someone. It is a specific type of hatred aimed at Jewish people. This hatred can show up in many ways. It can be through words, actions, or even ideas that spread false and harmful beliefs about Jewish people.
People who are antisemitic might blame Jewish people for problems. They might also believe untrue things about them, like that they are greedy or secretly control the world. These ideas are very old and have caused a lot of harm throughout history.
Antisemitism Through History
Antisemitism has a long and sad history. For centuries, Jewish people have faced unfair treatment and violence. They were often blamed for things that went wrong, and sometimes they were forced to leave their homes.
In many places, Jewish people were made to live in separate areas or wear special badges. This was done to make them stand out and treat them differently from others. These actions often led to more prejudice and violence against them.
The Holocaust: A Terrible Example
The Holocaust is the most extreme example of antisemitism. It was a time when the Nazi government in Germany tried to murder every Jewish person in Europe. They built special camps where millions of Jews were taken and killed.
This terrible event showed how dangerous antisemitism can be. It reminds us why it is so important to fight against hatred and prejudice of any kind.
Antisemitism Today
Sadly, antisemitism has not disappeared. It still happens around the world. You might see it in:
- Hate speech online or in public.
- Vandalism, like drawing swastikas (a Nazi symbol) on Jewish buildings.
- Attacks on Jewish people or their places of worship.
- Spreading false stories or conspiracy theories about Jewish people.
It is important to recognize antisemitism and speak out against it. Learning about history helps us understand why it is so important to be kind and respectful to everyone, no matter their background or beliefs.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
1879 statute of the Antisemitic League
-
Cover page of Marr's The Way to Victory of Germanicism over Judaism, 1880 edition
-
Caricature by C. Léandre (France, 1898) showing Rothschild with the world in his hands
-
1889 Paris, France elections poster for self-described "candidat antisémite" Adolphe Willette: "The Jews are a different race, hostile to our own... Judaism, there is the enemy!" (see file for complete translation)
-
Jews (identified by the mandatory Jewish badge and Jewish hat) being burned.
-
Etching of the expulsion of the Jews from Frankfurt in 1614
-
Title page of the second edition of Das Judenthum in der Musik, published in 1869
-
Antisemitic agitators in Paris burn an effigy of Mathieu Dreyfus during the Dreyfus affair
-
Public reading of the antisemitic newspaper Der Stürmer, Worms, Germany, 1935
-
Graffiti of a swastika on a building in the Palestinian city Nablus, 2022
See also
In Spanish: Antisemitismo para niños
