Antisemitism is often called “the oldest hatred” for a reason. The Jewish people have faced repeated waves of persecution and violence for thousands of years. From biblical times to modern-day attacks, their history reveals a relentless cycle of hatred, scapegoating, and oppression.

But how often do we stop to really imagine what it must feel like to live under this shadow?

A red woman's shoe from the Auschwitz Labor and Death Camp. (Photo by RRPLM)

A History Shaped by Persecution

To understand the Jewish experience, it’s vital to look at their history. The persecution of the Jewish people spans centuries, and it took many forms:

ENSLAVEMENT IN EGYPT: The Bible recounts 400 years of Jewish slavery in Egypt. Pharaoh even ordered the murder of all Jewish baby boys
EXILE AND THREATS OF ANNIHILATION: While living in Persia, the Jewish people narrowly escaped destruction under a decree that would have wiped them out
EXPULSIONS AND FORCED CONVERSIONS: Throughout Europe in medieval times, Jewish people were forcibly expelled from Spain, England, and other regions, often given the impossible choice of converting to Christianity or fleeing their homes
BLAME AND DEMONIZATION: Jewish communities were scapegoated during plagues and wars, accused of everything from poisoning wells to controlling economies
THE HOLOCAUST: The horrifying culmination of centuries of antisemitism occurred during World War II when Adolf Hitler orchestrated the mass murder of six million Jewish people. Survivors faced unimaginable atrocities, enduring starvation, forced labor, and lifelong trauma

The Jewish people emerged from each episode of persecution, only to face it again in another form. What must it be like to be targeted with hatred and violence time and time again? How would it feel to never know when the next wave of persecution is coming?

Antisemitism in the Past

To truly empathize with what Jewish people have endured, imagine yourself in their shoes.

IMAGINE:

…a new law saying your religion is now illegal, punishable by arrest, imprisonment, or execution
…the government saying the property you bought years ago no longer belongs to you
…being personally blamed for an epidemic because of superstitions about your people
…the country that you were born in offers you two choices: give up your faith and convert to another, or leave the country
…soldiers dragging your neighbors out of their home, commanding they change religions or die on the spot. Imagine peering out your window at the horrific scene and seeing the soldiers turn their eyes toward your house
…seeing government posters and media portraying your people with grotesque stereotypes, feeding ignorant superstitions and prejudices about you
…being hated as a person by those who don’t even know you but hold you responsible for what they believe others of “your kind” did
…being personally blamed and hated for someone’s death thousands of years ago

Antisemitism isn’t confined to history books. It’s shocking to realize how these attacks of hatred persist today.

Antisemitism in Today’s World

Antisemitism has taken on new forms in the modern era.

IMAGINE:

…being a 12-year-old Jewish child, walking into your school’s restroom, and seeing a swastika painted on the wall with the words “Hitler should have finished the job”
…shopping the aisles of your local store and being verbally accosted by a stranger spewing hatred and insults at you because of your faith and heritage – in front of your child or grandchild
...visiting a grave and discovering vulgarities spray-painted over your loved one’s name and the headstone smashed in pieces
...being blamed, hated, and screamed at in public for what the country of your people did, even though you’ve never lived or even visited there
...walking on a city sidewalk, hearing a loud shot, and feeling a bullet burn through your shoulder as someone shot you from behind just because you’re Jewish. It’s what happened to a Chicago man in 2024
...the terror of seeing a police SWAT team barge into your worship service, telling everyone to evacuate because they received a bomb threat about your sanctuary. The call turns out to be a prank, done just for a laugh, leaving you shaken
...you’re crossing a street when someone grabs you by the coat and slashes at you with a knife – like what happened to a New York Jewish man in October of 2024
...your place of worship is set on fire by someone who hates your religion and your people, as happened in Australia in January of 2025
...being afraid to wear the symbol of your faith in public because it might target you for an assault

These are not isolated incidents – they’re part of a growing trend. Antisemitic harassment and violence surged after October 7, 2023, when Hamas invaded Israel. The attack and Israel’s military response have awakened or sparked new antisemitism, further targeting Jewish people worldwide regardless of their personal beliefs or affiliations.

Old shoes of the people deported in Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland during World War II.

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

How would it feel to have a consistent target on your back, making you vulnerable to random verbal assaults, vandalism, and physical attacks?

For Jewish people, this isn’t a hypothetical question – it’s their reality. Their long history includes surviving repeated attempts to drive them out or eradicate them by truly genocidal efforts – over and over again.

Imagine living your life wondering when the next wave of antisemitism will flare up, how far it will go, and if you will be caught in its crosshairs on your next trip to the grocery store.

What Can You Do? Love Your Jewish Neighbor

LOVE YOUR JEWISH NEIGHBOR is a call to action to combat hate with acts of kindness, understanding, and solidarity. Here’s how you can help:

SHOW WARMTH AND ACCEPTANCE. Greet Jewish friends and neighbors with kindness. A simple smile can make a difference
EDUCATE YOURSELF. Learn about Jewish history and the experiences of antisemitism to deepen your understanding
SPEAK OUT AGAINST HATE. Challenge antisemitic rhetoric whenever and wherever you encounter it
OFFER SUPPORT. If you see a Jewish person being harassed or targeted, offer them help or report the incident
PRAY. Pray for God’s protection over the Jewish people and appropriate responses from authorities setting policies and guarding freedoms. Pray also for a change of mindset in those who hold antisemitic beliefs

And be patient. If a Jewish person seems a tad guarded, give them grace. Remember the history and trauma they carry as a people. Remember that they wear the shoes of a people who have endured centuries of persecution and are navigating a world where that hatred still exists.

Put yourself in their shoes – and keep loving your Jewish neighbor.