Why we should reconsider the word “antisemitism” and name it what it is: Jew-hatred

Language shapes how we think. The words we choose carry emotional and historical weight, and they influence our perception of right and wrong. In discussions about prejudice, clarity matters. When it comes to hatred directed at Jews, the term “antisemitism” has long been the standard label. However, many are beginning to argue that this term softens or obscures the reality of what it actually describes: hatred of Jews. Using more direct language – such as “Jew-hatred” – may offer a more accurate and morally urgent way to address this form of bigotry.

The term “antisemitism” was coined in the late 19th century by Wilhelm Marr, a German political agitator who deliberately sought a more scientific-sounding term to justify hatred of Jews on racial, rather than religious, grounds. The word “antisemitism” was never intended to refer to all Semitic people – which includes Arabs, for instance. From its origin, it was a euphemism, a rebranding of Jew-hatred into something that might be seen as more palatable or intellectual. That historical context matters. Even today, many people use the term without fully grasping that it means hatred specifically of Jews, not of Semitic people in general.

The concern is that “antisemitism” sounds like a neutral or academic term – like “capitalism” or “feminism” – rather than a term that conveys the severity of the hate and violence it represents. By contrast, phrases like “Jew-hatred” or “hatred of Jews” are harder to sanitise or downplay. They name the problem directly. They are uncomfortable, and rightly so. The discomfort they provoke reflects the moral seriousness of what is being discussed.

Words like “racism” or “Islamophobia” clearly refer to hatred against a particular group. Yet “antisemitism”, because of its vague linguistic construction, can confuse those unfamiliar with the term or lead to misunderstandings. In fact, some have even used its ambiguity to argue that it refers to opposition to Semitic language speakers, or to all Middle Eastern peoples, an argument that distracts from its actual, intended target: Jews.

Educating people to use “Jew-hatred” instead of “antisemitism” isn’t just a semantic choice. It’s a political and moral one. It reframes the conversation to be more honest and less euphemistic. It makes the hate more visible. It forces people to reckon with the real issue: that throughout history and into today, Jews have been targeted not because of any abstract idea, but simply because they are Jews.

It’s about changing the global calling out of Jew-hatred in order to make it less palatable, and make people think more deeply about whether they want to be associated with hating other people (Jews).

• The writer is a Jewish business leader whose identity is known to the SA Jewish Report, but who has asked for it not to be used.