JUSTICE - No. 65

29 Fall 2020 n the coronavirus era, we encounter more than the medical or physical effects of COVID-19. We see also the activity of the Black Lives Matter movement triggered by the killing of George Floyd, as well as a heightened debate about controlling the content of social media. These three events are having a cumulative impact on the prevalence of antisemitism and the means to combat it. We need a single declaration addressing the ethics of combating both COVID-19 and antisemitism at the same time. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in May 2016 adopted the following working definition of antisemitism and provided several illustrative examples: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. 1 Due to the coronavirus, the effort to combat antisemitism has been made more difficult. Antisemitism has increased, with the spread of the virus being blamed on the Jews. 2 At the same time, there has been a decrease in the ability to combat antisemitism, as people are isolated and not travelling. At the same time, there is a rise in the use of the internet. This augmented use means a potentially wider audience for internet hate speech. Neither of these phenomena, the increase in incitement and the decline in the ability to combat it, is unique to the Jewish community. Bigotry and the efforts to combat it have been impacted by the global spread of the virus. The generality of the problems does not render the impact on the Jewish community any less real; nor does it deny the validity of solutions that are unique to specific victim communities, not least the Jewish community. Antisemitic tropes are being repurposed to latch on to the virus in a way that causes the virus itself to become a “carrier”of antisemitism. We see conspiracy theories and hate speech reshaped to blame the Jews for causing the virus, profiting from it, and spreading it through gatherings and a lack of respect for quarantines. Some of those who protest shutdowns and the wearing of masks themselves wear yellow stars of David, and thus draw a parallel between efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and the Holocaust. 3 The word“unvaccinated” replaces the word“Jew,” trivializing the Holocaust. With antisemitism increasing, the ability to combat it decreases because of the virus and the measures that had to be taken. The virus related global interruption of education has meant a decline in education against hate in general, and antisemitism in particular. Holocaust memorial ceremonies are cancelled as are seminars and conferences to combat antisemitism. Holocaust museums and memorial sites are closed. Once open, organized groups, including school groups, are either not allowed to enter or are asked to avoid them. Furthermore, priority Ethical, Digital and Legal Implications of Combating Antisemitism in the Coronavirus Era I DavidMatas 1. “The Working Definition of Antisemitism,” IHRA (May 26, 2016), available at https://www.holocaustremembrance . com/working-definition-antisemitism 2. Special report from the Kantor Center at Tel Aviv University, “The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a unique worldwide wave of antisemitism,”Press Release (June 23, 2020), available at https://en-humanities.tau . ac.il/sites/humanities_en.tau.ac.il/files/media_server/ Humanities/TAU%20Spokesperon%20-%20Summary%20 Coronavirus-based%20Antisemitism%20(1).pdf 3. See e.g. Deutsche Welle“Munich bans use of Nazi 'Jewish star' at coronavirus protests,”D EUTSCHE W ELLE , May 5, 2020, available at https://www.dw.com/en/munich-bans- use-of-nazi-jewish-star-at-coronavirus-protests/a-53644792