How Antisemitism Affects Mental Health

Just as recent incidents of sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia and racism have made women, LGBTQ people, Muslims and people of color feel vulnerable in the US, Hamas' latest ambush against Israeli citizens marks the deadliest day for Jews. . the holocaust. , comes amid historic levels of persecution and attacks against Jews in the United States, as many Jews again suffer the pain of anti-Semitism.

Experts say that like all marginalized groups targeting their identities, the negative impact on mental health is profound.

This is what anti-Semitism and its reactions have in common with other types of prejudice, and what makes it special, experts say.

What is anti-Semitism?

Although the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as "hostility or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group," according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), it doesn't fully cover all the complexities. The ADL has been tracking anti-Semitic incidents in the United States since 1979 and found that the number will reach an all-time high of 3,697 by 2022, a 36% increase over the previous year.

He noted that a more complete working definition, developed in 2016 by the 32 member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and endorsed by groups such as the ADL and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), begins with: "Semitism against the Jews." This is a certain Jewish perception. , which may be expressed as hatred Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism directed against Jews and non-Jews and/or their property, Jewish community organizations and places of worship.

So why, asks the RAC, “did it take a large group of experts to define the term? Because anti-Semitism has similar and distinct characteristics to other forms of hatred or prejudice, it reflects a long, complex, and unique history of Jewish-non-Jewish relations.

The working definition points to specific contemporary examples of anti-Semitism. according to the ADL, more than one billion people worldwide, incl.

• A statement or justification for killing or injuring Jews under the pretext of radical ideology or an extreme view of religion.

• Making dehumanizing or stereotypical statements about Jews as a collective force (eg, through a global conspiracy to control the media, economy, or government)

• Denying the facts and extent of the Holocaust during World War II or blaming Jews for inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust (a staggering 80% of Gen Z Americans)

• Denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination, such as claiming that Israel's existence is a racist experiment.

• Jewish collective responsibility for the actions of the State of Israel

The AJC notes that Israel's examples are "most controversial" to some. But, as they cautioned, “it is important to explain where and how hostility toward Israel can become a form of anti-Semitism, separate and apart from criticism of Israel. These include making analogies to the Nazis, declaring Israel a racist enterprise and therefore illegal, upholding the standards expected of any other democratic state, and holding Jews collectively responsible for their actions."

What does anti-Semitism have to do with other forms of discrimination?

A 2022 study found that religious violence is a concern for both Jews and Muslims, even if it is not personally directed.

But for many groups, the collective impact of prejudice extends much further.

Rebecca Brendel, former president of the American Psychiatric Association, told Yahoo Life. "We are aware of this discrimination. Whether it's based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation, discrimination of any kind is toxic to our health and mental health. and well-being."

Dan Rosen, a professor of counseling and health psychology at Bastier University in Seattle, told Yahoo Life. “On the one hand, the effects of anti-Semitism must be understood differently from racism, sexism, or homophobia because of unique historical contexts and unique causes. Experiences. On another level, there are important commonalities between targeted, dehumanized, and marginalized groups, and it is important to focus on these shared experiences across many communities."

Those experiences can include feelings of depression, anxiety or isolation due to perceived microaggressions, according to Halina Brook, an Arizona-based psychotherapist and founder of the 1,500-member Jewish Therapists Collective, founded in 2020. looks so bad” is offensive and inaccurate, like “all black women are aggressive” or “a jew must be good with money”.

Loneliness can also be caused by a lack of support from friends, colleagues and social networks. "People are being isolated and locked up and censored, and a lot of people are dealing with assault and gaslighting and everything else... We see it on both sides of [today's] conflict," Brooke told Yahoo Life.

Another common response to membership in certain target groups is the obligation to keep one's identity secret, according to Los Angeles-based clinical psychologist Sari Kosdon, whose past research has examined the effects of antisemitism. "Such a comparison can be made with people who can absorb or hide their identity," he told Yahoo Life. "Jews may worry about discrimination and therefore not identify themselves, just as people who are part of the LGBT community worry about possible discrimination."

What makes anti-Semitism unique?

One of the main differences, experts say, is that many believe that Jews belong to a privileged group and therefore cannot be oppressed.

