Lessons

A Shape-Shifting Virus: Contemporary Antisemitism in the United States 

State standards

Results

2024 Oregon Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
OR SS 6/7.H.CP.11
Investigate the historical origins and modern manifestations of anti-Judaism.
2014 Wyoming Social Studies Content and Performance Standards [See Full Text]
WY SS8.4.1
Describe how historical events impact the future (cause and effect) and how change spreads to other places (e.g., spread of industrial revolution or causes of the Civil War).
WY SS8.4.3
Analyze the way people and/or groups react to current events; suggest alternative ways such events may have played out.
WY SS12.4.1
Describe patterns of change (cause and effect) and evaluate how past events impacted future events and the modern world.
WY SS12.4.3
Given a significant current event, critique the actions of the people or groups involved; hypothesize how this event would have played out in another country.
2018 Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies [See Full Text]
WI SS.Hist2.a.m
Explain patterns of continuity over time in the community, the state, the United States, and the world.
WI SS.Hist2.b.m
Explain patterns of change over time in the community, the state, the United States, and the world.
WI SS.Hist2.c.m
Analyze how the historical context influenced the process or nature of the continuity or change that took place.
WI SS.Hist2.a.h
Evaluate a variety of primary and secondary sources to apply knowledge of major eras, enduring themes, turning points, and historical influences to analyze the patterns of continuity in the community, the state, the United States, and the world.
WI SS.Hist2.b.h
Evaluate a variety of primary and secondary sources to apply knowledge of major eras, enduring themes, turning points, and historical influences to analyze the patterns of change in the community, the state, the United States and the world.
WI SS.Hist2.c.h
Evaluate how the historical context influenced the process or nature of the continuity or change that took place.
WI SS.Hist3.b.m
Apply historical perspectives to describe differing viewpoints of current events.
WI SS.Hist3.b.h
Evaluate historical perspectives to create arguments with evidence concerning current events.
2021 West Virginia Social Studies Curriculum Standards [See Full Text]
WV SS.7.4
Examine current world events to evaluate how the global landscape has changed over time.
2023 Washington, D.C. K-12 Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
DC SS 8.62
Identify a local, national or international issue, assess options for taking action, and construct an action proposal designed to make change.
DC SS GC.20
Evaluate the extent to which the Constitution protects individuals from discrimination in contemporary society.
2019 Washington Social Studies Learning Standards [See Full Text]
WA SS H4.6-8.1
Analyze how a historical event in world history helps us to understand contemporary issues and events.
WA SS H4.6-8.3
Analyze how a historical event in United States history helps us to understand contemporary issues and events.
WA SS H2.11-12.4
Analyze how cultural identity can promote unity and division.
WA SS H3.11-12.1
Analyze how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives.
WA SS H3.11-12.5
Evaluate how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives.
2023 Virginia History and Social Studies Standards of Learning [See Full Text]
VA SS CE.6.d
examining how civic participation can address community needs and serve the public good, including the importance of volunteering, staying informed about current issues, and respecting differing beliefs in a diverse society
2014 College, Career and Civil Life C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards (Vermont) [See Full Text]
VT SS D2.His.1.6-8.
Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts.
2022 Utah Core State Standards for Social Studies: Elementary [See Full Text]
UT SS Contemporary Antisemitism
Students will identify a pressing global problem and select the most promising political, technological, medical, or scientific advances being created to address those problems.
2022 Rhode Island Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
RI SS SSHS.CVC.6.3
Argue the impact of the political marginalization of different groups in American history
2003 Pennsylvania Academic Standards for History [See Full Text]
PA SS 8.3.12.D
Identify and evaluate conflcit and cooperation among social groups and organizations in United States history from 1890 to the Present.
PA SS 8.4.6.D
Explain how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations affected world history.
PA SS 8.4.12.D
Evaluate how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations impacted world history from 1450 to Present in Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe.
2019 Oklahoma Academic Standards Social Studies [See Full Text]
OK SS TOT.11.1
Describe how Holocaust denial has helped contribute to the creation of contemporary propaganda against the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
OK SS TOT 11.3
Examine how antisemitism may be expressed as hatred toward Jewish people, rhetorical, and physical manifestations directed toward a person, their property, or Jewish community institutions.
2016 California History Social Science Framework [See Full Text]
CA SS 11.3.3
Cite incidences of religious intolerance in the United States (e.g., persecution of Mormons, anti-Catholic sentiment, anti-Semitism).
2021 North Carolina K-12 Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
NC SS 7.H.1.5
Explain how slavery, xenophobia, disenfranchisement, ethnocentrism, and intolerance have affected individuals and groups in modern world history.
NC SS CL.C&G.3.2
Compare strategies used by individuals to address discrimination, segregation, disenfranchisement, reconcentration, and other discriminatory practices that have existed in the United States.
NC SS WH.H.1.3
Explain how ethnocentrism, stereotypes, xenophobia, and racism impact human rights and social justice of various groups, tribes, and nations around the world, now and in the past.
2022 New Mexico Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
NM SS 9-12.US.127
Investigate how identity groups and society address systemic inequity through individual actions, individual champions, social movements, and local community, national, and global advocacy.
2021 Montana Content Standards for Social Studies for K-12 [See Full Text]
MT SS.H.9-12.3
identify ways in which people and groups exercise agency in difficult historical, contemporary, and tribal contexts
2020 Maryland State Standards and Frameworks in Social Studies [See Full Text]
MD SS 9-12 USH.U5.S2
Evaluating the role of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Asian hate, sexism, and xenophobia in shaping public policy debates and the progress of historically marginalized groups.
2019 Maine Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
ME SS 6-8 H2.F1
Explaining how both unity and diversity have played and continue to play important roles in the history of Maine and the United States.
ME SS 9-12 H1.F2
Analyzing and critiquing major historical eras: major enduring themes, turning points, events, consequences, and people in the history of the United States and the implications for the present and future.
2020 Kansas History, Government, and Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
KS SS 9-12.1.3
The student will investigate and connect examples of choices and consequences with contemporary issues.
KS SS 9-12.4.3
The student will investigate and connect continuity and change to a contemporary issue.
Iowa Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
IA SS.7.24
Analyze connections among historical events and developments in contemporary global issues.
2022 Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science [See Full Text]
IL SS.6-8.H.1.MC
Evaluate the significance of historical events to multiple groups and the relationship to modern-day movements and events.
IL SS.9-12.H.7
Identify and analyze the role of individuals, groups, and institutions in people's struggle for safety, freedom, equality, and justice.
2023 Florida's State Academic Standards: Social Studies [See Full Text]
FL SS.912.HE.1.2
Students will examine propaganda (e.g., the Protocols of the Elders of Zion; The Poisonous Mushroom) that was and still is utilized against Jewish people both in Europe and around the world.
FL SS.912.HE.3.3
Explain the effects of Holocaust denial on contemporary society. • Students will explain how Holocaust denial has helped contribute to the creation of contemporary propaganda and the facile denial of political and social realities.
FL SS.912.HE.3.5
Recognize that antisemitism includes a certain perception of the Jewish people, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jewish people, rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism directed toward a person or his or her property or toward Jewish community institutions or religious facilities. • Students will analyze examples of antisemitism (e.g., calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews, often in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion; making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as a collective, especially, but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions; accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, the State of Israel, or even for acts committed by non-Jews; accusing Jews as a people or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust; accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interest of their own nations). • Students will analyze examples of antisemitism related to Israel (e.g., demonizing Israel by using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism to characterize Israel or Israelis, drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis, or blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions; applying a double standard to Israel by requiring behavior of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation or focusing peace or human rights investigations only on Israel; delegitimizing Israel by denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination and denying Israel the right to exist).
FL SS.912.S.3.3
Examine and analyze various points of view relating to historical and current events
FL SS.912.S.7.5
Examine how individual and group responses are often associated with social problems.
SS.912.S.7.6
Evaluate possible solutions to resolving social problems and the consequences that might result from those solutions.

