Properly inserting "Judaiophobia" into conversations about justice

Why We Should Be Including “Judaiophobia” Every Time We Talk About Justice Issues.

In today’s social discourse, we’ve made important strides in naming and confronting various forms of bigotry. Terms like Homophobia, Transphobia, anti-black racism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism have become part of the public lexicon, helping to identify and challenge discrimination against LGBTQ2S+, people of color, and other minorities including Muslims and Palestinians. This is progress. But if we truly believe in universal safety, dignity, and justice, we must also ensure that Judaiophobia (the hatred or fear of Jews, Israelis, Judaism, and the state of Israel) is named and addressed with equal clarity and urgency.

Naming it Matters

Language shapes perception. When we name a form of discrimination, we validate the experience of those affected and signal that their safety matters. That is why terms like homophobia and transphobia are powerful. They make invisible pain visible.

In contexts where Jews and Israelis are implicitly or explicitly cast as aggressors, the absence of a term like Judaiophobia can reinforce a toxic narrative. It can suggest that Jewish or Israeli safety is less important, or worse, that Jews and Israeli's are uniquely responsible for others’ suffering. This is not only false. It is incredibly dangerous and harmful.

The Case for Inserting “Judaiophobia” in Discussion

Using Judaiophobia alongside other terms of bigotry is about consistency with our pursuit of justice. If we care about the safety of LGBTQ2S+, indigenous peoples, people of color, muslims, and palestinians (and we do!) then we must also care about the safety of Jews and Israelis. These concerns are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are deeply intertwined.

Judaiophobia is real. It manifests in targeted synagogue shootings, online hate, vandalism, conspiracy theories, and social exclusion. It spikes during geopolitical conflicts, often targeting Jews and Israelis, people who are exceptionally committed to the ideals and values of social justice. Sadly, Judaiophobia is frequently minimized or ignored in progressive spaces that otherwise champion justice and anti-racism. This silence is not neutrality. It is complicity.

A Universal Ethic of Safety

We should strive for a world where all people, regardless of religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, or sexual orientation, feel safe, seen, and valued. That means naming Judaiophobia every time we name racism, transphobia, ageism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, or anti-Palestinian racism. Not as a rebuttal, but as a reminder. Bigotry is wrong: no matter who it targets.

If you support LGBTQ+ dignity, you should support Jewish & Israeli dignity too.

If you care about Palestinian lives, you should care about Jewish and Israeli lives.
If you care about Muslim safety, you should care about Jewish and Israeli safety.
If you oppose the irrational fear or hatred of others , you should oppose all irrational fears and hatreds, including Judaiophobia.
If you believe in justice, you must believe in justice for Jews and Israelis.

A Clear Directive: Say It Every Time

Let this be a clear and intentional directive:

Whenever you name other forms of hatred and systemic social injustice, whether it is sexism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, racism, homophobia, or transphobia - name Judaiophobia too.

Do it in writing. Do it in conversation. Do it in public statements and private reflections. Not to dilute the seriousness of any one form of hatred, but to affirm a principled commitment to justice and goodness for everyone.

This is how we build a truly inclusive ethic. This is how we signal that Jewish and Israeli lives matter. Not more, not less, but equally.

What You Can Do

• Use the term “Judaiophobia” intentionally and consistently.

• Add “Judaiophobia” every time you see "sexism", "transphobia", "racism", "homophobia" “islamophobia,” or “anti-palestinian racism,”. Whether you are reposting, commenting, writing, or speaking, make it a habit. This is a simple but powerful act of solidarity and moral clarity. It signals that your commitment to justice includes the safety and inclusion of all people, including Jewish & Israeli safety, Jewish & Israeli identity, and the right of Jews & Israelis to live free from fear and hatred.

• Challenge narratives that erase or diminish Jewish & Israeli vulnerability, especially when these identities are conflated with geopolitical conflict.

• Support Jewish & Israeli communities in the same way you support others. This includes recognizing the diversity of Jewish & Israeli life: religious, secular, cultural, and national. Affirm that Jewish & Israeli values do not justify discrimination.

• Speak up when Judaiophobia is ignored, rationalized, or disguised as political critique that crosses into dehumanization.

• Model inclusive language that reflects a commitment to universal dignity. When you name bigotry - any bigotry, make sure Judaiophobia is part of the conversation.

Final Thought

Justice is not a zero-sum game. We do not have to choose between caring about different groups of people. We can and must care about all of them. That starts with naming the harm. So the next time you hear “racism,” “homophobia,” “transphobia,” “Islamophobia,” or “anti-Palestinian racism,” say “Judaiophobia” too.

Because Jewish & Israeli safety matters. And saying so should never be controversial.