Thursday was the fourth October 27th since the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, and antisemitism is in the news once again. We are reminded that hatred of the Jewish people endures; that it flares in times of political and economic uncertainty; and that antisemitic signals from prominent people serve as beacons of hate that draw bigots into the public square — and risk drawing them into action.
Just this week, one of the most famous music artists in the world — Ye, formerly known as Kanye West — was dropped by his corporate partners after he used several antisemitic tropes in interviews and on social media. But that didn’t bring the saga to an end.
News outlets in Los Angeles have since reported multiple antisemitic incidents around the city, apparently in support of the celebrity. The Los Angeles Holocaust Museum offered Ye an educational tour — and, according to the museum, was immediately swamped with “hate, threats and vitriol” on social media.
