Terms To Know

According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. IHRA provides a list of examples that help distinguish between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel.

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement (BDS) aims to demonize, delegitimize, and destroy the Jewish nature of Israel, with the result of denying Jews their right to national self-determination. Its goals include universities divesting funds from Israeli companies and American companies that do business with Israel and the boycott of Israeli scholars and educational programs.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a leading American Muslim civil rights organization whose activity centers on responding to anti-Muslim incidents and sentiments nationwide. Some members of CAIR’s leadership have been affiliated with Hamas-linked entities.

A campaign suggesting Israel is responsible for American police brutality due to training programs between the U.S. and Israeli police forces. Users of this trope argue that Israeli and U.S. law enforcement exchange security practices and ideologies to purposely target people of color.

Many universities have DEI coordinators whose role is to ensure a safe environment and welcoming space for all students. Unfortunately, some of these efforts have led to discrimination against Jewish students, either intentionally or unintentionally.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance developed a working definition of antisemitism, which has become the gold standard for institutions including the United States government. In recent years, anti-Israel groups have fought to prevent colleges and universities from adopting IHRA.

A social theory describing the way that social categories, such as race, class, and gender, interact with one another to further compound one’s relationship to systemic oppression or advantage. It has been manipulated to downplay antisemitism and discrimination against Jews because of their supposed power and privilege.

A radical anti-Zionist activist group that advocates for a complete economic, cultural, and academic boycott of Israel. JVP thinks that Israeli policies and actions are motivated by deeply-rooted Jewish racial chauvinism and religious supremacism.

A Palestinian nationalist activist group of mostly young people that often partners with other anti-Zionist organizations like JVP or SJP. It completely rejects the idea of a two-state solution and is known to be provocative.

A network of pro-Palestinian groups across the U.S. known for inflammatory propaganda and mass protests on campus. SJP chapters are often the leading agitators against Jewish and pro-Israel students on campus.

Demonization, Double Standards, and Delegitimization are the components of the “3D test” that distinguish legitimate criticism of Israel from antisemitism.

Formed shortly after the Second Intifada in 2001, this coalition of over 300 organizations is made up of extremists who aggressively support the BDS movement and want to sever U.S.-Israel ties.

The youth wing of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which endorsed BDS in 2016. YDSA plays an active role in anti-Israel activism on campus.

The Jewish movement for self-determination and statehood in their ancestral homeland — Israel. It is an indigenous national liberation movement and an integral part of Jewish identity for many Jews.