Though this may be shocking and incomprehensible for many of us, a research study carried out by the First International Resources and the Anti-Defamation League has found an astonishing number of people harboring anti-Semitic feelings. This study was done by surveying 53,100 adults in 102 countries representing 88% of the world’s adult population. Eleven negative Jewish stereotypes were stated to be classified as “probably true” or “probably false” by the subjects. If six or more were answered with a “probably true,” the subject is thought to express an hatred towards Jews. This includes 26% of the world’s adult population, or 1.09 billion people estimated to harbor anti-Semitic feelings and out of these, nearly half have never even heard of the Holocaust.
Jews make up 0.19% of the world’s entire population. We, having common sense and common knowledge, know that one of the reasons for this low number is the Holocaust. However, out of the 54% who have heard of the atrocity, 32% believe that it is a myth or has been greatly exaggerated. In a way, this is understandable. How can a human being understand the reason of the Holocaust? The lives and futures of six million Jews were ruthlessly shattered. However, this does not serve as an excuse for understating the tremendous effect of this genocide. Furthermore, the percentage of unbelievers was an unimaginable 63% in the Middle East and North America (MENA). MENA has an estimated 74% of its population affected with anti-Semitism. Many of these have never even met a Jewish person in their lives. The highest percentage being 93% in Gaza City and lowest in Iran with a 56%, the number of anti-Jewish people blows our minds. More than half of the subjects of MENA have never heard of the Holocaust. Yet, 65% believe that Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars.
Outside of MENA, Greece is has the highest percentage with 69% of its population harboring anti-Semitic feelings. The lowest number is found in Laos, a 0.2%. On a global scale, more than half of the population of twenty four countries responded “probably true” to six or more of the statements. This leads to the question: why do so many people feel an hatred towards Jews? There doesn’t seem to be a simple answer. Through the internet, television, and the convincing words of religious leaders, many are raised hearing and therefore believing in negative Jewish stereotypes, even though they haven’t met a Jew in their whole life. In other words, ignorance and unawareness are key reasons for the persistence and continual display of anti-Semitism. Only with these can we ever hope to achieve equality and fairness for Jews and the countless other minorities in our world.
