Antisemitism vs. Anti-Semitism: Why the Syntax Matters when Defining Jewish Hatred

By Hannah Stoch ‘22

    Most publications, including previous issues of the Flame, use the term anti-Semitism when referring to hatred towards Jews. However, removing the hyphen, a simple change in syntax, allows the word to more concretely refer to the prejudice Jews face.
    This issue was first brought to my attention by the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism and other forms of mistreatment. In a short article on their website, they explain that “there is no such thing as a Semitic peoplehood.”