16 November 2023
Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, is extremely concerned and dismayed over the news of targeted attacks and harassment faced by Holocaust survivors on social media platforms like TikTok. The fact that these survivors, who have already endured unimaginable atrocities, are now being subjected to further hatred and antisemitism is absolutely appalling.
These distressing incidents come in the midst of a disturbing exponential rise in antisemitism and antisemitic rhetoric, both online and offline. It is deeply troubling to witness the spread of this venomous hatred on the streets, in town squares, and even on college campuses. This situation demands our immediate attention and action.
Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan states:
“We are quite disturbed by the targeted attacks on Holocaust survivors on social media platforms and the alarming rise of antisemitism worldwide. Antisemitism is a cancer that, if left unaddressed and unchecked, will metastasize into monstrous dimensions. Antisemitism is a hatred that may start by targeting Jews, but as history has repeatedly shown us, it never ends there. We must confront and eradicate this insidious hatred, as it threatens the very fabric of our society and the values we hold dear. The proliferation of antisemitism is indicative of underlying problems with societal values. Waging war against antisemitism is not just a duty to the Jewish community, but a responsibility to humanity as a whole."
Now more than ever, we must stand united against the rising antisemitism and all forms of hatred. We call on social media platforms, governments and law enforcement agencies to take swift and decisive action to combat antisemitic bullying, ensure the safety of Holocaust survivors and all Jewish communities, and promote a culture of acceptance and respect.
