‘Antisemitism Is Spreading’: World Jewish Leader Warns of Second Holocaust Amid Global Surge in Hatred
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Antisemitism & Human Rights
A leading figure in the World Jewish Congress has issued a stark warning that the world may be on the brink of a “second Holocaust,” citing an unprecedented global surge in antisemitic violence, state-sponsored incitement, and the rapid spread of hatred through artificial intelligence. The warning, delivered during the annual March of the Living at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, comes as newly released data shows that 20 Jews were killed in antisemitic attacks worldwide in 2025—the highest death toll in over 30 years .
“Since October 7, antisemitism has surged and is spreading everywhere. The scale and normalization of this hatred echoes the dark times we have seen before, and today of all days, we know how it ended.” — Revital Yakin Krakowski, Deputy CEO of March of the Living
‘History Is Warning Us’: The Alarming Statistics
According to the annual report by Tel Aviv University, antisemitic incidents have reached levels not seen in decades. The past year saw 20 Jews killed in antisemitic attacks, with 15 of those deaths occurring during the Hanukkah massacre at Bondi Beach, Australia, in December 2025 . In total, 958 antisemitic incidents were recorded across 72 countries—averaging more than 74 incidents per month .
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Jews killed in antisemitic attacks (2025) | 20 (highest in 30+ years) |
| Total antisemitic incidents recorded | 958 across 72 countries |
| Average monthly incidents | 74+ |
| Countries with highest incidents | US (300+), UK (130+), France (130+) |
The data paints a particularly grim picture in major Western nations. The United States recorded over 300 incidents, while the United Kingdom and France each recorded more than 130 . More than 70% of incidents occurred in Western countries with large Jewish communities. The report also noted particularly high levels of antisemitism in regions with Muslim and Palestinian populations .
‘At the Push of a Button’: The Iranian Threat
Speakers at the March of the Living specifically identified Iran as a primary state sponsor of global antisemitism. Sylvan Adams, president in Israel of the World Jewish Congress, warned that modern technology has amplified the threat exponentially.
“At the push of a button, Ayatollah Khamenei can achieve what took Hitler years.” — Sylvan Adams, World Jewish Congress
Adams and other leaders pointed to Iran-backed networks that have been linked to antisemitic attacks across multiple continents. According to the World Jewish Congress, the escalation in antisemitic violence is “coordinated, transnational, and in several documented cases, directly linked to Iran-backed networks” . The organization warned that antisemitic conspiracy theories spread across borders and social media, fuel extremism and terrorism, and threaten political stability far beyond the communities they target.
From Bondi Beach to Manchester: Survivors Speak
The March of the Living brought together survivors of recent antisemitic attacks alongside Holocaust survivors, creating a powerful intergenerational warning. Hannah Abesidon, whose 78-year-old father Tibor Weitzen was killed in the Bondi Beach massacre, recounted her harrowing experience.
“I thought it was fireworks, until my daughter screamed, ‘Mom, run.’ I picked up my child and we ran. When I went back to look for my parents, I already saw bodies, and I realized my father had been killed. That was the moment our Holocaust began.” — Hannah Abesidon, survivor of the Bondi Beach attack
Yoni, who survived an attack on a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, described how a terrorist tried to force his way into the building during morning prayers. “I ran to the entrance and saw the guards dead. Police arrived quickly and shot the terrorist, but I was also hit and collapsed,” he said .
The ‘New Antisemitism’: AI-Generated Holocaust Denial
Beyond physical violence, experts warn of an even more insidious threat: the use of artificial intelligence to generate, manipulate, and disseminate Holocaust denial and distortion. The MEMRI-Lantos Archives on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial has documented a disturbing rise in AI-generated content designed to dilute historical facts, switch the roles of victim and perpetrator, and spread revisionist narratives .
“This AI-generated falsified Holocaust content distorts history by trivializing and kitschification. It undermines the credibility of memorial sites, archives, museums, and research institutions.” — German Holocaust Memorial Coalition
Germany has emerged as a leader in the fight against AI-powered antisemitism, supporting AI-based detection efforts such as the Decoding Antisemitism project. However, the technology is advancing faster than regulatory frameworks can keep pace, allowing antisemitic content to circulate at unprecedented scale and speed .
‘It Begins with Jews, but It Doesn’t End with Jews’
The World Jewish Congress warned that the failure to confront antisemitism threatens not only Jewish communities but the foundations of democratic societies worldwide.
“When Jews cannot worship, gather, or live in safety, it is not only a failure of the societies where these attacks take place. It is also a failure of the international system meant to prevent them.” — Leon Saltiel, WJC Representative to the UN
The organization called on member states to move beyond declarations and take concrete action to protect Jewish communities, including halting those who incite, finance, or enable hatred . Paul Goldenberg, who heads an international delegation of police officers participating in the March of the Living, stressed that this is a global responsibility.
“History is warning us. The bell is already ringing. The Holocaust did not begin with mass murder, but with the dehumanization of Jews and the erosion of democratic values. When democracy is shaken and minorities begin to feel unsafe, that is a clear warning sign.” — Paul Goldenberg
Looking Ahead: ‘Never Again’ as a Promise
As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to dwindle—from approximately 220,000 last year to about 196,600 today—the urgency of bearing witness grows . New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, marking his first Yom HaShoah in office, framed “Never Again” not as a passive slogan but as an active obligation .
“‘Never again’ is a promise. And it is one we must fight to keep. Today, as antisemitism rises once more, we are reminded that remembrance alone is not enough. We must confront hate wherever it appears.” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City
The March of the Living, which began at Auschwitz and ended 3 kilometers away at Birkenau, concluded with a clear message: memory alone is insufficient. In the face of rising antisemitism—fueled by state actors, amplified by AI, and manifested in deadly attacks from Sydney to Manchester—coordinated international action is required to prevent history from repeating itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many Jews were killed in antisemitic attacks in 2025?
According to Tel Aviv University’s annual report, 20 Jews were killed in antisemitic attacks worldwide in 2025—the highest number in over 30 years . Fifteen of these deaths occurred during the December 2025 Hanukkah massacre at Bondi Beach, Australia.
2. What countries saw the most antisemitic incidents?
The United States recorded over 300 incidents, while the United Kingdom and France each recorded more than 130 . More than 70% of incidents occurred in Western countries with large Jewish communities.
3. How is Iran involved in global antisemitism?
The World Jewish Congress has documented that the escalation in antisemitic violence is “coordinated, transnational, and in several documented cases, directly linked to Iran-backed networks” . Speakers at the March of the Living warned that Iran has become a primary state sponsor of antisemitic incitement.
4. What is AI-generated Holocaust denial?
Extremists are increasingly using artificial intelligence to generate, manipulate, and disseminate content that denies or distorts the Holocaust. This includes creating fake images, videos, and text that trivialize the genocide, switch the roles of victim and perpetrator, or spread revisionist narratives .
5. How many Holocaust survivors are still alive?
Approximately 196,600 Holocaust survivors are alive today, down from about 220,000 last year . The survivors are aging rapidly, underscoring the urgency of preserving their testimony and memory.
6. What is the March of the Living?
The March of the Living is an annual event held at the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in memory of the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany. Participants march 3 kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau, where Jews from across Europe were transported and murdered in gas chambers .
7. What is being done to combat rising antisemitism?
The World Jewish Congress has called on member states to take concrete action to protect Jewish communities, including halting those who incite, finance, or enable hatred . Germany has implemented AI-based detection efforts, and cities like New York are pursuing aggressive education and anti-bias initiatives .
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