Rising Antisemitism: When Hate Becomes Normalized
In recent months, antisemitism has surged across the United States and globally, affecting individuals from beauty pageants to academia, sports, and politics. Fox News’ “Antisemitism Exposed” newsletter has been documenting these disturbing trends, revealing how Jewish individuals are increasingly targeted for their identity in spaces that were once considered neutral or safe. The experiences of Miss Israel at the Miss Universe pageant, a law professor’s controversial petition, Israeli Olympic athletes facing discrimination, and political controversies in New York City all illustrate how antisemitism has infiltrated various aspects of modern life, creating a hostile environment where Jewish identity itself has become a target for hatred.
Melanie Shiraz, Miss Israel, recently found herself at the center of a troubling controversy after a viral video appeared to show her glaring at Miss Palestine during the Miss Universe 2025 competition in Bangkok. The Berkeley-educated entrepreneur has since revealed the dark aftermath of this incident, including receiving horrific death and rape threats. “This has been to the point of, ‘I want to rape and kill you,’ or, ‘I hope that you end up like one of the hostages that got raped and shot in the head,'” Shiraz explained. She has repeatedly denied any hostility toward Miss Palestine, suggesting the video may have been edited or distorted by camera angles. Despite the intense backlash and antisemitic abuse, Shiraz remains committed to representing Israel and promoting peace through her platform. Her experience demonstrates how quickly antisemitic sentiment can erupt in public spaces, transforming what should have been a celebration of international goodwill into a dangerous situation for a Jewish contestant.
The academic world has not been immune to this rising tide of antisemitism, as evidenced by a recent lawsuit filed by a tenured law professor at a state university. After creating an online petition calling for war against Israel, the professor was barred from teaching—a decision he now claims violates his First Amendment rights. The professor is seeking reinstatement and damages, arguing that his reassignment represents retaliation for expressing his political views. This case highlights the complex tensions between free speech protections and the creation of hostile environments for Jewish students and faculty on college campuses. Meanwhile, in the sports arena, the Olympic Committee of Israel has been forced to cancel its 2025 athlete and coach awards ceremony due to global protests and safety concerns linked to the war in Gaza. Israeli athletes, including Olympic medalists, have been denied visas to major international competitions in Indonesia and Hungary, while teams across various sports have faced bans or disruptions amid increasing calls for boycotts against Israeli participation.
The political sphere has also become a battleground for antisemitic controversy, as demonstrated by recent events in New York City. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces significant backlash following reports that a member of his transition team had previously made anti-Israel and antisemitic posts on social media, including calling Israel “barbaric” and praising former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who had repeatedly denied the Holocaust and called for Israel’s destruction. While Mamdani’s team has condemned these decade-old remarks, they have not confirmed whether the team member has been removed, raising questions about the tolerance for antisemitism within progressive political circles. This incident reflects a broader pattern where antisemitic rhetoric is sometimes overlooked or minimized in political discourse, particularly when disguised as criticism of Israel or Zionism.
The normalization of antisemitism has particularly devastating effects on Jewish youth, according to Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, who has dedicated thirty years to Jewish teen outreach. “Our teens need to feel proud of who they are as Jews and confident in recognizing when that identity is under attack,” Neiditch writes in a guest editorial. The impact on young people is especially concerning as they navigate identity formation while witnessing antisemitism in popular culture, social media, and even educational institutions. This normalization process makes Jewish teens vulnerable to both external harassment and internal doubts about openly expressing their Jewish identity. The experiences of public figures like Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who recently spoke about being confronted with an antisemitic slur during a pizza review, further demonstrate how casual antisemitism has become in everyday interactions.
The current wave of antisemitism represents a troubling regression in social progress and inclusivity. Jewish individuals are increasingly finding themselves isolated in professional, academic, and social settings, forced to either hide their identity or face potential harassment. The combination of traditional antisemitic tropes with new forms of anti-Israel sentiment has created a particularly toxic environment where Jewish individuals are held collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, regardless of their personal views or connection to Israel. As these incidents continue to multiply across different sectors of society, from beauty pageants to Olympic sports, from university campuses to city governments, there is an urgent need for greater awareness, education, and accountability. Without concerted efforts to recognize and combat antisemitism in all its forms, the normalization of anti-Jewish prejudice threatens to undermine the principles of equality and respect that form the foundation of democratic societies.
