Antisemitism Watch

Campus Antisemitism Roots Traced to 1970s Academic Theory, ADL Reports
Political Figures Face Scrutiny Amid Heated Rhetoric on Israel and Antisemitism
Watchdog Reports 100 Global Antisemitic Incidents; UK Doctor Faces Trial

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we delve into the long academic roots of campus antisemitism, examine controversies surrounding political figures and rhetoric, and track global incidents and policy responses.

An August 2026 ADL report highlights how faculty encouraging campus antisemitism were not newly radicalized, but trained using a curriculum shift from the 1970s. According to the report, this shift, influenced by thinkers like Herbert Marcuse and Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony, promoted a 'long march through the institutions' and the scholar-activist model, exemplified by figures like Angela Davis. Postcolonial theories, which often frame Israel's founding and existence as central to Western oppression, migrated into university curricula.

This academic backdrop intersects with current political controversies. In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed apologized for remarks made after a synagogue attack, where he stated 'hurt people hurt people,' a comment critics viewed as justifying the violence. El-Sayed has also distanced himself from left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who has millions of followers and has blamed American Jews for rising hatred, called Israel 'Jewish ISIS,' and expressed sympathy for Hamas. Senator Cory Booker was among leading Democrats who condemned Piker's language, stating it has 'no place in our civil discourse,' according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

Meanwhile, RNC Chairman Joe Gruters warned that a Democratic majority in Congress would pose a 'direct threat to the Jewish community,' citing figures like 'the squad,' the Democratic Socialists of America, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he accused of failing to condemn Hamas and revoking an antisemitism executive order. Mayor Mamdani's administration also sponsored a puppet show that a Jewish mother reported devolved into anti-Israel propaganda. She told The New York Post the show accused Israel of bombing hospitals, and that the performing group, Boxcutter Collective, had previously expressed support for Palestinian terrorism and held views described by the mother as 'very antisemitic.'

Even Jewish progressive candidates face targeting. Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was reportedly called 'ballsack Zionist' and other insults while protesting an RSS event, according to the Jerusalem Post, despite Lander's own criticisms of Israeli government policy. In another development, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is Jewish, stated she feared being 'booed, harassed and chased' at her party's convention due to her support for Israel, citing a rise in antisemitism on the left.

Globally, the CAM Antisemitism Research Center documented 100 antisemitic incidents across 26 countries in the past week, including vandalism and violent attacks. Three death threats were made against Jewish influencers. According to CAM's reporting, 54% of these incidents were categorized as Far-Left, 14% Far-Right, and 10% Islamist-inspired.

On the policy front, Representative Jamie Raskin is facing backlash from Jewish communal figures for describing federal investigations into campus antisemitism at Harvard, Brown, and Columbia universities as a 'sham.' Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt called Raskin's stance 'disappointing,' citing the intimidation faced by Jewish students. In California, pending legislation aims to add 'Jewish' as an ethnic background option on government forms, part of broader efforts to combat antisemitism.

Additionally, a coalition of Christian lawmakers and faith leaders urged former President Donald Trump to establish expedited legal immigration pathways for Jewish Canadians fearing persecution, with over 2,000 individuals reportedly expressing interest in relocating due to safety concerns. Following an Opera House protest, a statement indicated increased danger for the Jewish community, with criticism leveled against the Labor party for perceived inaction against extremism.

In the UK, Dr. Rahmeh Aladwan, an NHS doctor, has pleaded not guilty to charges including supporting Hamas and stirring racial hatred. Social media posts attributed to her include condemning Israel's existence, calling for the world to be freed from 'Jewish supremacy,' and comparing Israeli actions to Nazi crimes. Her medical license was suspended for 15 months by regulators last year; her trial is scheduled for March.

On a more hopeful note, a new study published in August 2026 in Personality and Individual Differences suggests individuals with higher levels of openness are less prone to antisemitic attitudes. Researchers from the University of British Columbia found this relationship is partially mediated by interpersonal contact with Jewish individuals, highlighting the potential value of behavioral approaches in combating prejudice.

These developments underscore the multifaceted and evolving nature of antisemitism, from deep academic roots to urgent political rhetoric and global incidents. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- jcfa.org: https://jcfa.org/to-confront-campus-antisemitism-follow-the-curriculum/
- theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/30/abdul-el-sayed-apology-michigan-synagogue-attack-comment
- dailyadvance.com: https://www.dailyadvance.com/opinion/editorial_columnists/david-m-drucker-the-left-s-antisemitism-is-still-festering/article_16aefc2a-38b5-5de6-b5c3-5434140c7140.html
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/08/30/us-news/dem-majority-in-congress-will-put-antisemites-in-power-says-rnc-chair/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907053
- vinnews.com: https://vinnews.com/2026/08/30/trump-shares-post-calling-on-him-to-create-legal-pathway-for-jewish-canadians-facing-antisemitism/
- breitbart.com: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/30/michigan-leftist-u-s-senate-candidate-abdul-el-sayed-i-made-a-mistake-in-past-comments-on-temple-israel-attack/
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/when-hating-jews-becomes-a-virtue/
- israelnationalnews.com: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/432423
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/08/29/us-news/michigan-ag-dana-nessel-skips-democratic-convention-over-israel-antisemitism-fears/
- evz.ro: https://evz.ro/propaganda-anti-israel-platita-din-bani-publici-de-primaria-lui-mamdani.html
- nationalreview.com: https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/08/the-return-of-the-zionist-slur/
- vinnews.com: https://vinnews.com/2026/08/30/raskins-probe-of-campus-antisemitism-investigations-draws-criticism-from-jewish-community/
- thedispatch.com: https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-faith/judaism-california-antisemitism/
- voz.us: https://voz.us/en/just-the-news/260830/38695/christian-leaders-urge-trump-to-create-legal-pathway-for-jewish-canadians-facing-antisemitism.html
- theaustralian.com.au: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/soft-labor-seems-content-to-allow-extremism-to-be-swept-under-the-carpet/news-story/17a01aebcf5701a3ac19338cd3f77f1a
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907015
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907047
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907055
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907052

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Antisemitism Watch

Antisemitism Watch is a daily monitoring and analysis program tracking antisemitism worldwide — incidents, rhetoric, policy, and institutional responses — r