December 16, 2025 – Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
Looking back at 2025, we can clearly identify antisemitism as the dominating social force. Following the attack by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, the world started a new season. Since WWII, the world has not experienced such rise in antisemitism.
From Words to Violence
In December 2025 in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia two men (a father and a son) shot and killed fifteen people who celebrated Hanukkah. Scores of others were wounded. A Holocaust survivor was among those murdered. Victims recall bullets flying around them, as they were celebrating light. The Holocaust Remembrance Association regrets the loss of life and laments the murderous hatred behind the killing spree.
In December 2025 Columbia University Task Force on Antisemitism released its final report. The report clearly states Jewish students’ difficult position in classrooms and lack of neutral (not anti-Zionist) faculty. The report details incidents, such as singling out Jewish and Israeli students. One of the most disturbing from the point of view of academic freedom is the protesting and interruption of an Israeli professor’s class.
In December 2025 UC Berkely acknowledged and admitted discrimination against an Israeli professor.
Rising antisemitism is not just something on the fringes of society. Increasingly, it has become a part of the academy and mainstream society. Israel is seen as a legitimate target. This ideology is global. Troubling incidents happened in the United States throughout the year.
It is extremely troubling that media, politicians, and the public use the accusation of genocide against Israel as a fact. This accusation shapes public attitudes to Israel. Accusations like this led to violence.
Case Studies
During 2024 and 2025 there were repeated attempts at violence, prevented by police and various security organizations. An article in the Spectator reported an incredible rise of 893% in antisemitic incidents in the USA over a decade.
In a horrific case of globalized intifada, two Israeli Embassy staff members were murdered in Washington DC on May 21, 2025.
On June 1, 2025, there was a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado. A peaceful crowd gathered at a demonstration for the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. A firebomb was thrown at them and at least eight (8) people were injured.
On September 10, 2025, the conservative activist and media personality Charlie Kirk (1993-1015) was assassinated. Attention quickly turned to Israel. Several social media activists and followers started spreading a malicious lie connecting Israel to the murder of Charlie Kirk. Social media is full of this lie.
In November 2025 in Washington DC anti-Israel activists displayed videos of actors dressed up as Israel’s leader Binyamin Netanyahu (also as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, President Donald Trump, and former president Joe Biden) drinking mock blood. A menu for “Gaza Spilled Blood” was advertised. This was a mock Thanksgiving dinner at the famed Union Station. The enactment was of an ancient Blood Libel, which is also called the Ritual Murder Accusation.
Also in November 2025, Zohran Mamdani became the mayor of New York City. He is known for his anti-Israel comments, such as wanting to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he came to New York. He has also said that the USA is “funding genocide.”
Call to Action
As we are coming to the end of 2025, we look back at a year of increasing hatred targeting Israel and Jewish Communities worldwide. To us and our supporters this is no time to be idle. We invite you to join us in our activities. Contact us for more information. Share our website, blogs, and our materials. Comment and like us on social media.
The Holocaust Remembrance Association stands in solidarity with Jewish Communities and individuals. We strongly condemn antisemitic propaganda and discrimination in the academy, political speech and in public spaces. We challenge all our supporters to become informed and involved. Together we can be effective.
It is time to say Never Again!
The Holocaust Remembrance Association exists to remember, reconcile, and take a stand against antisemitism in all its forms.
