Honoring the past, understanding the present, safeguarding the future

Recently, Moscow hosted the 3rd International Conference on Countering Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Racism "Protecting the Future." In Russia, where Jewish people endured centuries of disenfranchisement, suppression, and persecution, the Jewish community is currently initiating and leading an inter-confessional dialogue on tolerance and coexistence. Is the position of Jews in post-Soviet states indeed stable, and what are the dynamics of modern antisemitism? These questions are addressed in an analytical compendium presented at the conference and published by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

In 1903, concluding his visit to the Russian Empire, Theodor Herzl was profoundly shaken by what he witnessed. Harsh measures against Zionist activities, the Kishinev pogrom, antisemitism raging among the populace and in high political circles, and the overall plight of Russian Jewry heavily influenced Herzl's decision to place on the agenda of the Sixth Zionist Congress the issue of temporarily relocating the masses of Russian Jewry to a territory previously proposed by the British government, which became known in history as the Uganda Program.

Slightly over a century after these events, and following decades of severe state-sponsored antisemitism in the USSR, Jewish life in modern Russia is flourishing, and an annual international Jewish conference on countering antisemitism and other forms of xenophobia takes place in the center of Moscow. Despite obvious progress, antisemitism remains prevalent in public consciousness, requiring diligent monitoring and analysis.

The "Protecting the Future" conference, first initiated in 2016 by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and the Russian Jewish Congress, traditionally convenes numerous academics, public figures, and politicians. This year, the conference was attended by the Minister of Diaspora Affairs of the State of Israel, Nachman Shai, President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE Personal Representative on Combating Antisemitism, Andrew Baker, ambassadors from numerous nations, leaders of international research centers, and other speakers.

At the conference, we presented the compendium "Antisemitism, Tolerance, and Historical Memory in the Post-Soviet Space," prepared by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. The publication offers a detailed analysis of antisemitism in the largest post-Soviet nations through a series of articles written by prominent scholars from Russia, Ukraine, and Israel. The articles present results of research and public opinion polls conducted over various years, reflecting the dynamics and forming a comprehensive overview, or even a mosaic, of this complex phenomenon.

The monitoring results of antisemitic incidents in recent years demonstrate that acts of physical violence motivated by antisemitism are extremely rare in the countries of the former USSR. Nonetheless, dozens of acts of vandalism against Jewish sites are recorded annually. However, the majority of antisemitic acts in modern Russia occur in verbal form: through antisemitic statements, the dissemination of conspiracy theories, and Holocaust denial or minimization. Everyday stereotypes and prejudices against Jews remain highly pronounced in post-Soviet societies.

According to one survey in which Jewish and non-Jewish respondents were asked to determine whether certain statements constituted antisemitism, it was revealed that the non-Jewish population in Russia is significantly less sensitive to verbal manifestations of antisemitism. For instance, only about 30% of respondents consider phrases such as "the Holocaust is a myth, its scale is exaggerated" or "Jews exploit the Holocaust for self-serving purposes" to be antisemitic. The majority of respondents (approx. 70%) also do not classify explicitly anti-Israel statements, such as "the world would be a better place without Israel," as antisemitic.

The Jewish population in Russia is much more sensitive to such expressions. On average, approximately 70% identify such statements as manifestations of intolerance toward Jews. Interestingly, there is a divergence from a similar survey in European countries, where Jewish respondents are nearly unanimous on this issue, condemning such statements at an average rate of about 90%.

Sociologists also note the persistence of "latent" antisemitism, which reveals prejudices against Jews in responses to indirect questions. For example, 64% answered that they consider the election of a president of Jewish origin undesirable. At the same time, when asked directly about their attitude toward Jews, the vast majority responded positively or neutrally: 78% stated they feel neutral, as with any other nation, while 12% expressed sympathy or interest.

While the overall situation in post-Soviet countries appears favorable, the level of "latent" and everyday antisemitism remains a matter of concern. Of particular concern is the accelerating phenomenon of the rapid spread of antisemitic rhetoric and theories on modern media channels. History warns us that rhetoric can incite physical violence.

For this reason, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and its experts closely monitor public sentiment, analyzing data from various monitoring agencies and reporting from specialized organizations in Israel, the EU, and the US. We are also actively engaged in the diplomatic sphere, urging state leaders to take a firm stance against antisemitism and lobbying for the adoption of the working definition of antisemitism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

We hope for the preservation of positive dynamics regarding antisemitism in the region, yet we closely monitor the situation and remain vigilant to potential threats.