Here & Now

The Chronic Scourge of Casual Antisemitism in a Divisive Era

Frederica Freyberg:

In other state news, antisemitic acts increased by more than 450% between 2015 and 2021 according to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. For one holocaust historian in Kenosha, one of these acts came directly to her door step. “Here & Now” student journalist Aditi Debnath has the story.

Judith Fai-Podlipnik:

It was in the morning around 8:00, 8:30 in the morning and I look down and I just see this object and picked it up and I was actually quite horrified. Not horrified but I was shocked.

Aditi Debnath:

Judith Fai-Podlipnik’s shock and horror came from discovering an antisemitic flyer on the driveway of her home in Kenosha.

Judith Fai-Podlipnik:

All the way down the street up until 75th street, there were pamphlets scattered.

Aditi Debnath:

The flyer claimed Jewish people caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Fai-Podlipnik says it was in a plastic bag and weighed down by rocks and a single penny. As a holocaust historian, Fai-Podlipnik is used to studying antisemitism.

Judith Fai-Podlipnik:

I called the police and I offered them the information and to provide them with the pamphlet and they said they already had it and they were informed of it.

Aditi Debnath:

The Kenosha Police Department was able to identify the perpetrator and fine him just over $4,000, not for a hate crime but for littering. Antisemitic acts increased by more than 450% between 2015 and 2021, according to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Rabbi Bonnie Margulis says conspiracy theories that spread during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused an increase in casual antisemitism.

Bonnie Margulis:

It’s become so normalized and so ubiquitous and people are so comfortable expressing those kinds of feelings and those thoughts and attitudes.

Aditi Debnath:

Margulis says as the purpliest state, Wisconsin demonstrates how political divisiveness can exacerbate all prejudices.

Bonnie Margulis:

It has really promoted some very narrow and tunneled vision type of thinking and has really made it difficult for people to be able to reach across divides and see each other as human beings.

Aditi Debnath:

According to the FBI, Jewish people have consistently been the most targeted group for religious hate crimes.

Chad Goldberg:

I think in a very divided, a very polarized political environment, what you see is an increasing reluctance for people to call out antisemitism within their own political camp.

Aditi Debnath:

UW-Madison Sociology Professor Chad Goldberg says antisemitism stands out for its subtlety and pervasiveness. He says there are centuries-old antisemitic tropes that still exist in American culture.

Chad Goldberg:

We should remember, for example, in the Middle Ages Jews were accused of poisoning wells. Jews were blamed for the plague. Those motifs because they’ve been around for such a long time, because they still circulate in the culture at some level make Jews really well-suited for the role of scapegoats.

Aditi Debnath:

According to experts, the lack of widespread condemnation of antisemitism alienates Jewish people from their community. Judith Fai-Podlipnik says her experience in Kenosha has made her distrustful of others.

Judith Fai-Podlipnik:

My father who was a holocaust survivor warned me consistently antisemitism is alive and well. It may be under the radar. It may be under the covers but it’s there. Always be careful and it’s going to come back.

Aditi Debnath:

For “Here & Now,” I’m Aditi Debnath in Kenosha.