Three questions for ...

1. Does the University of Jena have an antisemitism problem?

I have not yet received any reports of direct antisemitic insults or discrimination. More often, we encounter a form of »Antisemitism without Jews«: criticism of Israel is phrased in such a way that antisemitic patterns become apparent. Events can also exhibit such traits. At the same time, the university is committed to providing information about Jewish life and Israel, and to countering antisemitism through workshops and dialogue sessions.

2. How do we distinguish between legitimate criticism and antisemitic narratives?

Drawing a clear line is difficult—antisemitism researchers have been working on this for a long time. However, one thing is clear: precise criticism of the Israeli government or of specific political decisions is legitimate. It becomes problematic when antisemitic stereotypes come into play, for instance, blanket terms such as calling Israel a »child-murdering state«. Double standards can also be an indicator—when Israel is accused of things that are tolerated when carried out by others.

3. What would you like to see from the members of the university community?

Above all, information and awareness. Many debates reflect a lack of in-depth knowledge. For example, it is often claimed that Israelis are European settlers when in fact, more than half of Israeli Jews originate from the Middle East, North Africa, or places like Persia, India and Ethiopia. Controversial topics must be discussed, but this discussion must be grounded in fact. Moral courage is equally important: Anyone who observes antisemitic remarks or incidents should address them or report them. This applies to all forms of discrimination.