Length: 60-120 minutes | Grades: 6-12 | Themes: antisemitism

Lesson Overview

Antisemitism is often called the world’s oldest hatred, a term that speaks to its long history but not its constantly shifting form. It adapts across time, often contradicting itself, casting Jews as both communists and capitalists, or as racially other while benefiting from white privilege. These contradictions reveal that antisemitism does not follow consistent logic. Instead, it centers on false beliefs about Jewish power and secret influence. This core conspiracy remains at the heart of modern antisemitism, even as it evolves to fit different cultural and political moments.

In this lesson, students examine contemporary antisemitism in the United States by analyzing propaganda, interpreting data, identifying common tropes in recent case studies, and reading firsthand accounts from Jewish students about its personal impact. Together, they will create a brave space for thoughtful discussion and reflection on this challenging topic.

Enduring Understanding

Antisemitism is a shape-shifting and evolving phenomenon that revolves around numerous conspiracy theories about the nature of Jewish people and claims to their collective control over institutions and aspects of the modern world.

Antisemitism can manifest itself along an ideological spectrum, figuring into the worldviews of righ-twing and left-wing political camps.

Essential Questions

What does antisemitism look like, particularly in 21st century America?

Why is antisemitism a pervasive form of hatred?

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to interpret empirical data to recognize that antisemitism continues to be the most pervasive form of religiously-motivated hate crime in the United States, year after year.

Students will be able to identify multiple antisemitic myths in 21st century forms of antisemitic speech and behavior.

Toolkit

  • Contemporary Antisemitism in the United States lesson plan

  • Contemporary Antisemitism in the United States slide deck

  • Contemporary Antisemitism in the United States Statistics handout

  • Contemporary Antisemitism in the United States Case Studies handout

  • Antisemitism Uncovered: Myth of Power video

  • Antisemitism Uncovered: Anti-Zionism video

  • In Our Name: A Message from Jewish Students at Columbia University handout

    Procedures

    Access all Contemporary Antisemitism in the United States lesson materials.