"What makes anti-Semitism different for me is that there are a lot of stereotypes and stereotyping about us being rich and powerful and privileged," Brooke said. “It actually goes back to old European anti-Semitism. And we've seen these stereotypes spread a lot in other minority communities, especially in social justice communities where there's talk of power and privilege...people just say, "Ah, if this population is privileged, then they can do it" instead of suppressing it. "Everything makes it difficult and puts us in a situation where we don't have a seat at the table."

Brook added: "When people try to draw this hard line in the sand, defining very narrowly what it means to be Jewish, separating us from our original homeland and culture and simply saying, parts of the personality are diminished and removed."

As Rosen noted in a 2018 podcast after being recorded at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, "Jews don't fit or just fit into any category... On one level, Jewishness is talked about as a cultural group that you belong to." Another was born. or as a chosen religion' and is often classified as 'white'.

"Of course, Jews have never been considered white for neo-Nazis or white people," he added. "When my grandfather immigrated in the early 20th century, he was considered Jewish, not white." , for example He also highlighted the great diversity of the Jewish community, which is between "10 and 20 percent" of color.

There is also a lack of psychological research on the impact of anti-Semitism, resulting in a lack of discourse that "may perpetuate the idea that anti-Semitism is not a problem," Kosdon wrote in his 2021 study, The Experience of Being. ". ". Jews: Living Together." anti-Semitism".

His research was based in part on the first measure of anti-Semitic stress created by Rosen in 2018.

"There are many reasons why American Jews are overlooked in psychological research, one of which is the problematic assumption that the Jewish experience in the United States is identical to mainstream culture," Rosen told Yahoo Life. "While many Jews see this country as safe and prosperous, it remains a distinct history and cultural experience that defines an important moment in history for Jewish Americans." The view that Jews are "white colonialists who do not deserve sympathy and protection" "denies the historical context of thousands of years and the diversity of the Jewish population."

Often, such rhetoric can lead to betrayal and internalized anti-Semitism, as Brook notes, leaving many Jews "at this crossroads where you have to betray yourself to keep your friends, or you have to reject friends." staying true to yourself... forcing you to choose between taking care of yourself and being taken care of.

Finally, anti-Semitism is most at odds with the lingering shadow of the Holocaust on the Jewish people.

"Anti-Semitism is one of the oldest forms of racism, and it is deeply rooted and in many living memories of the genocide that nearly wiped out the world's Jewish population in the last century," Brendel said. "And so, in that sense, watching anti-Semitism and traumatic terrorist attacks against Jews is particularly toxic for those who have been affected."

In her study, Kosdon found that levels of anti-Semitism were correlated with depression, survivor's guilt, and narcissism, with 30% of respondents reporting that they did not feel safe identifying as Jewish. It also found that "the shadow of the Holocaust lingers," with 42% of respondents citing it in some way, and "while not all participants are post-Holocaust, high levels of survivor guilt may indicate opportunities for intergenerational connections." "injury".

Meanwhile, Kosdon says: “I personally feel a growing fear of being Jewish and have seen large-scale tragedies as well as survivor's guilt, not just surviving the attack, but the guilt. can openly live a Jewish life in relative safety... We are all afraid, losing sleep, struggling to focus, and shaking as a community. Holocaust":

What can help?

Experts say it's important to give yourself some grace. Brooke says it's important to understand. "I've heard a lot of complaints from people ... they can't handle all this complexity, they don't represent our very small community well enough," says Brooke. .

He added that it is important to ask for help from trusted loved ones. "Follow your instincts and ask your friend, 'I'm having a hard time, can you sit down and talk?' They can say yes or no, but it also tells them. "You won't see my pain, but it's real and I need help. . . . If they're your friends, they'll help you more."

Brooke also suggests people reach out to local Jewish communities or seek professional help from a therapist, especially if they are Jewish.

Cosdon added that actively participating in volunteer activities can be beneficial.

“I have witnessed the amazing resilience and strength of my community,” she says. “People are informing each other, coming together, making supplies for soldiers, and even creating trauma healing/support art collections. My research has shown that community involvement is a protective factor against depression and self-esteem. It increases life satisfaction. "

Seattle's Jewish community responds to anti-Semitism